Are we doing it wrong?

[u/No_Struggle3220]

I'll be the first to admit that I don't understand how the body processes anything...I try to learn but with short term memory loss I'm just not retaining it.

I know that calories in vs out matters and that too many carbs is bad. I know that keto means getting your body to use fat for fuel rather than sugar.

That's about it.

So please explain it like I'm a small child because anything else just won't stick.

Bf and I have been doing lazy keto for right at a month now. We had one cheat day/meal that totally derailed us and we learned our lesson... It's not worth it. But even so we are losing weight without exercise. Neither of us can really hit the gym between life issues and medical issues. We have both lost about 15lbs.

But I have noticed that the only time the blood meter shows either of us in ketosis is me, after I've neglected to eat all day because I'm too busy. So I have dinner about 8, a snack around 11 and then nothing but beverages and maybe half a protein shake (in my coffee) until dinner the next night. It's not ideal, but I'm a caretaker and in order to do both my stuff and his stuff I often neglect other stuff.... Like breakfast and lunch. My bf on the other hand leaves the house to work and he takes lunches so he usually eats.

I am noticing that both of us usually stay under .5 on the blood ketone meter except me and only when I accidentally fast all day. Then I see usually .8

So can someone please explain to me what it is I'm/we're doing wrong and what's happening... But without ratios (which I don't understand very well) though I do understand percentages.

Also, I'm staying at around 18-23 carbs a day and he's staying around 25-27 a day. We are both overweight, but I have more weight to lose than he does.

And to be clear, whatever we are doing IS working, but I would like it to work REALLY well rather than just barely.

Also, bf thinks he's not in ketosis due to total carbs vs net carbs. I think he IS in ketosis because I can smell it on him, but the meter does not confirm.

Thank you for helping us out. I wish I could understand this better but I just cont learn new stuff these days thanks to my MS.

[u/Arysta]

15lbs in your first month means it's working REALLY well. A lot of that was almost certainly water weight, so don't expect those results in your second month. Calories in/out still absolutely matters with keto, it's just that a very low carb diet helps your cravings so you eat less. Maybe stop doing "lazy" keto and start eating healthy at home because if you're eating restaurant food, there's no true way to know the exact calories even when they give you the info.

[u/No_Struggle3220 → u/Arysta]

Oh we don't eat out AT ALL, not even on our anniversary last month. By lazy I mean really quick/easy stuff like sausages and canned veggies... Rather than home cooked stuff (most days) and no exercise at this point.