Quit Keto after 3 years,now continual weight gain

[Dwilliams71]

Hi, I'm new! I'm just wondering when the weight gain will stop and weight loss commence?
Back story:
I used to weigh 260 lbs and got down to 176 doing the keto diet over the past 3 years. I even went so far as to do a 6 week stint of the Carnivore diet called Beef, Butter, Bacon and Eggs only. I was desperate to lose the final 40 lbs, until.....I was diagnosed with diverticulitis. My dr said NO meat or fat and bland foods only. I put 2 and 2 together and realized that in 2019 I had had a clean colonoscopy and by 2023 I had developed diverticulosis and diverticulitis. So, the keto or carnivore diet is possibly to blame or my bad eating habits prior.

I've been on countless rounds of steroids since then and have gained 30 lbs since April of this year. 3 weeks ago I started transitioning to WFPB. I even remembered the stint I did in the 90's following Dr. McDougall's program. I've been following that but the weight keeps climbing despite being off steroids for over a week. Has anyone had a weight gain after beginning this way of eating? I'm wondering if I just need to persevere and eventually my body will release the weight? I am still on antibiotics for a severe upper respiratory infection that I've had for a month now. I've been on a total of 3 antibiotics, breathing treatments, and 16 days of high dose steroids. Could this also be contributing to the weight gain? I appreciate any input.

edited to add: I was reading an article about how one reason we lose on wfpb is because we generally eat the same volume as before and since we're eating more volume of low calorie density foods this explains the weight loss. However, I was eating very low volume of higher calorie foods when on keto because I was satiated easily but now without the fat it takes more volume of low calorie density foods to fill me up. I'm amazed at the amount of very low calorie foods I can eat. I'm easily eating 3 lbs of food a day if not more. But every day I'm up 1-2 lbs from the day before. I am not constipated either but definitely not seeing THAT much loss in waste.

[barryoilbegone]

Welcome dwilliams to the Board - it can be brave to post, and respect anybody that can.

It's pretty complicated your background here, just from what you've written. The side effects of initial steroid withdrawal/steroid adjustments in any case can often be weight fluctuations, whatever someone's diet: so that also needs to be taken into account.

If someone has a background of health concerns, and you have a number from this (and I don't know if there may be others in your history as well?): you may do best, if you've the cash or health insurance, to consult directly with the McDougall Program or a similar knowledgeable health provider. They may be able to take your care, and prescribe and give you directions. Please take then all the rest below then under advisement, bearing that in mind.

Mary's Mini is an option for optimum weight loss (see https://www.drmcdougall.com/education/i ... ugall-diet) in the Program. Bear in mind people do often eat higher volumes of food for satiety because the foods are lower in fat and protein calories on WFPB - that's fine, and normal.

In going to WFPB, you'd generally be gaining glycogen weight and some water weight back: after it's unfortunate loss to the keto diet regime, and possibly the steroids. That's not unhealthy. If it is that, it's a sign actually of positivity. After initial restoring of the glycogen and water stores, if starting overweight you will get a longer term net weight loss, gradually over time down to your body's optimum weight. (As long as you don't overdo for your body the likes of high fat WFPB foods - nuts, seeds, avocados, soya, olives).

Given your health profile and illnesses, I do think it's really good idea for you, even if you can't afford to go to a formal provider, for at least a GP or nurse to monitor your baselines, if possible.

Try and obviously study as many resources too as you can as well on the McD site, which do include info relating to conditions you've had - in the Newsletters, the topics, as well as the YouTube videos with Dr M speaking on different areas will all be of long term help.

Good luck!

[debknott]

WELCOME TO THE BOARD!! You have come to the right place. There are MANY people who have lost weight and improved their health by eating the McDougall way. I used to be a person who had several bad colds and related respiratory illnesses every single year. Since eating the McD way I have had Covid but not one cold or flu since 2018. That's a pretty big deal for me. If you don't have it, get The Starch Solution book by Dr. McDougall. It's a great source to remind yourself of the basics. Barry has given you lots of good information. I'll just add that I think most folks do eat more volume of food with this way of eating. I believe and pray that you will turn the corner and the weight will begin to drop. Don't give up!

[Dwilliams71]

Hey thanks for replying guys! I’ve started the Mary’s mini challenge and did drop a half pound so that is exciting to see! I also am rereading MWL and The Starch Solution. I’m still binge watching videos to help immerse myself in this way of eating. I’ve started having pain in my lower left belly so I’m going to forego the raw veg and replace with well cooked veg. I don’t want a repeat episode of diverticulitis. I do not eat nuts or seeds really because they cause pain. This way of eating seems much healthier to me so I’m hoping it will help me manage the diverticulitis episodes and also the asthma and respiratory infections. Thanks again!

[Daydream]

Dwilliams71, welcome to the forum! The McDougall diet is a healthy diet so you are definitely doing something good for yourself.

About your weight gain... If you consistently eat more calories than your body burns, you will gain weight over time. It might help if you track your calories for a few days to see how many calories you typically eat. You can do that for free at cronometer.com.

Let us know how you do on Mary's mini. I wish you all the best!

[Dwilliams71]

About your weight gain... If you consistently eat more calories than your body burns, you will gain weight over time. It might help if you track your calories for a few days to see how many calories you typically eat. You can do that for free at cronometer.com.

Let us know how you do on Mary's mini. I wish you all the best!

I was hoping to not have to track because that’s all I’ve done for 3 years on keto and carnivore. The problem is that I always ate super low calories on those diets because I was so satiated from ALL that fat! Yikes! But I’ll do anything to lose the rest of this weight AND have great blood work so I can get off all the meds I’m on. I take quite a handful of pills every day and I’m so over it and all the specialist visits. I’ve got to get healthy.

Time to log off here and go log into Cronometer!

[michaelswarm]

Welcome aboard.

I second the thought about glycogen.

In going to WFPB, you'd generally be gaining glycogen weight and some water weight back...

Glycogen and associated water are responsible for 5-8 lbs of weight lost-gained,
on switching between fasting-ketosis and fed-non-ketosis.

glycogen storage capacity question
https://www.drmcdougallforums.com/viewt ... en#p630289

Jeff Novick also somewhere notes average person eats 4 lbs of food per day.
His talk on calorie density I use as a rule of thumb on choosing and making foods.

Jeff Novick at FOK:
https://www.forksoverknives.com/wellnes ... anagement/

Calorie Density: How To Eat More, Weigh Less and Live Longer
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0CdwWliv7Hg

Finally, you can share a couple of daily meal summaries. Here's an example, no portions or weights.

B: Apple Oatmeal
L: Taco Bowl: chopped lettuce, Mexican brown rice, black beans, pico de Gallo, habanero salsa
D: Rice Pilaf and Curry Potatoes
S: Apple

Writing down and sharing might help the community suggest a direction: focus on more starches, less calorie dense foods, etc.

You've probably already read Dr McDougall's summary about diverticulitis, but just in case you have not...
Diverticular Disease (Diverticulosis & Diverticulitis)
https://www.drmcdougall.com/education/c ... ticulitis/
- References section is great to follow up reading relevant scientific studies.

Patience and practice...

[viv]

Welcome, you have come to the right place to regain your health.

It will take your body time to adjust as you heal from the inside out. Stick with the McDougall Diet eating simple starch based meals. You may have some stomach upsets for a while as the beneficial bacteria in your gut increases and the healing begins. This is a lifelong pursuit so you don't need to rush.

Best to you.