How much appetite suppression is normal with ketosis?

heythatsfun · 07-20-2008, 06:32 PM

When I'm in ketosis, I could probably eat about 8-10 bites of food PER DAY and be content and full, but I know that that is obviously not feasible or healthy... so I force myself to eat a small salad with some chicken or something, and then I feel sick afterwards -- even though it is still a really small amount by most standards. I don't know if I have something wrong with my stomach or if this is normal for ketosis?

I drink a cup or 2 of coffee in the morning too, and I know that the caffeine can have appetite suppressant properties, so maybe that has something to do with it too. Errr, I don't know

I'm just feeling really sick to my stomach right now after eating about 1 cup of salad/chicken and wondering if anyone else has this effect of ketosis to this degree?

Thank you, and I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

BufoDieter · 07-20-2008, 07:25 PM

From what I understand, that kind of appetite suppression (deep ketosis) can be kicked in when eating too low in carbs + too low in fat. This, long term, can be a very dangerous way to eat.

Does this seem like your typical menu? Low fat + low carb? If so, I think you may feel better if you start to up your fat intake.

That's just my guess... hopefully others will chime in with ideas.

amiga74 · 07-20-2008, 09:47 PM

the feelings of ketosis you describe are completely normal imho...

Paty · 07-21-2008, 05:04 AM

Your carbs are way too low as is your fat intake. You are probably eating below 500 calories per day which is not healthy.

In my opinion, feeling sick and not wanting to eat should never be overlooked. No WOE should do this.

JerseyGirl1969 · 07-21-2008, 07:15 AM

I go through something similar, only my dietician explained that it was because of the amount of fat and protein. I was satiated so far that I had a hard time getting in calories. She suggested simple tricks...more veggies, leaner meat, maybe a small amount of carbs in the a.m., just to prevent feeling so full that I underate my BMR. The cost of undereating your BMR is stalls, water weight (it caused me to gain 10lbs of water weight), and preventing weight loss. Not worth it. Anyway, hope that info helps.

I will say, following her advice, I reduced my fat from 70-80 to 55-60% and have lost 7 of the 10lbs of water weight since Thursday.

suncstgirl · 07-21-2008, 07:35 AM

I have the same problem.
Sometimes I go an entire day w/o eating anything... I just forget because I never had that hunger signal.
What works for me is to have variety.
Spicy buffalo wings ALWAYS trigger my appetite, I can eat 20 of them.
And sometimes just having a bite of something is better than nothing.

LivinLoCarb · 07-21-2008, 09:36 AM

Dear heythatsfun, just to clarify, was your appetite and stomach normal before ketosis?

Also, sometimes coconut oil will suppress appetite and cause an upset stomach. Have you been cooking with or using coconut oil?

fawn · 07-21-2008, 10:03 AM

If you're in such deep ketosis that you've no appetite, you need to back up a bit and add some carbs.

There's a fine balance

niciK · 07-21-2008, 12:35 PM

I did stillmans which is lean protein and NO FAT. I did feel this way on Dr. Stillmans plan. I lost weight really really quickly! I never thought of food , I was happ eating hardly anything, the deepest ketosis I ever had. Now I am doing Atkins 72 and lots of fats. I cant go back to the no or low fat. I love my fat, I dont think you should force feed yourself but try to eat at least 1000 calories a day. My metabolism was shot from eating 600 calories a day. Yes I was skinny , but I got engaged, ate real food and blew up quick. Once you start eating you main gain some appetite.

heythatsfun · 07-21-2008, 02:23 PM

I appreciate all of your VERY, VERY helpful answers!

Fortunately, I think I may have jumped the gun in blaming this on ketosis though..... I think that I coincidentally have a stomach virus (first lack of appetite --> nausea --> dry heaves --> sorry, TMI WARNING, diarrhea).

If the lack of appetite doesn't go away after this suspected virus clears up, I'll definitely add in a few more carbs. Maybe even just like an extra small salad or 1 cup of broccoli would help?

Darkfire · 07-21-2008, 05:24 PM

not to discount your tummy flu, but you could be detoxing too...that can make you all poopu and pukey....feel better soon!!!!

fawn · 07-21-2008, 07:25 PM

I sure hope you feel better! A cup of broccoli is a fabulous complex carb addition!

byrdbrane · 07-21-2008, 07:36 PM

I have not felt much like eating this time around either. Whenever I feel hungry I can't find anything that sounds good. I know I am not eating enough carbs and I am trying to work on that. The weird thing is,,,(which is a good thing) that I haven't had the urge to go off plan either to find something I do want to eat. I think it will get better if I give it time. I do find myself drinking alot of water and tea so that is good!

Start · 07-23-2008, 09:30 AM

My advice is that deep ketosis is fleeting, and once it's gone the few days or weeks you had it and the few pounds you lost because of it, will not be worth it in the long run.. in my case i think it messed up my metabolism and i am just now recovering.. i basically topped out when i started eating regularly even with eating 100% clean i still lost no weight... except for the weight i lost when i was in deep ketosis.. i think not eating messed me up big time...

07-20-2008, 06:32 PM	#1
heythatsfun Senior LCF Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Originally from England, now living in the South of the US Posts: 357 Gallery: heythatsfun Stats: 5'1" ..... 145/140/115 WOE: Atkins (or trying anyway!)	How much appetite suppression is normal with ketosis? When I'm in ketosis, I could probably eat about 8-10 bites of food PER DAY and be content and full, but I know that that is obviously not feasible or healthy... so I force myself to eat a small salad with some chicken or something, and then I feel sick afterwards -- even though it is still a really small amount by most standards. I don't know if I have something wrong with my stomach or if this is normal for ketosis? I drink a cup or 2 of coffee in the morning too, and I know that the caffeine can have appetite suppressant properties, so maybe that has something to do with it too. Errr, I don't know I'm just feeling really sick to my stomach right now after eating about 1 cup of salad/chicken and wondering if anyone else has this effect of ketosis to this degree? Thank you, and I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! __________________ Please do me a favor-- if you see me starting to veer off the low carb track, give me a figurative smack across the face, will ya? Thanks! Accountability Not Excuses!

07-21-2008, 07:15 AM	#5
JerseyGirl1969 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,382 Gallery: JerseyGirl1969	I go through something similar, only my dietician explained that it was because of the amount of fat and protein. I was satiated so far that I had a hard time getting in calories. She suggested simple tricks...more veggies, leaner meat, maybe a small amount of carbs in the a.m., just to prevent feeling so full that I underate my BMR. The cost of undereating your BMR is stalls, water weight (it caused me to gain 10lbs of water weight), and preventing weight loss. Not worth it. Anyway, hope that info helps. I will say, following her advice, I reduced my fat from 70-80 to 55-60% and have lost 7 of the 10lbs of water weight since Thursday. __________________ 65% fat, 30% protein, 5% carbs = keto

07-21-2008, 09:36 AM	#7
LivinLoCarb Junior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 39 Gallery: LivinLoCarb WOE: Combination Atkins & Protein Power Start Date: Started Mar 1999, Restarted 6/25/2008	Dear heythatsfun, just to clarify, was your appetite and stomach normal before ketosis? Also, sometimes coconut oil will suppress appetite and cause an upset stomach. Have you been cooking with or using coconut oil? Last edited by LivinLoCarb : 07-21-2008 at 09:38 AM. Reason: thought of another question

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07-20-2008, 07:25 PM	#2
BufoDieter MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: ♫ Under starry skies above ♪ Posts: 1,092 Gallery: BufoDieter Stats: 5' 8" 221/=8{}/150? (size 8) WOE: I ♥ Atkins, Eades & Taubes Start Date: Original: 8/2001... Restart: 6/2007	From what I understand, that kind of appetite suppression (deep ketosis) can be kicked in when eating too low in carbs + too low in fat. This, long term, can be a very dangerous way to eat. Does this seem like your typical menu? Low fat + low carb? If so, I think you may feel better if you start to up your fat intake. That's just my guess... hopefully others will chime in with ideas.

07-20-2008, 09:47 PM	#3
amiga74 MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: austin Posts: 1,686 Gallery: amiga74 Stats: 150/140/135 - 5'7.5 WOE: super-slow via moderation/organic	the feelings of ketosis you describe are completely normal imho...

07-21-2008, 05:04 AM	#4
Paty MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 1,382 Blog Entries: 1 Gallery: Paty	Your carbs are way too low as is your fat intake. You are probably eating below 500 calories per day which is not healthy. In my opinion, feeling sick and not wanting to eat should never be overlooked. No WOE should do this.

07-21-2008, 07:35 AM	#6
suncstgirl Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 455 Gallery: suncstgirl Stats: 253/189.0/125 WOE: Atkins Start Date: Feb 2008	I have the same problem. Sometimes I go an entire day w/o eating anything... I just forget because I never had that hunger signal. What works for me is to have variety. Spicy buffalo wings ALWAYS trigger my appetite, I can eat 20 of them. And sometimes just having a bite of something is better than nothing.

07-21-2008, 10:03 AM	#8
fawn Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 8,173 Gallery: fawn Stats: 210/120 WOE: Eating For Health Start Date: 2/2000	If you're in such deep ketosis that you've no appetite, you need to back up a bit and add some carbs. There's a fine balance

07-21-2008, 12:35 PM	#9
niciK Senior LCF Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 247 Gallery: niciK	I did stillmans which is lean protein and NO FAT. I did feel this way on Dr. Stillmans plan. I lost weight really really quickly! I never thought of food , I was happ eating hardly anything, the deepest ketosis I ever had. Now I am doing Atkins 72 and lots of fats. I cant go back to the no or low fat. I love my fat, I dont think you should force feed yourself but try to eat at least 1000 calories a day. My metabolism was shot from eating 600 calories a day. Yes I was skinny , but I got engaged, ate real food and blew up quick. Once you start eating you main gain some appetite.

07-21-2008, 02:23 PM	#10
heythatsfun Senior LCF Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Originally from England, now living in the South of the US Posts: 357 Gallery: heythatsfun Stats: 5'1" ..... 145/140/115 WOE: Atkins (or trying anyway!)	I appreciate all of your VERY, VERY helpful answers! Fortunately, I think I may have jumped the gun in blaming this on ketosis though..... I think that I coincidentally have a stomach virus (first lack of appetite --> nausea --> dry heaves --> sorry, TMI WARNING, diarrhea). If the lack of appetite doesn't go away after this suspected virus clears up, I'll definitely add in a few more carbs. Maybe even just like an extra small salad or 1 cup of broccoli would help?

07-21-2008, 05:24 PM	#11
Darkfire MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Baltimore, Maryland 21225 Posts: 1,111 Gallery: Darkfire Stats: 300+/???/137 new scale le sigh WOE: Mostly Paleo/Atkins Organic Start Date: Once Again June 30 08	not to discount your tummy flu, but you could be detoxing too...that can make you all poopu and pukey....feel better soon!!!!

07-21-2008, 07:25 PM	#12
fawn Big Yapper!!!! Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 8,173 Gallery: fawn Stats: 210/120 WOE: Eating For Health Start Date: 2/2000	I sure hope you feel better! A cup of broccoli is a fabulous complex carb addition!

07-21-2008, 07:36 PM	#13
byrdbrane Junior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 39 Gallery: byrdbrane Stats: 285/247/150 Start Date: June 2008	I have not felt much like eating this time around either. Whenever I feel hungry I can't find anything that sounds good. I know I am not eating enough carbs and I am trying to work on that. The weird thing is,,,(which is a good thing) that I haven't had the urge to go off plan either to find something I do want to eat. I think it will get better if I give it time. I do find myself drinking alot of water and tea so that is good!

07-23-2008, 09:30 AM	#14
Start Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 98 Gallery: Start	My advice is that deep ketosis is fleeting, and once it's gone the few days or weeks you had it and the few pounds you lost because of it, will not be worth it in the long run.. in my case i think it messed up my metabolism and i am just now recovering.. i basically topped out when i started eating regularly even with eating 100% clean i still lost no weight... except for the weight i lost when i was in deep ketosis.. i think not eating messed me up big time...