My Keto Diet Results You’ll be Anxious to Hear
I tried the Ketogenic diet for 6 weeks, over 30 days and my results may surprise you. The low carb high fat diet to the extreme of reaching Ketosis is great for weight loss and to eliminate some health issues. Learn about my Keto diet results and perhaps you may want to give it a try.
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What is the Ketogenic Diet?
The Keto diet is a dietary adjustment where you consume almost no carbohydrates and lots of healthy fats, along with some protein. Your caloric intake won’t change much but the macros (macronutrients) that you are consuming will change drastically.
You eliminate all grains, fruits, and legumes and many vegetables! These are replaced with oils, meats, cheeses, and other healthy fats.
The Ketogenic diet is a rather extreme diet change known as the HFLC (high fat low carb) diet. To reach Ketosis and feel all of the positive effects of this diet you need to maintain this extremely low level of carbohydrate consumption.
RELATED: Keto Diet Dinner Recipes the Whole Family Will Love
What is Ketosis?
Ketosis is a fancy term for when your metabolism switches gears to burning fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates. Your liver will produce Ketones to break down fat into fuel when in short supply of glucose. (Which comes from carbohydrates.) Your body is literally breaking down the fat that you consume as well as your fat stores to use as energy.
When your body is in a state of Ketosis your body will produce Ketones as a byproduct. These can be tested for in urine with Ketone Strips
which are really affordable and super helpful while you are learning to identify how your body feels in Ketosis.
Why Did I Personally Try the Keto Diet?
I am constantly adjusting my diet to advance my health and get on top of chronic gut issues I suffer from because of a chronic disease. My diet is always cleant, but what I can digest and my macro needs vary drastically every few months. I also read an amazing post by a friend of mine who adores the Keto diet on Dr. Axe. Her results were so closely aligned with what I hoped to achieve from Keto that I had to give it a try.
RELATED: I Tried Keto for 30 Days and Here’s What Happened
I was suffering from chronic bloating and indigestion by every evening, no matter what I ate. I also have a huge issue with varicose veins after childbirth that causes me excruciating pain at lady times of the month. With only surgery given as an option to rectify the latter I jumped right on board the Keto diet when I read there’s a chance it may help varicose veins!
My Keto Diet Results:
the First Week
Day 1 went amazing. Going from a diet that was almost 100% veggies to a diet of meat, cheese, and oil; I expected a lot of pain and indigestion. I also was transitioning from a diet a of almost no fat, to consuming 144 g of fat per day! While my diet was clean, it wasn’t in the best balance as I was having the severe bloating and indigestion every day so began eating exclusively ridiculously lighter meals (soups, smoothies, and salads pretty exclusively.)
Day 2 was and entirely different story. I got severe Keto flu right after breakfast. If you don’t know what the Keto flu (also known as carb withdrawl) is then head on over to this post. It not only details the condition but also how to rectify it!
I felt extreme nausea. It was so intense I couldn’t focus and felt foggy. (Not an amazing day as a homeschooling mom!) I basically spent the rest of the day supplementing with Keto snacks and lemon water with salt… which by the way is amazing for Keto flu!
RELATED: How to Kick the Keto Flu’s Butt
The Keto flu didn’t leave me for an entire week, which is typical. But it was intermittent. Using the tricks from how to kick the Keto flu’s butt were really life savers and helped me get through that first week.
You’ll often hear that the Keto diet meals keep you full a lot longer because of the high fat content. I found this to be true as well. But in addition I noticed that once I did feel hungry, I was absolutely ravenous! I’d probably eat your arm off if you were in close range and there were no Keto snacks available. For this reason, I found it even more important to have a numerous amounts of Keto friendly snacks on hand at all times!
My Keto Diet Results after 30 Days
My original plan was to try the Ketogenic Diet for 30 days and see if any of my symptoms were eliminated. Within the first week all my bloating and indigestion were gone.
I was REALLY surprised at this because in the past I’ve had trouble digesting meats. My diet was now saturated with meats and cheeses which caused me no discomfort! If you have trouble digesting meat I would try adding in healthy fats and oils with it to see if it might rectify the situation for you as well.
Another immediate problem that was rectified was insomnia. I don’t ever sleep well, or through the night. I was almost immediately sleeping deeply. Where when I awoke during the night I could feel the tryptophan surging through my body that drove me back to sleep quickly.
It was an amazing feeling that I haven’t had in years. Feeling groggy when waking during the night and the ability to fall asleep quickly.
Once your body switches into Ketosis you are supposed to feel a burst of energy.
I did not. In fact my mind was so foggy it compared to when I frequently become anemic from an extremely low level of B vitamins. I researched all of the foods I was eating on the Keto diet and there’s no way my B vitamins were suffering.
More of My Keto Diet Results after 30 Days:
Still I felt in a fog. I was so tired that I couldn’t stay up at night to work (as I typically do on my blog once the kids are asleep) and I was even taking naps during the day!
I did further research before giving up on the Keto diet I worked so hard for. After much research I found that for some individuals it can take up to 6 weeks to reach Ketosis. I had no idea. So I decided to give it 2 more weeks before throwing in the towel.
At about 5 1/2 weeks of a strict Keto diet of limiting carbohydrates to 22g a day and keeping fats to at least 144 grams a day I finally felt my mind switch. It became clear again.
However my exhaustion did not dissipate.
My Keto Diet Results After 6 Weeks
- I didn’t have much weight to lose, but every bit of my body that was wiggly disappeared. Any flab I had on my stomach and thighs was gone. My clothes still fit the same, but my body composition shifted in a way that felt amazing.
- My insomnia was gone. I could sleep well each night for the first time in over half a decade.
- My daily bloating and indigestion I felt every night was gone.
- I however, was still tired. I never got the burst of energy that many get in Ketosis. There is a good chance that is because I’m still breastfeeding and also have a toddler who doesn’t nearly sleep through the night. After further research I’ve found some awesome supplements that might combat the fatigue next time I try the Keto Diet. They are listed a bit further down.
- I also didn’t get any relief for my severe varicose veins.
Did I Continue the Keto Diet after 6 weeks?
Because of the lack of energy I decided to change up my diet. However I learned so much from my first experience with a strict diet.
1. I NEED way more protein than I was consuming and I CAN digest meat.
2. I need to increase my healthy fats for my brain and joint function.
3. Eating a huge amount of fat WILL NOT make you fat! (If it is the right kinds.) In fact I’m sure I lost weight eating more fat than I’ve ever consumed in my life.
I am continuing to lower my carbs and increasing my fats from how I was eating previously. Those are amazingly helpful aspects of the Ketogenic Diet that I will continue with.
I also continue to do a Keto day or two a week. Some days I just feel like a need that diet now. Perhaps it’s my body telling me what nutrients it requires at that time.
Here was my Keto dinner last week: 30 Minute Keto Meal Buttery Steak and Cheesy Califlower
Supplements to Fight Fatigue Next Time I Try Keto:
I have done more research on the topic of exhaustion from being in Ketosis and I’ve found some supplements that I will be picking up for the next time I give the Keto Diet a try. Once I’ve concluded breastfeeding my littlest. If you are trying Keto and just can’t seem to get that burst of energy I recommend adding these into your daily routine!
1. Potassium
Potassium is known for fighting fatigue on the Keto diet as many people become deficient in it. It’s an extremely affordable supplement to add in and I won’t be missing it next time!
2.Magnesium
Many of us are deficient in magnesium already and it is a really great supplement to add into the Keto diet.
3. Exogenous Ketones
While some people tout Exogenous Ketones as a magic pill that will give you the weightloss results of the Keto Diet without actually being on a strict Keto Diet that isn’t at all true. However the added ketones most definitely can improve brain function and clarity, as well as giving you added energy. Exactly what I was suffering from and can’t wait to try out!
KETO RESOURCES FROM VIGOR IT OUT:
- What is Keto and 8 Satisfying Keto Dinner Recipes
- Chocolate Blueberry Cheesecake Fat Bombs
- Keto Snacks You NEED to Keep on Hand at all Times to Ensure Diet Success
- How to End Keto Flu With Simple Drinks, Recipes, and Diet Adjustments
- Low Carb Gluten Free Bread for the Keto Diet
Some of My Other Resources You Might Totally Love:
First off TOTALLY FREE:
- I have available a printable Ingredient Replacement Guide
Because you don’t have to eliminate your family favorites to move in a healthier eating direction! You simply need to be aware of ingredients and with this substitution guide you can still have all of favorites! Just slightly altered to add in nutrients and eliminate empty calories and bad fats.
PLUS:
Are you interested in learning more about the most antioxidant rich food we know of and how to actually include it in your diet daily in a healthy way?
Hi there! I’m curious if/how keto affected your milk supply, since you mentioned you were still breastfeeding. I am, as well, and have been curious about going on keto.
Hey there Molls, that’s a great question! So I’ve gone on Keto two times, the first I was breastfeeding, the second I had recently weaned my big girl. Going on Keto did not negatively affect my supply at all. Protein is very much linked to a good milk supply and there’s no shortage of protein on a keto diet! I did however notice MORE exhaustion while my body transitioned to Ketosis during breastfeeding. It was very hard to deal with on an energy level while breastfeeding for me, but the milk supply was great. Hope that helps a bit. 🙂
I just wanted to point out that you wrote i’ your introduction… “The low fat high carbdiet”. Is it me or is that supposed to be “The high fat low carbdiet”?
Oh my gosh what a silly typo! Thank you so much for pointing that out! You are absolutely right, it should be low CARB high FAT” not the opposite. Thanks for taking the time to point that out.