When you are still new to the keto diet, it is common to experience fatigue at some point. For some people, this may last only for one or two days, and they will start feeling more energetic after that period.
Why Am I Exhausted On The Keto Diet?
For others, it may last for one or two weeks until your brain gets used to the new source of energy coming from fat and not from carbs. It is natural for people to experience fatigue during ketosis, and there is nothing to worry about these symptoms.
However, you should follow the keto diet only after consulting your doctor and frequent consultation whenever you notice severe symptoms.
Understanding the keto diet
To understand why you get exhausted during the keto diet, you need to understand how the keto diet is different from your regular diet. Our body is used to getting energy from the carbs we eat daily.
This is the easiest way to get energy, and the brain gets used to this routine. However, during the keto diet, the carbs are reduced to a bare minimum, and the body has to struggle hard to get the required dose of energy.
After a few days of struggle, the body finally decides to burn stored fat for energy instead of carbs as it is not getting enough supply of carbs through the diet. This is when your body enters the ketosis phase, and you begin to lose weight effectively.
However, to get significant weight loss results, you have to follow this diet for more than a few months.
Even after losing weight, you should not go back to eating high carb foods as this can push your metabolism back to square one, and you may gain back your lost weight.
Always follow the keto diet after consulting your doctor and strictly follow the instructions given by your doctor or dietician.
Getting accustomed to the keto diet
More than your body, your brain has to get used to the new source of energy to overcome fatigue. It depends on your conditioning and the way your body handles carbohydrates regularly.
Some people move into the ketosis phase very quickly, and they do not feel lethargic during the keto diet. On the other hand, others may find it difficult in the initial stages and feel exhausted due to the change in diet.
However, it does not last long in most cases, and it will go away on its own without any complications. If you are finding it difficult to handle the situation, you can get in touch with your doctor and get suitable medication.
Symptoms of keto flu
When your body goes into ketosis, it starts producing ketones, and this is removed from the body through frequent urination. Often, this leads to dehydration, and people feel exhausted due to this reason.
Apart from that, as your brain finds it difficult to use the energy source of fat in the initial stages, you may feel mood swings and other changes in your body.
Most people also report flu-like symptoms, and this is, in fact, a good indication that your body is getting into the ketosis phase. It may start within the first few weeks for most people, and it will usually go away within a few days or a week in most cases.
How long does keto flu last?
Most symptoms of keto flu last for a couple of days in most people. In extreme cases, people may experience different symptoms at different stages.
It may last for one or two weeks in that situation. However, it will go away on its own, and there is no need for specific treatment in a majority of cases. One of the symptoms of ketosis is that some people notice an increase in energy levels, and this is due to losing weight after a long time.
How to handle fatigue during keto diet?
If you are getting completely exhausted during a keto diet, you can choose magnesium-rich foods, especially from green leafy vegetables.
In this way, you can regain your energy in quick time without having to return to increased carbs intake.
It is natural to feel exhausted for a few days during ketosis, and you should not get demotivated and go back to your original diet. It pays to have some patience, and you will get long-lasting results after a few weeks.
Is it wrong to feel exhausted during the keto diet?
It is completely alright to feel exhausted when you are on a keto diet. The body begins to burn fat and produces ketones that are new to the body.
This has to be eliminated through urine, and it puts some pressure on the kidneys and other organs for a few days. Till the time your body gets adjusted to this new routine, you may feel tired as your body now has more work to do.
As the body is burning stored fat after a long duration, it takes time to get accustomed to this new way of deriving energy and gets tired in some cases.
How long before you can see weight loss through the keto diet?
When you follow the keto diet strictly, you can begin to notice positive changes after the first few weeks itself. Depending on your overall health condition and lifestyle, you can expect to see significant weight loss in a matter of a few months.
The important thing is not how quickly you will lose weight, but how long can you hold on to that new shape.
It takes a lot of effort to retain the new shape, and you should not go back to your old habits. In this regard, you need to change your lifestyle for a very long duration so that you can stay healthy and get rid of excess fat in your body.
These are the main reasons why you feel exhausted while following a keto diet. Do not worry, as your body will recover from this on its own within a few days. You will begin to feel more energetic once you get over this phase.
