How to maintain weight after keto. 6 Effective Strategies for Maintaining Weight Loss After Keto: Expert Tips and Insights
How can you maintain weight loss after keto. What are the best strategies for transitioning off a ketogenic diet. Why do people often regain weight after stopping keto. What role does exercise play in post-keto weight maintenance. How can you adjust your diet for long-term success after keto.
Understanding Weight Regain After Keto: Causes and Challenges
The ketogenic diet has gained popularity as an effective weight loss method, but maintaining that weight loss after transitioning off keto can be challenging. Many individuals experience weight regain when they stop following the strict low-carb, high-fat approach of keto. Understanding the reasons behind this phenomenon is crucial for developing effective strategies to maintain your weight loss success.
Why do people often regain weight after keto? There are several factors at play:
- Rapid reintroduction of carbohydrates
- Decreased metabolic rate due to prolonged calorie restriction
- Return to old eating habits and processed foods
- Lack of a sustainable long-term plan
- Insufficient physical activity
To combat these challenges, it’s essential to approach the transition from keto with a well-thought-out strategy. Let’s explore some effective methods for maintaining your weight loss and overall health after keto.
Gradual Carbohydrate Reintroduction: The Key to a Smooth Transition
One of the most critical aspects of maintaining weight loss after keto is carefully reintroducing carbohydrates into your diet. How can you do this effectively? The key is to take a gradual approach:
- Start by adding small amounts of complex carbohydrates to your meals
- Monitor your body’s response and adjust accordingly
- Focus on nutrient-dense, fiber-rich carbohydrate sources
- Maintain a balanced macronutrient profile
By slowly increasing your carbohydrate intake, you allow your body to adapt without experiencing rapid weight gain or metabolic disruptions. This gradual approach helps maintain insulin sensitivity and prevents sudden spikes in blood sugar levels.
The Role of Exercise in Post-Keto Weight Maintenance
Physical activity plays a crucial role in maintaining weight loss after any diet, including keto. Regular exercise not only helps burn calories but also supports metabolic health and muscle maintenance. How much exercise is necessary for post-keto weight maintenance?
Experts recommend aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity per week. Additionally, incorporating strength training exercises at least twice a week can help preserve muscle mass and boost metabolism.
Benefits of Exercise for Post-Keto Weight Maintenance:
- Increased calorie expenditure
- Improved insulin sensitivity
- Enhanced metabolic flexibility
- Preserved muscle mass
- Better overall health and well-being
Remember to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new exercise regimen, especially if you’re transitioning from a ketogenic diet.
Optimizing Nutrient Intake: Balancing Macronutrients for Long-Term Success
Maintaining weight loss after keto requires a shift in focus from strict macronutrient ratios to overall nutrient quality. How can you optimize your nutrient intake for long-term success?
Focus on consuming a variety of whole, nutrient-dense foods that provide a balance of macronutrients and essential micronutrients. This approach supports overall health and helps prevent nutrient deficiencies that can occur with restrictive diets.
Key Components of a Balanced Post-Keto Diet:
- Lean proteins (e.g., chicken, fish, tofu)
- Healthy fats (e.g., avocado, nuts, olive oil)
- Complex carbohydrates (e.g., whole grains, legumes, fruits)
- Fiber-rich vegetables
- Adequate hydration
By focusing on nutrient-dense foods, you can maintain satiety, support metabolic health, and prevent excessive calorie intake without feeling deprived.
Mindful Eating and Portion Control: Essential Skills for Weight Maintenance
Developing mindful eating habits and practicing portion control are crucial skills for maintaining weight loss after keto. These practices help you tune into your body’s hunger and fullness cues, preventing overeating and promoting a healthier relationship with food.
Tips for Practicing Mindful Eating:
- Eat slowly and savor each bite
- Pay attention to hunger and fullness cues
- Minimize distractions during meals
- Use smaller plates to control portion sizes
- Be aware of emotional eating triggers
By incorporating these habits into your daily routine, you can maintain a healthy weight without relying on strict dietary rules or restrictions.
Stress Management and Sleep: Often Overlooked Factors in Weight Maintenance
Stress and sleep play significant roles in weight management, yet they are often overlooked in post-diet plans. High stress levels and poor sleep quality can lead to hormonal imbalances, increased appetite, and difficulty maintaining a healthy weight.
How can you address these factors to support your weight maintenance efforts?
- Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation or yoga
- Prioritize sleep by establishing a consistent sleep schedule
- Create a relaxing bedtime routine
- Limit caffeine and screen time before bed
- Engage in regular physical activity to reduce stress and improve sleep quality
By managing stress and prioritizing sleep, you create a supportive environment for maintaining your weight loss and overall health.
Building a Support System: The Importance of Accountability and Encouragement
Maintaining weight loss after keto can be challenging, and having a strong support system can make a significant difference in your long-term success. How can you build an effective support network?
- Join a support group or online community focused on healthy living
- Work with a registered dietitian or nutritionist for personalized guidance
- Share your goals with friends and family members who can offer encouragement
- Consider working with a fitness trainer or coach for exercise support
- Use apps or tracking tools to monitor progress and stay accountable
Having a support system provides motivation, accountability, and valuable resources to help you navigate the challenges of maintaining weight loss after keto.
Monitoring Progress and Adjusting Your Approach: The Key to Long-Term Success
Maintaining weight loss after keto requires ongoing attention and willingness to adjust your approach as needed. Regular monitoring of your progress and making necessary adjustments can help you stay on track and prevent weight regain.
Effective Ways to Monitor Your Progress:
- Regular weigh-ins (weekly or bi-weekly)
- Body measurements
- Progress photos
- Tracking energy levels and overall well-being
- Periodic health check-ups and bloodwork
By consistently monitoring your progress, you can identify trends and make timely adjustments to your diet and exercise plan. This proactive approach helps prevent small setbacks from turning into significant weight regain.
The Role of Fiber in Post-Keto Weight Maintenance
Fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining weight loss after transitioning from a ketogenic diet. How does fiber contribute to weight maintenance, and how can you incorporate more fiber into your post-keto diet?
Fiber provides numerous benefits for weight management and overall health:
- Promotes feelings of fullness and satiety
- Slows digestion and stabilizes blood sugar levels
- Supports a healthy gut microbiome
- Aids in regular bowel movements
- May help reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases
To increase your fiber intake, focus on incorporating a variety of high-fiber foods into your meals:
- Vegetables (e.g., broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots)
- Fruits (e.g., berries, apples, pears)
- Whole grains (e.g., oats, quinoa, brown rice)
- Legumes (e.g., lentils, chickpeas, black beans)
- Nuts and seeds (e.g., almonds, chia seeds, flaxseeds)
Gradually increase your fiber intake to avoid digestive discomfort, and be sure to drink plenty of water to support optimal digestion.
The Importance of Protein in Maintaining Muscle Mass
Protein plays a vital role in maintaining muscle mass and supporting weight maintenance after keto. How much protein should you consume, and what are the best sources for a balanced post-keto diet?
The recommended protein intake for adults is generally 0.8 to 1 gram per kilogram of body weight, but this may vary depending on your activity level and individual needs. Consulting with a registered dietitian can help you determine the optimal protein intake for your specific situation.
High-Quality Protein Sources for Post-Keto Diets:
- Lean meats (e.g., chicken, turkey, lean beef)
- Fish and seafood
- Eggs
- Greek yogurt and cottage cheese
- Plant-based proteins (e.g., tofu, tempeh, legumes)
By incorporating a variety of protein sources into your meals, you can support muscle maintenance, promote satiety, and help prevent weight regain after keto.
Navigating Social Situations and Dining Out After Keto
Maintaining weight loss after keto can be particularly challenging when faced with social situations and dining out. How can you navigate these scenarios while staying committed to your health goals?
- Plan ahead: Review menus in advance and choose restaurants with healthy options
- Practice portion control: Share meals or ask for a to-go box at the beginning of the meal
- Focus on whole foods: Choose dishes with lean proteins, vegetables, and whole grains
- Be mindful of beverages: Opt for water, unsweetened tea, or other low-calorie options
- Don’t arrive overly hungry: Have a small, healthy snack before social events to prevent overeating
Remember that occasional indulgences are part of a balanced lifestyle. The key is to make mindful choices most of the time while allowing for flexibility in social situations.
The Potential Benefits of Intermittent Fasting for Weight Maintenance
Intermittent fasting has gained popularity as a potential tool for weight management and overall health. Can intermittent fasting help maintain weight loss after keto? While research is ongoing, some studies suggest that intermittent fasting may offer benefits for weight maintenance and metabolic health.
Potential Benefits of Intermittent Fasting:
- Improved insulin sensitivity
- Enhanced fat burning
- Increased cellular repair processes
- Potential reduction in inflammation
- Simplification of meal planning and preparation
It’s important to note that intermittent fasting may not be suitable for everyone. Consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating intermittent fasting into your post-keto lifestyle to ensure it’s appropriate for your individual needs and health status.
The Role of Hydration in Post-Keto Weight Maintenance
Proper hydration is crucial for overall health and can play a significant role in maintaining weight loss after keto. How does hydration support weight maintenance, and how much water should you drink?
Adequate hydration offers several benefits for weight management:
- Supports metabolism and digestion
- Helps control appetite and reduce overeating
- Enhances exercise performance and recovery
- Promotes optimal organ function
- May help reduce water retention
The general recommendation is to drink at least 8 cups (64 ounces) of water per day, but individual needs may vary based on factors such as activity level, climate, and overall health. Listen to your body’s thirst cues and aim to maintain pale yellow urine as a sign of good hydration.
Addressing Emotional Eating and Developing Coping Strategies
Emotional eating can be a significant obstacle to maintaining weight loss after keto. How can you identify emotional eating patterns and develop healthier coping strategies?
- Keep a food and mood journal to identify triggers
- Practice stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing or meditation
- Engage in non-food related activities for emotional comfort (e.g., exercise, hobbies)
- Seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional
- Develop a list of alternative coping strategies for different emotions
By addressing emotional eating and developing healthier coping mechanisms, you can create a more balanced relationship with food and support long-term weight maintenance.
The Importance of Regular Health Check-ups and Bloodwork
Regular health check-ups and bloodwork are essential components of a successful post-keto weight maintenance plan. How often should you have check-ups, and what should you monitor?
Work with your healthcare provider to determine an appropriate schedule for check-ups and bloodwork. Generally, it’s recommended to have a comprehensive health assessment at least once a year, with more frequent monitoring if you have specific health concerns or risk factors.
Key Health Markers to Monitor:
- Blood pressure
- Cholesterol levels
- Blood glucose levels
- Thyroid function
- Vitamin and mineral levels
- Liver and kidney function
Regular monitoring allows you and your healthcare provider to identify any potential issues early and make necessary adjustments to your diet and lifestyle to support long-term health and weight maintenance.
By implementing these strategies and maintaining a balanced approach to nutrition and lifestyle, you can successfully transition from a ketogenic diet while maintaining your weight loss and supporting overall health. Remember that everyone’s journey is unique, and it may take time to find the right balance that works for you. Stay patient, consistent, and focused on your long-term health goals as you navigate the post-keto phase of your wellness journey.
Maintaining Weight Loss After Keto | Weight Loss After Keto
Written on January 30, 2023 by Amy Harris, MS, RN, CNM. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.
Table of contents
- Why do people gain weight after keto?
- Plan ahead before stopping the keto diet
- Six tips for maintaining weight loss after keto
- Keep moving to maintain your weight loss after keto
- Choose healthy proteins, complex carbs, and home cooking post-keto
- Keto-cycling could lead to harmful weight-cycling
- Partner with Everlywell on your healthy living journey
- Related content
Keto is a popular diet because, for some, it can be an effective way to lose a lot of weight quickly. Congratulations if you are one of the lucky ones who successfully achieved weight loss following the keto diet. You should know, however, that most medical professionals discourage following the keto diet for longer than six months [1], so you will eventually have to transition to a less-restrictive form of healthy eating. Unfortunately, because keto is such a restrictive diet, many people gain weight once they stop it. Everlywell is here to support you post-keto with six tips for how to maintain weight loss after keto.
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Why do people gain weight after keto?
In reality, most people who lose weight on any kind of diet regain weight and sometimes gain back more than they lost. Only 20 percent of dieters who start off overweight have success losing weight and keeping it off for the long term [2].
Weight gain after keto is even more likely because it is ultra-restrictive—severely restricting your carbohydrate intake to less than 5 percent of your total daily caloric intake.
People tend to gain weight after following the keto diet for several reasons:
- They don’t exercise enough
- They return to eating high-sugar, ultra-processed foods [1]
- They don’t eat enough fiber
- They continue to eat high-fat, protein-heavy meals with red meat
- They give up newly learned healthy habits when they regain some weight initially
- They don’t work with a registered dietician, nutritionist, or medical provider to develop a personalized post-keto diet plan
Plan ahead before stopping the keto diet
So, the first tip Everlywell can give is to prepare for an inevitable post-keto weight gain. Try not to be scared if you see your numbers on the scale start to creep up—it does not mean you are a complete failure. It will take time for your metabolism and your body to recalibrate after stopping the keto diet (up to two weeks, according to some experts) [1].
The second essential tip: Don’t go it alone. Talk with a healthcare provider, dietitian, or nutritionist to develop a personalized, sustainable post-keto plan. Continue having them check your blood work closely to make sure your blood glucose level and liver and kidney functions are in a healthy range. Your health is more than a number on a scale or the fit of your favorite jeans.
Six tips for maintaining weight loss after keto
The person you work with to develop your post-keto diet plan should encourage you to:
- Exercise at least 30 minutes at least five days a week [3]
- Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast [3]
- Don’t add back too much protein
- Pay attention to your fiber intake
- Manage stress and get enough sleep
- Practice self-acceptance and self-care
We all know the stress that stepping on the scale or buttoning up a tight pair of jeans can cause. Turning down the self-judgment dial and trusting your body’s ability to find a healthy place to land post-keto can help ease your anxiety levels.
Paying attention to your mental health should be a part of your successful weight loss plan. Be aware of eating as a response to stress. Remember that a temporary return to old habits does not mean failure. Find ways to boost your self-confidence and celebrate your healthier choices.
Keep moving to maintain your weight loss after keto
Regular exercise is one such healthy choice for your post-keto life. Sleeping well is another. Try to stick to a regular sleep schedule and exercise plan to curb post-keto weight gain.
Long-term weight loss success (and improved health) depends on regular physical activity [3]. This is even more important coming off of keto as you gradually increase your carb and calorie intake. Burning 1,500 to 2,000 calories per week through physical exercise is recommended for maintaining weight loss. You may need to work out for longer or more frequently during your initial post-keto weeks and months as you figure out your ideal calorie, protein, and carb balance [4]. Talk with your nutritionist, dietician, or healthcare provider about your planned workouts to ensure the number of calories you take in matches the number you burn when exercising.
Choose healthy proteins, complex carbs, and home cooking post-keto
Dieticians recommend eating at least 50 grams of protein a day post-keto and focusing on more plant-based protein sources such as beans, lentils, tofu, and edamame[1]. Fiber works to help slow down digestion and help you feel fuller faster. Avoid simple carbs (white pasta, white bread, potatoes, sugar, baked goods) because they can cause rapid spikes and troughs in your blood sugar—causing fatigue, irritability, increased hunger, and sugar cravings.
Vegetables are a great source of fiber, as are complex carbs such as bean-based pasta, crackers with seeds, or sprouted breads. Be sure to wash down all of that fiber with plenty of water—many of us reach for a snack because we think we are hungry when, in fact, we are thirsty.
Teaching yourself how to cook or making a commitment to eat more of your meals at home is another key strategy for maintaining your weight loss. In your own kitchen, you can control your portion size and how much butter, oil, salt, or sugar you add. People who make food at home eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains than those who rely on processed, packaged, or away-from-home meals [5].
Keto-cycling could lead to harmful weight-cycling
Weight cycling is losing and regaining weight multiple times [4]. Keto-cycling is like “keto-lite”—following a keto diet a few days in a row, followed by a day at a more normal carbohydrate consumption level before returning to a stricter keto diet.
The problem with going on and off the strict or keto-lite version of keto is that your weight may “yo-yo” up and down. Some studies suggest that weight cycling or yo-yo dieting may harm your health [4]. Health risks of weight cycling include high blood pressure, gallbladder disease, and high cholesterol. However, these findings do not apply to everybody.
The best strategy for achieving a healthy weight is to avoid weight cycling through a commitment to increased physical activity and healthy eating over the long term in a sustainable way.
Partner with Everlywell on your healthy living journey
In addition to our six tips for maintaining weight loss after keto, Everlywell’s option for weight management online and innovative collection of at-home laboratory tests can boost your chances for successful weight loss maintenance post-keto.
You do not need to navigate your healthy living journey alone. When it comes to successful long-term weight loss, people do better when they are part of a community and are supported with information, tools, and emotional encouragement [3]. Our bodies and their health are individual and complex. Everlywell is your health partner at any weight or on any diet.
Schedule online weight loss visit
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References
- How to smoothly transition off of the keto diet? Cleveland Clinic. URL. Published April 10, 2019. Accessed January 30, 2023.
- Wing RR, Phelan S. Long-term weight loss maintenance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005;82(1 Suppl):222S-225S. doi:10.1093/ajcn/82.1.222S. URL.
- Healthy Weight, Nutrition, and Physical Activity. CDC. URL. Published May 15, 2015. Accessed January 30, 2023.
- Maintaining Weight Loss. Johns Hopkins Medicine. URL. Accessed January 30, 2023.
- Tiwari A, Aggarwal A, Tang W, Drewnowski A. Cooking at Home: A Strategy to Comply With U.S. Dietary Guidelines at No Extra Cost. Am J Prev Med. 2017;52(5):616-624. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2017.01.017. URL.
How to Maintain Weight Loss After a Keto Diet is Over?
The ketogenic diet is a restrictive diet which includes high fat and low carbohydrate foods. The keto diet can be advised to you for either short term or long term according to weight and age. Although, a long term diet is yet not advised and is still under research. The keto diet is preferably followed to reduce the weight and increase the body muscles.
Everyone who starts with the keto diet has a desired weight or the transition.The weight loss procedure takes place for a certain period of time. Even after the proper keto diet, the weight reduction procedure stops. This indicates the right time to shift to the normal diet.
However, the ketogenic diet plan has been proven to be beneficial for the body, there shall be a certain period of time to shift to the normal diet. To maintain the goal weight, it requires an adequate procedure.
The weight maintenance requires an advanced plan with a commitment of management of the weight. The weight maintenance diet does not need to be similar to the ketogenic diet plan. Whereas, there may come a time where you might start gaining weight because of your earlier eating habits.
It has also been duly researched that the low carbohydrate and high protein diets are useful for long runs as well. They have also been proven successful for the weight maintenance period after the completion of keto diet.Specifically in India, the diet plan is made in such a way that there are enough carbohydrates according to the cuisine and culture.
Keto diet doesn’t ask you to go on a complete salad diet; it requires you to cut back on extra carbohydrate and fat. Instead increase the intake of all the vitamins, minerals and proteins.Proteins, itself have been very useful in the weight loss procedure. Protein increases the satiety level in the body.
It means that the high protein food takes a longer period of time for breakdown. It lets the food to breakdown in a gradual process due to which it keeps the stomach fuller for a longer time.Also, if your weight has stopped reducing and you have reached your goal weight, it becomes important to halt the keto diet for further weight maintenance diet plans.
In this article, there will be certain rules to halt the keto diet and the food products you can include in your diet. You might also find the problems faced by people after ending the keto diet.
How to get off the keto diet?
There isn’t any proper formula to halt the keto diet however; there can be certain suggestions to improve the diet plans. It is necessary that you do not go back to your old eating habits.
Gradually increase your carbohydrate intake
You might be a total expert in calculating your carbohydrate intake but it is necessary to keep counting for weight maintenance.
The least you could start with is to start eating a little bit more food so that you get out of ketosis. You need to raise the carbohydrate intake but not so much that it increases your weight.
The proper way to increase the diet plan is to also increase the 10 grams of carbohydrate per day for the first week. It is also important to keep noting your weight changes every day.
You might also feel certain changes in the way you feel, you must note down that as well. Depending on the goal, you can increase the number of carbohydrates.
You can also ask your dietitian to restrict the amount of carbohydrate you can increase up to. The intake of carbohydrates differs for everyone according to the goals and activities.
After you have been in the keto diet plan, there is reduction in any additional cravings. Lot of people have observed that eating more carbohydrates increases blood sugar and weight. That is why; it is advised to gradually increase carbohydrates.
Fat loss to muscle gain process
Thereafter the keto diet plan, it is all about how you maintain your weight. If you increase the carbohydrate intake in your diet and gradually start your normal eating habits, it is common to increase a certain amount of weight.
The weight maintenance procedure is all about how you maintain your fat. Dietitians have also advised that you can redirect the fat in your body to add muscle mass. Muscle mass in the body tends to improve the metabolic flexibility, strengthens the bones and also reduces the risk of diabetes. This way the fat doesn’t get deposited to the belly portion.
As it has already been known by all that you cannot just reduce the weight by dieting. It is essential to perform some exercise. For fat maintenance as well, you can exercise to redirect the fat in the portions you need.
Protein is also helpful in building muscles. The keto diet also runs on a high protein diet. So it is advised that you can continue to take the usual amount of protein for managing the muscle mass.
Shift to Paleo diet
Shifting from one diet plan to another can be a tedious procedure. But paleo diet is a bit lenient and does not affect the health as well.
Paleo diet is also a dietary plan in which the foods which are from the Paleolithic era are eaten. This diet is also known as Paleolithic diet, Stone Age diet, hunter-gatherer diet or caveman diet. The general foods which are eaten are fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, lean meats, and fish, olive and walnut oils.
The food products which are avoided are wheat, legumes, sugar, dairy products and potatoes.Because of the paleo diet, you can increase the extra carbohydrates in your diet. It keeps you in specific limits, so that the diet doesn’t go off the rails.
These carbohydrates are nutrient-dense and fiber-rich. It is not important that you follow the paleo diet religiously. It just helps you to get you off the ketogenic diet.
Avoid processed and packaged food
The processed and packaged food contains a higher amount of carbohydrate level and unhealthy fats. Avoiding them without any diet is also beneficial. The basic bottom line is we don’t know how the food product is cooked and processed.
The packaged food also contains many preservatives which are harmful for the body. The processed food is generally treated with the chemical compositions which are sometimes not mentioned in the packaging.
When you halt the keto- diet plan, your body is not capable enough to take any food product which is rich in carbohydrates and fat. It is advised to take extra care of the food you eat. Gradual increase of carbohydrate is necessary for the proper functioning of the body.This will also prevent the body from unwanted digestion problems.
Maintain your portion size
It might be the last point, but the most important one. Sometimes, we add in so much food to plate that it becomes heavy for your body. After your keto diet is done, the stomach becomes resistant to more food.
The carbohydrate, protein, fat and nutrient level in your plate shall be according to your diet plan. The gradual increase in portion size can balance the digestion procedure. There shouldn’t be a sudden increase in portion size as well.It is important to have a balanced diet after keto. The diet must include all the nutrients in an adequate amount with a little bit increase in carbohydrate level.
What food can I eat after I end my keto diet?
This is the most often asked question by anyone who has stopped following a keto diet. There will still be restrictions regarding junk food and highly unhealthy street food. Still, there can be certain foods which you can resume after a keto diet.
Black Coffee/ Green Tea
The commonly known bullet coffee can be substituted with either black coffee or green tea.Black coffee contains chlorogenic acid which is helpful in speeding up the weight loss process.
Including black coffee in your diet can help you keep up with your weight goals after a keto diet. After you eat food, chlorogenic acid slows the production of glucose in the body.Green tea contains many plant based nutrients which are natural and organic. It helps you to maintain the weight and also boost the metabolism.
Baked Chicken/ grilled fish
The fried chicken in your diet can never be a healthy choice. You can substitute it with baked chicken. The chicken can be baked in either microwave or oven.Just like chicken, even fish is popularly eaten as fried fish. Fried fish also needs to be substituted with the grilled fish. There are many good recipes available.
Paneer
The cheese in your diet can be substituted with the paneer. Paneer is processed milk which contains many nutrients and can be cooked in various ways. In Indian diet, Paneer is the essence of any party.You can always incorporate paneer in your diet. Paneer is also a rich source of protein.
Brown Rice
White rice is always considered harmful for weight reduction. It also consists of a higher level of carbohydrate.After your keto diet is over, you can substitute white rice with the brown rice. It is low in carbohydrate and calories. It is also enriched with the essential nutrients.
Soy Chunks
Soy chunks are the chief food in Indian diet. It is basically known for high protein content. For vegetarians, soy chunks can be a healthier option.
After you halt the ketogenic diet, it will help in maintaining the cholesterol levels in the body. It also enhances the digestion of the body.
What problems can you face after a keto diet?
This is the major question which arises in almost every individual’s mind that stops his keto diet. It is natural that after you start a certain diet, your body becomes habitual of the food intake.There are also certain people who remain on a particular diet for their whole life. That completely depends on your body type and your choice.Ending the keto diet could bring in some challenges and here are some of them.
Blood sugar fluctuations
Coming off the keto diet could be a little unpredictable. There might be some people who experience no change but there are also some people who might observe the rise in their blood sugar levels.
This happens because of the increase in carbohydrate in your diet. The changes in blood sugar can also affect the external changes in the body. You might feel jitteriness, mood swings, hyperactivity and fatigue.If the situation is out of control, you must consult a doctors.
There might be weight gain
Re-starting carbohydrates in your diet can be a little upsetting for your weight change process. You can definitely rule out the weight gain possibilities by metabolizing carbohydrate levels and exercises.
If you have been on keto diet for a longer time, there is a possibility that you might not observe much weight change. For those who have been on a ketogenic diet for a shorter time may notice the weight gain much more.
Digestion issues
Digestion imbalance is temporary and may contain bloating issues. After keto diet, it is common to add in carbohydrate and fibrous foods in your diet. They can create intestinal issues.Digestion imbalance will get better as soon as you get adjusted to the new diet plan.
Might have food cravings
After you come off the ketogenic diet, you generally end high fat and high protein food. This kind of food is satiating and makes you feel fuller for a longer time. The food you start eating will contain less fat and more carbohydrates which digests faster and empties the stomach.
After each meal, you might feel hungry and might want to snack on something. That is when your will power comes into play. You will have to pair the carbohydrate food with protein and fat in the diet.This will help the body to slow down the digestion process and also keep the blood sugar level in balance.
It is always better to research about every aspect of any diet you start or come off. If you have the will to stay healthy then you can find any possible way to conquer a healthy and fit body.
Stay healthy!
How to exit the keto diet
Now many people are self-improving, watching nutrition. Some choose the keto diet for themselves. The main task after the end is to maintain the achieved result – the preservation of the received form.
Contents
- 1 Difficulties when leaving the keto diet
- 2 How to exit the keto diet
- 3 When is the best time to exit keto
- 4 What to include in the diet when leaving the keto diet
- 5 Motivation when ending a keto diet
Difficulties when leaving a keto diet
A quick transition to a habitual diet can lead to stress in the body. The exit from keto should be neat, smooth. Many have temptations leading to outright gluttony, which can lead, in addition to losing shape, to problems in the pancreas.
A “side effect” of a sudden increase in carbohydrate intake can be carbohydrate swelling. For some people with kidney problems, morning puffiness under the eyes may return in the morning. When processing carbohydrates, a known mild hangover condition can occur.
How to get out of the keto diet
Let’s figure out how to get out of the keto diet. To maintain the result of losing weight, it is necessary to smoothly change food preferences. One method is as follows: every 2 days, increase the amount of carbohydrates by 10 grams, and the amount of fat by 5 grams, so that as a result the amount of fat consumed is 1 gram per 1 kg of body weight.
But with the amount of carbohydrates when you leave the keto diet, you need to decide individually. Their number will depend on what result you want to achieve: whether it is drying or weight and figure correction.
When is the best time to quit keto?
You can quit keto at any convenient time of the year. It can be recommended to exit ketosis in the summer. During this period, there are a lot of berries, fruits, and melons. The use of watermelon will help in solving problems with edema. But the melon is better to use in small portions an hour after eating, as it is much more difficult to digest.
This short period will not harm the body and will bring some joy of sensations and emotions into your life. But do not abuse, do not overload the gastrointestinal tract immediately and a lot, as there may be a feeling of slight intoxication during digestion. These carbohydrates do not compare with carbohydrates from crystal sugar and various confectionery products.
To properly exit keto, you should consider your age, health characteristics, and how active your lifestyle is.
What to add to the diet when leaving the keto diet
What foods can be added to the diet to exit the keto diet? At first, you can eat sweet berries little by little. A little – a small cup. But not all. For example: blueberries and bananas have a very high glycemic index and will be too hard on digestion. It is better to eat strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, peaches, oranges and cherry plums. Therefore, it is better to start with them.
- Sweets can be bitter or dark chocolate, marmalade and some ice cream without additives.
- From the first courses, it is good to add borscht and cabbage soup from lean meat categories (beef, lamb, chicken) to the menu. Bean, black bean and lentil soups are also suitable.
- Garlic will have to be temporarily forgotten, as it has a high sugar content.
- For garnishes, it is better to use durum wheat pasta, wholemeal noodles. And from cereals – barley porridge on the water, buckwheat friable, barley and barley.
- Oatmeal soaked in yogurt with the addition of a small amount of finely chopped green apples is acceptable.
- Bread with bran is preferred. This will help to remove the fermentation processes that occur when switching to carbohydrate foods. In these cases, lavash is also very good.
- Cheesecakes are suitable, as they are very low in carbohydrates.
According to some nutritionists, carbohydrates are best consumed in the morning. Approximately until 15 o’clock. In the afternoon, protein foods are preferable.
Motivation at the end of keto nutrition
To get out of keto and not break loose, you can try to “negotiate” with yourself. Some athletes who have a sweet tooth in life imagine how all the effort goes down the drain due to banal weakness, and the long-awaited awards go into oblivion. They visualize the end result and what it brings.
Ordinary people can use other methods. For example, as a deterrent, imagine the admiring glances of others. After all, some change their lifestyle to attract the attention of the opposite sex. And sometimes, perhaps to find a life partner.
For a certain category, “horror stories” about an early heart attack, joints crushed by weight, sagging skin work well. It is also good to remember that being overweight is one of the three most dangerous phenomena for health. You can see the statistics of deaths from obesity. Find your “red button”. Think about what will motivate you from breakdowns, gluttony and violation of self-discipline in nutrition.
So. Remember the goals we set for ourselves. We are trying to change everything gradually. We allow ourselves small pleasures, holding back temptations. Then you can get out of the keto diet without compromising your health and without unnecessary stress. And of course we get positive emotions from beautiful body shapes. Otherwise, what are the restrictions for?
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Zozhnik | How to Recover from a Keto Diet
Written by Jason Helmes. He is the creator of anymanfitness.com, former math teacher, successful online coach, and writer for Men’s Health, Bodybuilding.com, GQ, and more. Despite the graphomaniac gaiety of presentation, Jason adheres to a scientific approach. We pass the floor to the author.
What is keto and how does it work
The ketogenic diet (high in fat, low in protein and low in carbohydrates) was developed in the 1920s to help children suffering from epileptic seizures.
Usually we get energy from carbohydrates, but when they are excluded from the diet, the body is forced to use another source – fat (from food). When the body begins to burn the ingested fats for fuel, it enters a state of “ketosis”. Doctors have found that when you are in ketosis, the frequency (and intensity) of epileptic seizures is significantly reduced – in some cases, even by 50%. Also, researchers of antiquity observed one side effect: weight loss. Fast forward almost a hundred years. Today, we are told from everywhere that the key to a long, healthy and happy life is to avoid carbohydrates (i.e., in perpetual ketosis).
Calorie Denial
Many followers of the keto diet say this the most: you don’t have to count calories on the miracle diet. The weight disappears magically. Eat anything (if you don’t want carbohydrates, of course), you’ll still lose weight. Your body will turn into a fat burning plant, all fat will burn as fuel. Who would refuse?
However, not everything is so easy and simple. The main mistake keto dieters make is not looking into the sources of fuel fat – yes, in ketosis, the body burns fat, but mostly from food. And not the wealth accumulated under the skin. The only way to force the body to open up reserves is a calorie deficit. With or without carbs.
There are a couple of other keto issues.
Problem 1: No-Carb Partying
To stay in ketosis, you can allow yourself up to 20-30 grams of carbs per day. For example, a medium-sized apple contains about 25. Thus, you will have to forget about apples, not to mention wine, kvass, bananas, bread, pasta, cookies, cakes, etc. and so on. Have you tried to visit any festival and find exclusively carbohydrate-free treats there? From now on, you can calmly hang out only at events organized by diet brothers.
Problem 2: unhealthy obesity
Although fats are not as harmful as nutritionists in the 90s claimed, their amount in the diet is still better to control. In the keto diet, it is proposed to bring the fat share to 70%. If, for example, the maintenance diet of an ordinary person contains 2000 calories and 44-78 grams of fat, then the Ketil diet (at the same calorie) already includes 155 grams of fat. The levels of lipids in ketofans are on average increased by 60%, cholesterol – by 30%.
Of course, the situation can be slightly improved by reducing the amount of saturated fat, but still such an increase is far from optimal for health.
Issue 3: Difficulty in staying
Even the most dedicated keto fans find it difficult to stick to keto in the long run. It is possible to hold out for several weeks or even months, but then … is it really no longer possible to taste carbohydrates? Never ever? The complete elimination of one of the three macronutrients is not very characteristic of a reasonable, healthy, long-term diet. This is usually the fault of fashionable and harmful blitzkriegs. “Throw away such and such a product (or a whole group) – you will lose weight in a matter of hours!” – this is the standard slogan of an unhealthy one-day diet.
Issue 4: The Keto Flu
When the body becomes “fat-burning”, many people experience keto sickness, the symptoms of which include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, muscle pain, and irritability. If you courageously hold on and force the body to adapt further, then in a week these manifestations disappear. Recall, however, that 20-30 grams is your carbohydrate ceiling; one has only to go over a little, and you fly out of ketosis. Then, with agony, you get into it again and suffer from the keto flu again. This is how regularly broken keto proteins run in the wheel of disgusting well-being. Thanks to the simplest and most useful diet.
Why do they like keto so much?
Yes, although all of the above cons are not fiction, the keto idea is very attractive – on paper (now mostly on the screen):
- Lightweight – no need to count calories
- Simplicity – just turn down the heat
And yes, on the very first keto days, the weight actually comes off. Although this does not mean at all that it is fat that burns, for someone the numbers on the scales are the main indicator of success.
A bit of mathematics to expose the trick:
- Most people today follow a “civilized” (sarcasm) diet
- We can safely assume that at least 300 grams of carbohydrates are gained daily, and someone has more than
- Each carbongram retains about 3 grams of water
- 300 grams of carbohydrates x 3 = 900 grams of water
Thus, ketone beginners lose almost a kilogram a day due to the lack of carbohydrates.
This motivates them incredibly (but falsely), which is why many people say: “Only keto worked for me, everything else did not help.” After the initial drain of the fluid, weight loss slows down dramatically. Further weight can be lost only – guessed it? – on a calorie deficit. Since most keto worshipers deny the calorie heresy and eat out of control, they can’t go any further. After a few weeks, they get frustrated, break down, eat sugar by the spoonful, and then go back on a simple and healthy keto diet. And so on through the cycle.
How to cure keto diet?
For true healing, it is desirable to meet several criteria. Check if you are ready to return to the dark side (we have cookies left)?
Criterion 1: after trying keto, you somehow didn’t like it
You believed the rumors about the trendy miracle diet, sat on it for a while and realized that such restrictions were not for you. Not a necessary condition, but it helps a lot to quit, because doubts about magic and universality have already arisen. Maybe everyone around you continues to praise it, but you do not want to continue to suffer without carbohydrates.
Criterion 2: You are able to believe in Almighty Calorie
In general, you know, it is strange that we are no longer schoolchildren and are familiar with the law of conservation of energy, but we still believe that it can appear from nowhere and disappear into nowhere. To renounce keto, it is necessary to recognize that:
- in food calories (energy),
- excess calories that we have not used up are stored (including in our wonderful fat reserves),
- to reduce stocks will have to temporarily limit the flow of energy (sit on the deficit).
Seemingly basic things, but it is amazing how many adults do not recognize this.
Criterion 3: Are you ready to faithfully count macronutrients for a whole month
Why so long? Yes, because with the return of carbohydrates to your own plate, you will collect some water. Be sure that it is not fat that is immediately deposited in the vacated warehouses, but the fluid balance is restored. By continuing to monitor all macronutrients over the following weeks, you will notice that weight gain has stopped and even – if the deficit is maintained – decrease has begun. A month is enough for the process to go as it should: you will begin to feel better, train more energetically, lose kilograms and centimeters.