Keto · Weight Loss    

Not Losing Weight on Keto? 4 Common Reasons You're Not + Solutions

woman who is not losing weight on keto holding a scale and screaming

If you're not losing weight on keto, don't give up! For some, the keto diet is as easy as cutting carbs and upping your fat intake. But others still struggle to lose weight while on a keto diet. Luckily, by adjusting carb, fat, protein, and calorie intake many people are able to kickstart (or restart) their keto weight loss progress.

In this article, you will learn:

How Long it Normally Takes to see Weight Loss Results on Keto

Before we get into some of the ways you might be doing the keto diet wrong, keep in mind that it takes most people anywhere from two to four weeks to get into optimal ketosis. And some people can have an even harder time becoming fat adapted. So to start, make sure you’ve given the keto diet enough time to start working its magic.

If you’ve been eating keto for a while and still aren’t losing weight, try these troubleshooting tips before you give up: 

Keto Weight Loss Problem #1: Too Many Carbs

If you eat too many carbs, your body will never deplete its glycogen (sugar) stores. If you don’t drain your glycogen stores, your body won’t break down fat into ketones for energy.

This one is especially tough when you’re first starting out. It’s only natural that you’ll gravitate toward higher-carb foods as you’re transitioning into ketosis. And carbs can be deceiving!  

Common high-carb culprits include nuts, seeds, some dairy products, keto “desserts”, and keto processed and packaged foods. Just because it’s labeled as “keto” doesn’t mean you can eat a lot of it.

Be sure to track your macros for the first few weeks so you can get a better idea of what 50 grams or fewer carbs actually looks like. 

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Keto Weight Loss Problem #2: Not Enough Fat

One of the main reasons you’re not experiencing the benefits of a keto diet is you’re not getting enough fat – even if it feels like you’re eating a ton of it.

Many people report not being able to stomach so much fat all of a sudden or that “it just feels wrong” to eat so much fat in one sitting. But getting your calories from fat is the key to staying full and getting the energy you need to thrive through the transition into full keto.

Including high-quality MCT oil into your diet is the easiest way to up your fat intake painlessly. It’s tasteless and odorless so you can add it to almost every meal or beverage, including your morning coffee. MCT Creamer is a great option to add flavor and a creamy texture to hot and cold drinks and smoothies without the oily feel.

Other high-fat foods and snacks to add to your day include:

  • Avocado
  • Olives and olive oil
  • Macadamia nuts and macadamia nut oil
  • Butter
  • Cream cheese
  • Heavy cream
  • Butter
  • Sour cream
  • Coconut cream

Add at least one high-fat food to any low-carb vegetable or meat dish you make to painlessly up your fat intake.

Keto Weight Loss Problem #3: Too Much Protein

This makes sense. Protein is very satisfying and fills you up quickly. Since it can feel strange to eat so much fat all of a sudden, many people end up overcompensating with large amounts of protein instead.

Unfortunately, this will keep your body from becoming fat-adaption because your liver can turn certain amino acids from protein into glucose. And if there’s glucose in your system, your body will always use that preferentially over fat.

If you think you might be eating too much protein, follow the macronutrient ratio of 5-10% carbs, 15-25% protein, and 65-80% fat. Track your food for a few weeks to get a feel for these new ratios and see how you feel.

Keto Weight Loss Problem #4: Too Many Calories

If you’re doing everything right and you’re still not losing unwanted weight, it could be that you’re eating too many calories.

It’s true that losing weight is about so much more than “calories in, calories out,” but it stands true that if you’re eating 3,500-4,000 calories per day and not working out, your body is bound to store some fat.

Track your calorie intake for a few days and, if you’re eating way more than your burning at the gym, you may want to try cutting down. 

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