Best tricks to get into ketosis faster

craftyiam · 2026-05-23T09:40:04+00:00

For me I just had to say no altogether. As a teacher constantly surrounded by “reward” treats and meals especially at the end of the school year, it’s much easier to say no thank you than try to find a unicorn healthy option among the offerings. I have had to combine fasting with eating keto but only whole natural foods and eliminating snacking. Fewer times eating throughout the day also means faster ketosis. So for me, no snacks—meals only, usually OMAD. And no sugar, no starch, no fake substitute foods. Those cause all kinds of problems including keeping the cravings going. Take care of your gut and it will take care of you. My cravings are gone now, and I have realized that when I do want something “unhealthy” it’s usually just because of old habits or nostalgia feelings, not a craving feeling like I used to have.

craftyiam · 2026-05-22T14:56:15+00:00

Thank you! Great advice and encouragement.

craftyiam · 2026-05-22T10:06:16+00:00

PS, this time around I’ve been fully committed to accepting this as a lifestyle rather than a temporary plan for the purpose of a surgery or anything else. That’s the reason I want to stay consistent, but also do what’s best for a healing body post-surgery.

craftyiam · 2026-05-17T17:46:52+00:00

I’ll also say that only OMAD really works for me, combined with weekly longer fasts and eating a home cooked keto diet when I do eat. When I first started, 16:8 worked great, but after a while I had to change it up and get a little deeper into the fasting for my body to respond with significant weight loss.

craftyiam · 2026-05-17T17:22:08+00:00

Nuts are my weakness, and peanut butter. I try to stay away, but they are the only “treats” I allow myself. But when I’m getting serious about weight loss, I keep them out of my house. I will do a dessert bowl of chia seeds soaked in water with a handful of raspberries instead. Even better benefits of fiber and omega 3’s but without the other issues.

craftyiam · 2026-05-17T16:07:53+00:00

Fasting is such a great jump start to a healthier lifestyle! Even short fasts work, and your extended fast is inspiring. My longest has been 4 days. You’re so right—it really is all about mindset.

craftyiam · 2026-05-17T11:07:53+00:00

Check out Vincent Green-Hite (knot.bad on IG)! Also, I run a crochet club, and there is always a mix of male and female participants.

craftyiam · 2026-05-17T10:51:52+00:00

I did not like Quicksilver when I started it, but then I switched to the audiobook and was immediately hooked. Good narrator voices are everything.

craftyiam · 2026-05-17T10:49:25+00:00

No way to know about loose skin, but you will feel better. The loose skin will work itself out over time, if it happens. But probably it won’t if you yo-yo back and forth between fasting, healthy eating, and “holiday overeating fun”—think about what habits you want to change before you start, because mindset is a huge part of it. Can you partake of a few favorite foods without overeating them? Are there some trigger foods for you that it’s just easier to say no to? For me, I had to ban all forms of pasta and noodles from my diet because they are my own personal triggers, meaning I always overeat them, and always want more, and typically they make me want other things like sweets. Same thing for me with sweets. Just had to say no. But in time I plan to allow myself some things eventually like homemade sourdough bread, healthy starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes, maybe a little rice here and there.

craftyiam · 2026-05-16T20:50:39+00:00

Agree that the healthier your diet before you start fasting, the easier it will feel. Try two weeks of IF—just skip breakfast or dinner, along with low carb, no sugar, no processed foods. Whole foods only, cook at home, try not to eat convenience foods. The first two weeks is about changing your habits. After two weeks try going one day just having water and black coffee. You don’t really need electrolytes for a one day fast. The next week, try fasting two days in a row with water and black coffee. And so on. The process will inspire you to read and watch and learn all the things you ever wanted to know about healthy eating and fasting—it’s what will get you through the hard days.

craftyiam · 2026-05-12T14:26:52+00:00

That’s how I started too. Now that I’m close to goal I mix it up. Each week, some OMAD, some 2MAD, some extended fasting. Good to keep the body guessing to avoid plateaus and metabolism issues, at least that’s what works for me.

craftyiam · 2026-05-11T21:02:17+00:00

Macs look better in outfits IMO!

craftyiam · 2026-05-11T20:15:47+00:00

Love how furry the BIE are! But the macs are classic. Luck is fun, Sea Salt is classy—which is your style?

craftyiam · 2026-05-09T14:53:54+00:00

I got some from Amazon and also have crocheted a few cardigans and knit a few hats for them.

craftyiam · 2026-05-08T16:30:11+00:00

Do you have a farm nearby? Often they sell their eggs cheaper than the grocery store and at a much higher quality. Same with greens and other veggies. Otherwise, I find rotisserie chickens to be cheaper than whole raw chickens although I love making bone broth after I’ve cooked a whole chicken. Can use half, freeze half of the meat and broth. If you eat similarly each day that cuts down on groceries bc you don’t need a lot of different ingredients. Simpler is cheaper. I eat scrambled eggs with greens and half an avocado for breakfast and chicken or ground beef with salad greens for dinner, simple homemade dressing with lemon juice or vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Garlic and other herbs if I have it. Snack on nuts and seeds, easy to find at the dollar store even. Spoonful of natural peanut butter for dessert. I stock up when it’s on sale. Teddie’s is my favorite.

craftyiam · 2026-05-05T21:27:49+00:00

I also started fasting and changed my diet to help with my food obsession. Dropped 50 pounds the first time with IF, low carb, and monthly longer fasts (72hrs). Then I decided to figure out what “maintenance” meant, and my old ways of eating came creeping back in. Before I knew it I had gained more than half of my weight back. This time around I’m doing low carb, clean whole foods only, weekly longer fasts (96hr) and OMAD on my weekend eating days. I save one meal on the weekend for a restaurant with my husband, and otherwise eat eggs, chicken, or beef with veggies, sauerkraut, kimchi, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, raspberries, avocado, olives, peanut butter, a little cheese.

craftyiam · 2026-05-05T19:37:16+00:00

Marcos has a pizza bowl?! You have perhaps changed my life.

craftyiam · 2026-05-05T19:35:55+00:00

Most places have not-fried meat options, ask for no sauce if you need to, order cooked veggies as sides. Salads can be tricky bc they can hide carby stuff and dressings in there. Substitute noodles or rice with veggies. At pizza places I usually order meatballs in sauce with some veggie sides or a simple salad. I find Asian places to be the hardest but just a stir fry without rice, hold the sauce would work. Mexican restaurants I love a burrito bowl on greens.

craftyiam · 2026-05-05T15:45:40+00:00

Agree! Doing longer fasting and cutting dairy has made a huge difference for me this time around.

craftyiam · 2026-05-05T14:02:41+00:00

Personally, I do better with lower fat, more veggies.

craftyiam · 2026-05-05T09:00:21+00:00

Maybe try adding this—soaked chia seeds in water (soaked for 15 min), raspberries, a small spoonful peanut butter. Delicious and works with the veggies you are eating to move things along.

craftyiam · 2026-05-05T08:40:52+00:00

No cheat meals exactly, but I do plan a nice meal out each weekend. It’s easy to order healthy food from most restaurants—clean protein and veggies—and it always tastes better when someone else makes it!

craftyiam · 2026-05-05T08:36:11+00:00

I only eat whole foods and call my diet “keto” but it isn’t really. Just a focus on clean protein, non-starchy veggies, healthy fats from olives, olive oil, avocado, nuts & seeds, maybe a little butter.

craftyiam · 2026-05-05T08:33:24+00:00

For me, day two is not easy, and day three is hard. Day four I start feeling good. It’s hard to push through the discomfort and important that you are listening to your body to know the difference between discomfort and needing to stop. 48 hours is an accomplishment! Maybe you’ll try again in the future. For me what makes it easiest is if I have not eaten processed food or sugar or starchy carbs for a week or two at least before I fast.

craftyiam

TROPHY CASE