How to reach ketosis faster?

**LaurenNicole1792** · November 28th, 2009, 01:14 PM

Is it true that eating only 5 or so carbs a day will get me into ketosis faster than 20 a day?

Is it possible to eat too LITTLE carbs? (besides side affects such as a headache, which I can deal with)

I'm trying to get there as fast as possible.

So far today I had:

7 in. celery stalk. with a tablespoon of dressing. (1.7 carbs)
broccoli: 2
burger with 2 slices bacon: 0
ounce of extra sharp cheddar cheese: 0.2 ish
and a cup of black coffee with splenda (1)
and water obviously.

**SMKelly** · November 28th, 2009, 01:23 PM

You shouldn't eat fewer than 20 net carbs a day on induction. And the same goes for each of the rungs (25 net carbs and so on). Follow DANDR and it will work.

It's the same principle as starving yourself. Instead of revving up your metabolism by eating properly (and in this case the recommended number of carbs) your body sees the deprivation as starvation and goes into starvation mode.

This means your metabolism slows down and you will more than likely retain fluid. It's the body's natural way of protecting your vital organs.

Eat the 20 net carbs. You'll be better for it all around. Ketosis takes the time it takes, and this isn't a race. AND, ketosis is not a surefire measure of weight/inches lost.

Good luck.

**EverLosing** · November 28th, 2009, 01:24 PM

It does depend on how long someone has been basking in Carbville. A single cheat meal may not keep you out of ketosis for days. However, days off plan may take 3-4 days to get back into ketosis. There's no way around waiting for the body to burn off your stores of glucose. That's just the way it works. It's good motivation not to cheat because you never know how long it will take your body to readjust. Some people find it relatively easy, others, struggle to just get back into ketosis.

Okay, that being said....I have found the Atkins recipe is the only way to get there. Drink lots of water, eat at induction level for however long it takes and LOTS of exercise. The exercise will help you burn those glucose stores faster. But...just like with weight loss, there is no magic pill. The easiest way to get to ketosis is to stay there.

By the way, don't limit your carbs to 5 grams per day. It's not good for your body. If your ultimate goal is health, you'll get back into ketosis while maintaining a healthy eating plan.

**grey74** · March 22nd, 2010, 11:11 AM

If you aren't achieving ketosis at 20 grams carbs per day, reduce it to 10 and see how that goes. Atkins says some people are just more metabolically resistant. If that isn't working try zero carbs for a week, use the test strips and once they turn purple you can go back up to 10 carbs.....and then use this as the induction point instead of 20. If you are still struggling try the fat fast for 7 days where you eat 5 meals of 200 calories each per day, and each serving should be 90 percent fat.

**atkinsgal08** · March 22nd, 2010, 11:15 AM

>> Is it possible to eat too LITTLE carbs?>>

YES!!!

>>If you aren't achieving ketosis at 20 grams carbs per day, reduce it to 10 and see how that goes. >>

This is bad advice, in my opinion.

>>If you are still struggling try the fat fast for 7 days where you eat 5 meals of 200 calories each per day, and each serving should be 90 percent fat.>>

This is TERRIBLE advice!!! NO ONE should do the Fat Fast without the direct medical supervision of your doctor. Doing it on your own can result in further damage to your metabolism.

Now ... back to your original question ... how do you know you're not in ketosis?

Undereating, both in net carbs and calories (which you appear to be doing) is counter-productive with Atkins.

**Georgiana** · March 22nd, 2010, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by grey74

If that isn't working try zero carbs for a week, use the test strips and once they turn purple

Once can be in ketosis without turning the sticks purple.

**Georgiana** · March 22nd, 2010, 11:16 AM

And a note here... this thread is from November last year. The OP hasn't been online for quite some time.

**grey74** · March 22nd, 2010, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by atkinsgal08

>> Is it possible to eat too LITTLE carbs?>>

YES!!!

>>If you aren't achieving ketosis at 20 grams carbs per day, reduce it to 10 and see how that goes. >>

This is bad advice, in my opinion.

>>If you are still struggling try the fat fast for 7 days where you eat 5 meals of 200 calories each per day, and each serving should be 90 percent fat.>>

This is TERRIBLE advice!!! NO ONE should do the Fat Fast without the direct medical supervision of your doctor. Doing it on your own can result in further damage to your metabolism.

Now ... back to your original question ... how do you know you're not in ketosis?

Undereating, both in net carbs and calories (which you appear to be doing) is counter-productive with Atkins.

Well I didn't make this up. These ideas came directly from Dr. Atkins himself. He suggested them as options to help people who might possibly have some sort of metabolic resistance

**grey74** · March 22nd, 2010, 01:26 PM

Remember 20 grams is just a guide. It never says you have to eat 20, just don't go over it during induction dieting. For many people they need to do no more than 10. This information came from the Dr. himself, not anything I'm pulling out of thin air.

**2big4mysize** · March 22nd, 2010, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by grey74

Well I didn't make this up. These ideas came directly from Dr. Atkins himself. He suggested them as options to help people who might possibly have some sort of metabolic resistance

he suggested them for folk who couldn't lose after doing 14 days of no cheating induction.

the OP ask about how to get to ketosis faster not what to do cause her 14 day induction hadn't worked.