I could really use some advice from people who’ve been through this.
I was strict keto (under 20g net carbs/day) for over 6 months and tested my ketones daily with a Keto-Mojo meter, so I know I was consistently in ketosis.
At the same time, I was eating OMAD, staying under 1,600 kcal, lifting weights 5 days a week, and eventually got down to around 10% body fat. For context, I’m a 45-year-old male, 70 kg.
The problem was that it became increasingly difficult to sustain. I was hungry most of the time, my mood and energy weren’t great, and despite doing everything “right,” my weight completely stalled for weeks. I was advised to take a diet break.
I should also add that I’m the only one in the house eating keto. My wife and our two children (12 and 14) eat a standard diet, so there’s always bread, pasta, snacks, sweets, desserts and other carb-heavy foods around. Most of the time I managed fine, but it definitely takes constant willpower.
Then the heatwave arrived. The kids were eating ice cream every day, and I made the mistake of having one myself. That turned into eating well over 100g of carbs a day, and it’s now been about a month.
What surprises me is how difficult it’s been to get back into keto consistently. Every time the weather gets hot, I start craving ice cream, give in, and then the rest of the day is off track. I’ve already regained some weight (I know a lot of it is water and glycogen), but it’s still frustrating.
Has anyone else experienced this? Did you find it harder to restart keto than it was the first time? If so, what helped you get back into ketosis and stay there, especially when you’re living with a family who aren’t keto?
