8 Reasons You Are Not Losing Weight on Keto (2024)

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8 Reasons You Are Not Losing Weight on Keto (1)

The keto diet restricts carb intake to about 20-50 grams a day

Many people follow the keto diet to lose weight and improve overall health. However, in order to lose weight on keto, you need to follow the diet correctly.

The keto diet restricts carb intake to about 20-50 grams a day. When your body does not have enough stored carbs to use for fuel, it enters a state of ketosis, in which fat is burned for energy instead.

Here are 8 potential reasons you may not be losing weight on keto.

8 ways you could be doing keto wrong

1. Eating too many carbs

The main reason why many people find that they are not losing weight with keto is that they are eating too many carbs. In order to achieve ketosis, you need to drastically cut back on your carb consumption.

However, carbs are tricky and can be hidden in vegetables, sauces, and dressings. In order to keep track of your carb intake, you can use a macronutrient tracker that helps you track your net carbs (net carbohydrates = total carbs - fiber - sugar alcohols).

2. Eating too many calories

The ratio of calories consumed from food to calories burned during active and passive metabolic activities is called an energy balance. In order to lose weight, you should aim to eat fewer calories than you burn to keep a continuous negative energy balance.

On a keto diet, this often occurs naturally, but not always. It is still possible to overeat while following a low-carb, high-fat diet. For example, half a cup of almonds contains more than 400 calories.

You can track your calorie intake by using fitness trackers to make sure your overall calorie consumption is within range for ideal weight loss.

3. Eating too much protein

When on a low-carb diet like keto, it can be easy to eat too much protein. Unlike other low-carb diets, the keto diet is moderate-protein and most of the calories come from fat. Protein should make up less than 35% of your diet on keto.

Because your body tends to break down excess protein into amino acids and turn them into sugar, eating too many high-protein foods can disrupt ketosis.

4. Snacking too often

When you fast between meals, your body activates the metabolic process that produces ketones and burns fat. While this doesn’t mean that you have to adhere to a strict fasting schedule, snacking too often between meals can cause your weight loss to plateau.

5. Eating too many sugar alcohols

Sugar alcohols are an ideal choice for the ketogenic diet, since they provide sweetness without increasing your net carbohydrate intake. However, not every sugar alcohol is the same.

Maltitol is a sugar alcohol that is not suitable for keto diet. Despite having a low glycemic index, maltitol still has an impact on blood sugar levels, which can prevent ketosis.

6. Not exercising enough

Getting enough physical exercise is crucial to weight loss when on a keto diet. You still need to burn more calories than you consume in order to shed fat.

Regular exercise benefits your health in other ways. It helps you build muscle and boosts your metabolism, as well as protects you from chronic disease.

7. Not managing stress

Your ability to lose weight on keto could be hindered by a high-stress lifestyle. Stress can alter hormone levels, which can result in weight gain or difficulty losing weight.

Cortisol is an adrenal hormone that is secreted when you are under stress. Excess cortisol can increase insulin and blood sugar levels while encouraging insulin resistance, neither of which will aid in fat burning.

8. Not getting enough sleep

Your circadian rhythm, the 24-hour cycle of wakefulness and sleep, plays a vital role when it comes to controlling body weight. Insufficient sleep produces ghrelin, the hormone that makes you hungry, and it also inhibits insulin function and elevates stress hormones in the body.

Medically Reviewed on 8/26/2022

References

Image Source: iStock image

Lack of exercise is a major cause of chronic diseases. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4241367/

Increasing muscle mass to improve metabolism. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3661116/

Ketogenic Diet. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499830/

Effectiveness of Intermittent Fasting and Time-Restricted Feeding Compared to Continuous Energy Restriction for Weight Loss. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6836017/

Effects of Chronic Social Stress on Obesity. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3428710/

A single night of sleep deprivation increases ghrelin levels and feelings of hunger in normal-weight healthy men. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18564298/

Sleep Restriction for 1 Week Reduces Insulin Sensitivity in Healthy Men. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2927933/

Sleep loss results in an elevation of cortisol levels the next evening. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9415946/

The Importance of Energy Balance. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6003580/

No observable differences in glycemic response to maltitol in human subjects from 3 ethnically diverse groups. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21481716/

8 Reasons You Are Not Losing Weight on Keto (2024)

FAQs

8 Reasons You Are Not Losing Weight on Keto? ›

Usually, when a person does not lose weight on the keto diet, it is because they have not achieved ketosis. One reason for not achieving ketosis is not cutting back enough on carbs. According to a 2023 overview of previous research.

Why am I doing everything right on keto but not losing weight? ›

Usually, when a person does not lose weight on the keto diet, it is because they have not achieved ketosis. One reason for not achieving ketosis is not cutting back enough on carbs. According to a 2023 overview of previous research.

Is it possible to be in ketosis and not lose weight? ›

Along with eating the wrong things, excessive calorie intake can also be a reason for an inability to lose weight on the ketogenic diet. Over-consumption of food and going over your recommended macros (including fat intake) can lead to weight gain rather than fat loss.

Can eating too little carbs stall weight loss? ›

If you're on a low-carb diet to lose weight, you expect the scale to be going down. Ironically, though, diets that are too low in carbs can have the opposite effect over time as your body may react to the decreased carbohydrate intake by trying to produce its own usable glucose from protein or fat.

Can you lose 5 lbs a week on keto? ›

Drew Manning, keto diet expert and author of Fit2Fat2Fit and Complete Keto , stresses that this beginning weight loss is not initially fat. “It's mostly just water weight,” he says. In his experience, people can lose anywhere from one to five pounds on average in that first week. “Maybe more depending on the person.”

How to speed up weight loss in ketosis? ›

To maximize weight loss on a ketogenic diet, get adequate sleep, reduce stress, be more active and consume whole, nutritious, low-carb foods whenever possible.

Can too much protein kick you out of ketosis? ›

Protein will not kick you out of ketosis if you have a lot of it, but it will definitely lower the amount of ketones in your blood.” Since slightly more protein shouldn't affect your body's ability to stay in ketosis, this version of the diet delivers the same weight loss benefits as standard keto, Spritzler says.

What is keto whoosh? ›

These keto dieters say the fat on their body starts to feel softer to the touch. The concept of the whoosh effect is if you stay on the diet long enough, your cells start to release all the water and fat that's thought to have built up. When this process begins, this is called the “whoosh” effect.

What happens if you eat no carbs for a week? ›

Severe carb limits can cause your body to break down fat into ketones for energy. This is called ketosis. Ketosis can cause side effects such as bad breath, headache, fatigue and weakness. It's not clear what kind of possible long-term health risks a low-carb diet may pose.

What is the best level of ketones for weight loss? ›

Ketone levels in your blood need to be between 0.5-3 mg/dL for your body to achieve optimal ketosis, which is the ideal state for weight loss. Yes, having a certain amount of ketones in your blood, urine or breath means that your body is burning fat.

How to break a plateau on keto? ›

Reducing your intake of carbs or calories, expanding your workout routine, reducing your stress levels, and trying intermittent fasting are all strategies to help break a weight loss plateau on the keto diet.

How to shock your body out of a plateau? ›

12 Simple Ways to Break Through a Weight Loss Plateau
  1. Cut carbs.
  2. Exercise more.
  3. Track your foods.
  4. Eat protein.
  5. Manage stress.
  6. Try fasting.
  7. Avoid alcohol.
  8. Increase fiber.
Feb 26, 2024

How many carbs a day is too little? ›

While there is no strict definition of a low carb diet, anything under 100–150 grams per day is generally considered low carb. This is definitely a lot less than the amount of carbs in the standard Western diet. You may achieve great results within this carb range, as long as you eat unprocessed whole foods.

How much water should I drink on keto? ›

How Much Water Should You Drink on Keto? Rule of thumb states a person should divide their body weight in half and drink that many ounces of water daily. For example, if someone weighs 160 pounds, they'll need to take in 80 ounces of water a day.

Can I lose 10 pounds in 3 weeks on keto? ›

Individuals on a keto diet can lose an average of 10-12 pounds in their first month if they stay consistent with the diet and maintain a calorie deficit. However, weight loss can vary depending on starting weight, age, and activity level. At first, there may be a quick drop in weight, but it's mainly due to water loss.

How long should you stay on keto? ›

Following the keto diet for an extended period of time can be difficult, and even some of its top proponents warn against sticking to its strict guidelines. This includes cutting back carbohydrates to 50 grams a day or less, for at least two to three weeks up to six to 12 months, per the National Library of Medicine.

How long does it take to start losing weight on keto? ›

Weight loss from keto varies from person to person. Generally, if you maintain a daily caloric deficit of around 500-700 calories, you can expect noticeable weight loss after anywhere from 10 to 21 days. However, remember that weight loss is not linear and some may see results sooner.

How do you break a weight loss plateau on keto? ›

If you are losing 1 to 2 pounds per week, there is no need to implement the suggestions found in this article.
  1. Track Your Calories. ...
  2. Recalculate Your Macros Every Month. ...
  3. Take Intermittent Breaks From Calorie Restriction. ...
  4. Decrease Your Calorie Deficit. ...
  5. Eat The Right Amount Of Protein. ...
  6. Stay Consistent With Your Keto Diet.
Jul 28, 2022

Why am I not losing weight even though I'm in a calorie deficit and working out? ›

For example, you may see the number on the scale go up even though you are eating in a calorie deficit and working out regularly. This doesn't mean you are getting "fatter". It's likely due to factors such as: - Water retention: This can be caused by things like sodium intake, stress, menstruation, and other factors.

Why am I losing inches on keto but not weight? ›

Weight loss on a ketogenic diet can sometimes result in losing inches without a corresponding change on the scale. This discrepancy is due to body composition changes, including fat loss and muscle gain.

References

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