Prior to joining this site I tried for a year to lose weight, but could not at all.
I am not obese, but classify as “overweight” on BMI scale. I wish so badly to be 10.7 and just healthy. One of the things I believe contributes to this is the fact that Im bipolar and to remain stable I have to use mood stabilizers (sodium valproate).
My starter weight was 11.4 and in about a month, I low carb/ hf- ed my way down to 10.13. I was so happy with this and started to believe I could really reach goal, and then reintroduce some carbs little by little.
For the past three weeks I have been on Keto, following strictly the diet doctors plan. It has not gone as I hoped, because for almost two weeks now my weight has stayed the same. I don’t know why and it is really getting me down. (I know its working as I have tested for ketones.)
One thing I have read is that stress and tiredness can affect the process. Of late I have had alot of stress/fatigue. Maybe thats why I’m stuck??
I have read about fasting and I tried skipping breakfast but got really hungry at 11. Im not sure whether it is too soon or not to do this.
I do not want to stay on keto forever, but am willing to just to lose the last 7 pounds. Then id like to have some carbs again, but keep them low.
Before Keto I used to get very very hungry every 3 hours, I was not eating unhealthy but it felt like my blood sugar was really unstable.
Can anybody shed some light on why I could be stuck? I don’t want to give up.
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KitchenPhoenix
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Hmmm...one thing is that you are really close to your goal weight and I know weight loss slows as you get close. You may also be onto something with your thoughts about stress and fatigue... they can both definitely impact weight loss. For me they also trigger my appetite so I overeat even on keto. I would focus on taking care of yourself first... get rest, make sure you take your meds regularly, and work around them to reduce stress. Then you can take a look at your diet. I’m trying to eat now how I plan to eat at goal... it’s slower weight loss but I hope that means I’ll be able to maintain once I get there! Best wishes!
Almost all of us here thought we'd "plateau'd" at a few pounds above ideal, but in fact fat loss continues at a very slow rate as your body tends towards its ideal setpoint. It might take six months or a year, but those last few pounds will disappear eventually. You're not going to see any meaningful change over 2 weeks.
LCHF works, and it works reliably, but the laws of physics still apply. Your body can only burn off fat at a certain maximum rate.
Stress absolutely does affect us in all sorts of negative ways, so whatever you can do to fix that ... do it.
I would not recommend trying to force yourself to eat less. Weight loss is not about calorie deficit, at least not in the way the Nutritionists think. Fat is an organ with certain physiological functions, and the mass of fat you carry is determined by your body's assessment of how much you need to perform those functions. Asserting that you can make it smaller by eating less makes as much sense as saying you can make your intestines shorter by eating less, but that's the sort of drivel we have to put up with from Experts.
Eat until you are full. If you're hungry, eat more. Or eat more often. It's counterintuitive, but it's important not to deny yourself food. Over time, you'll find you want to eat less often; many of us seem to settle into a two-meals-a-day routine.
Also, most people find that they don't need to stay "keto" longer than 2 weeks. Your weight loss should continue even if you introduce some moderately carby foods (eg., carrots, corn, fruit, milk) but don't go overboard and start bringing back bread and rice. At least not yet. Six months from now you should be able to do so without triggering carb cravings.
Incidentally, have you noticed any improvement in your mood since "going keto"? Various neurological issues can sometimes be helped with low-carb diets. Also, did you find an exercise you can enjoy?
If you're feeling hungry eat more (assuming it's not cravings for crisps etc!). Body is generally pretty good at telling you what it needs and maybe it's asking for more to give you extra energy to fight the fatigue - esp if weather still cold and 'orrible!
I'm no expert but maybe something is lacking - maybe try beef broth / an oxo in place of a glass of water (assuming you drink water!). Don't worry about the weight or you'll get yourself in a vicious circle - just enjoy what you eat and keep it sensible!
Hello there. Sodium valproate is well known for causing weight gain. Are you eating enough fat? Intermittent fasting is really good for kick starting the weight loss. Don't give up you will get there. Good luck. X
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