Not losing weight on keto?
Are you on a keto diet and not getting the results you expected?
Read on to learn why.
So, you have decided to follow a ketogenic diet. You have read books, searched the internet, spoken to friends with success stories and read the hype all in the media about keto and you are thinking, YES I am doing keto. After some research you feel ready to hit the ketogenic diet.
It is easy right? I mean you eat heaps of protein, fats and add some extra cheese, right? Eventually you get into ketosis, or do you?
A Ketogenic diet can be confusing. There is so much conflicting information. How do you know if it is right for you?
Common ketogenic diet mistakes that stop ketosis
I see lots of people trying to Keto on their own. For some this works, for others it doesn’t. These are the common Keto mistakes I see in clinic. Hopefully fixing these helps you on the road to keto success.
Don’t skip your healthy keto carbohydrates
What are healthy carbohydrates? On a keto diet, these are low glycemic vegetables and some fruit. You need an adequate intake of low glycemic carbohydrates to maintain many body and brain functions.
Most people trying to do Ketogenic diets on their own are not eating an adequate intake of vegetables. For most people, you need 2-3 handfuls at each meal.
TOP TIP – Eat according to your keto approved vegetables and fruits
Ensure you are drinking plenty of water
When you start eating keto and burning fat as your bodies fuel, you are also increasing the amount of toxins being moved in your body. Stored fat deposits in the body are also storing toxins. Couple this with a lack of water to cleanse and clear out your system and you will start feeling sluggish and tired.
Water is your BEST Friend on a Ketogenic diet. Ensure you are drinking 2-3 litres daily.
Coffee – friend or foe?
When you read up on coffee and keto there is a bunch of research sprucing the benefits of coffee for fat burning or thermogenesis. Have you heard about bullet coffee?
Most people I see struggling with keto and getting into the sweet spot of fat burning are drinking way to much coffee, up to 4-5 cups per day.
Coffee may help you burn fat, but in your personalised ketogenic plan, with my Naturopath hat on, I am also assessing the overall impact of coffee.
Are you having it with milk? That’s a No on keto. It will stop you burning fat.
How is your liver? Too much coffee can have an impact on your liver’s ability to effectively detoxify your blood. Reducing your coffee can give your liver the break it needs.
Are you dehydrated? If you are consuming lots of coffee each day, and not compensating this with water intake, your body and cells will become dehydrated.
My recommendation on coffee – less is best 1-2 per day max. If after reducing coffee to one or two cups and still no keto, try having a coffee break for a while.
Top tip – cut down on coffee before starting a ketogenic diet.
Alcohol and Keto
I like having my glass of wine…can i still have it?
Most alcohol’s are too high in sugars and will stop you moving into ketosis. The keto diet encourages a healthy lifestyle, so with this in mind less to no alcohol is best. If you really want a drink, choose carefully with low calorie and low sugar options.
Are you following keto to lose weight?
If you are on keto to lose weight, alcohol will slow down your weight loss. In fact, for most people it stops it in its tracks for up to 3 days after a drink.
When you drink alcohol, its not just about the macros, your body will metabolize alcohol first. So, a glass of wine with dinner means that dinner spends a whole lot longer sitting in your digestive tract waiting its turn while alcohol is dealt with. Food sitting longer equals fermentation in the gut which leads to bloating, gas and wind.
If your goal is to lose weight, you have to be committed to keto to get the results. If having your nightly wine or alcoholic beverage is a hard habit to break, there are nutrients and herbs that we can use to help your body reduce cravings.
Fun Fact – often your need for a nightly drink is due to a blood sugar imbalance.
Do your best to reduce/eliminate alcohol and remember your weight loss goal to help stay motivated.
Step away from the Cheese!
Don’t over eat cheese chasing after extra protein and fats to fill gaps in your diet.
Did you know that dairy is a common food allergen? Most people have a mild to severe reaction to dairy products in their diet. This can be easily tested with your naturopath. I use the Food detective test with my patients. Every single person I test reacts to dairy.
If you do react to dairy and are eating it too often, it will cause a variety of allergy reactions, different for everybody. One thing for sure, it will block getting into ketosis.
My recommendation on cheese is less is best. Eat it occasionally a couple of times per week.
Health Check & Keto
What else is going on with your health? It is so important to get a regular health check. Many people turn to keto for the right reasons, but commonly I see people struggling with Keto due to health issues.
The good news is we can help address your health issues and modify the keto diet to work for you.
Nutrient and mineral deficiencies can slow things down on keto to. Magnesium is a common deficiency.
There are a lot of benefits to consulting with a health practitioner to help you on your keto and health journey. As with every diet approach it works for some people and not for others. The best and most effective keto diet is the one that has been personalised to your health needs.
Every person is unique, with this in mind sometimes the brushstroke approach to diet is not the right way for you. Your Naturopath can help personalise your nutrition and keto plan.
Good luck on your health and keto journey.
Don’t give up and remember why you started.
Cindi Young is a leading Australian Naturopath based on the Gold Coast. She helps people to follow a ketogenic program successfully while addressing underlying health issues. She is an experienced naturopath and keto diet practitioner and will find the best ways to help you manage your weight for life.
Cindi Young is available for naturopath and ketogenic diet consultations at The Cycle of Life in Robina, Gold Coast and at Parkes Avenue Dispensary in Byron Bay. She is also available for online, skype and phone consultations Australia wide.