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Ketosis & Weight Gain

S

SweetHeart

Well-Known Member
Messages
511
Hi Guys

Does anyone else gain weight whilst being in Ketosis? According to my scales I've gained six pounds in a week. My jeans don't agree with this, they're still hanging off me. Don't really want to buy new scales but I will if needs must....I'm on about 50g carbs a day, and the Ketostix are, on daily average, reading about 4 or 6mmol. Being non-diabetic (so not taking Met) and hypothyroidal, my weight loss is slower (but infinitely more precious) than a T2 diabetic's would be.

Meanwhile any advice, or experience would be appreciated. It's very demoralizing, standing on the scales

Ju
 
Have you been doing a lot of strength exercises?

Have you got a measuring tape so you can measure about waist, thighs etc?

Do you look better in the mirror? Do your clothes fit better?

What often happens to me somewhere in the process is I will lose weight for a while, then it will seemingly stop, but I'll be putting on muscle and look 'more toned' even with the same weight.

For the moment, I would say fear not, and find a way that you can measure progress that is a bit less weight dependant. After all, weight is just one aspect - there's circumference, fitness, stamina, appearance, blood glucose levels...

Unless you really feel you're getting bigger suddenly, just find a different criteria for a bit.

-M
 
Hi M,

Yesterday I weighed myself and was 10st12lbs. Today I'm 10st 7lbs, which feels more like it. I'm probably a wee bit lighter but I'm retaining water this week. Also, I didn't eat anything at bedtime last night and my Ketostix this morning was deeply purple at 8mmol, not quite dark enough for 16.

So I feel cheerier this morning. Although, even if I had put on all that weight, I wouldn't go back to a 'normal' diet. I couldn't possibly give up low carb now - this is our new lifestyle - and I know it makes sense, especially for my diabetic husband.

Ju
 

Ju,

That just goes to show that bathroom scales are a very poor indication of fat loss. I know this for sure, my funky scales keep a log of my weight (and plot it on a graph). I've lost over 60lbs, and if you look at the trace over a long time you can see it consistantly heading downwards, but the daily variations can be about 5lb.

It sounds like you're showing some serious ketones there Ju. Do you get varying shades of purples every time you test? Or do you sometimes just get the "annoying brown colour".

I've found that cutting dairy has hugely accelerated my weight loss - 5lbs this week, as opposed to about 5lbs a month with lots of cream and cheese in my diet.

Stephen
 
Stephen,

I think we eat a fair amount of dairy - huge plates of green veg with a puddle of cream-based sauce, or greek yoghurt with berries, cheese with ham or low carb crackers for a treat. I know we could cut them out for faster weight loss but we aren't bothered by losing weight too fast (thinking about excess over-stretched skin here, even though we aren't too far into the overweight category) I think steadiness and exercise might be the key to keeping the weight off and MH's BG levels are now in the mid to higher 4's.

However, it's a nasty shock when the scales say you've gained 6lbs! But as Mileana says, my clothes are still hanging on me and I know I look better in the mirror - we have four huge mirrored wardrobes so there's no lying to yourself in our bedroom! I have to watch my snacking - I've been grabbing Pepperamis and salted peanuts to up my salt levels when I get a spinny head - and, of course, they're high fat. I'm pleased with my Ketosis - I've only had the (incredibly) annoying brown once in six weeks although I quite often just have the deep coral pink after meals. A friend suggested cutting out coffee but two or three cups a day is now my only vice, no sugar just a teaspoon of double cream.

Himself wants to lose another stone and a half, and my goal is another stone. With the low carbing I think they are seriously attainable and sustainable goals. This is the easiest way I have ever found to lose weight and stay healthy. We're quietly confident that we are doing our best to keep the nasty effects of diabetes at bay as best we can.

Ju
 
Jules, don't worry. The tape measure is a better guide I found. I have times where my weight fluctuates quite wildly, but the tape measure and clothes don't lie. My weight is coming off at a good old rate of knots, but I do go through periods where the scales say I have gained, when I know, it's not possible. The weight you and hubs want to lose will come off, especially if you ease back on the snacks :lol:
 
Jo,

I bought a pair of size 12 jeans as I was walking around clutching the 14's to make sure they didn't fall down. Tried the 12's on and they are slightly roomy around the waist and require a belt. I am soooo pleased. Again, today, the scales are saying I've gained four pounds, but I'm just ignoring them as my clothes aren't any tighter.

I've been cutting down on the fruit since last week, and increasing my water intake as it's very warm here. Possibly, I'm retaining water this week.....

Talking of which, I've just bought some urine reagent strips as I'm running out of Ketostix, but these test for 10 different things at once and they were cheaper than Ketostix. No doubt I'll find out I've got something dreadful when they get here........ :lol:

Ju
 

I got into my smaller jeans yesterday - yippee

That's my biggest problem, if I buy things to give me advice on how I am doing, I can in the space of a minute have every disease known to man, so do try to avoid self diagnostics. I do like my ketostix though, darkest purple always now :lol:
 
Because my mother is a carb-addicted yo yo dieter, I've always refused to go on a diet and don't have scales in the house, As a student I did a work placement at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. One day I spent lugging big judo mats for a championship. I got home, weighed myself and had lost 7lbs - the next day it was back on. I suspect daily fluctuations are mostly water and agree other posters who say go by your clothes. I bought a pair of trousers at Marks and Spencer in December and they were getting baggier so I went back this week and found I've lost four inches off my waist and am now size 16 which is still fat but thinner than I've been since 1996 !
 

Exactly! I have gained today, but suspect it is water, as I can still get into those jeans and to be honest, they felt a bit looser today than yesterday, so it's not really important. Go by the tape measure, much more reliable.
 
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