9 Reasons for Keto Weight Gain

9 Reasons for Keto Weight Gain

A keto diet enables you to lose weight when done right. However, if you are gaining weight, then there are numerous reasons for it. To help you understand, here are nine reasons why you gain weight in a keto diet.

  • Don’t exercise
    A keto diet done for losing weight won’t work unless you exercise regularly. You should create a workout schedule as per your needs and aim to exercise at least 4 days a week. Exercising and keto dieting will help you lose weight. Exercise helps you burn calories and improve metabolism.
  • Excessive snacking
    If you rely on high-calorie ketogenic snacks, then you won’t lose weight. If you have to snack more than once a day, then opt for low-calorie ketogenic snacks such as non-starchy protein or vegetables.
  • Insufficient nutrition
    Your body needs nutrition to function well. Therefore, even if you are snacking on keto-friendly snacks, you are adding pounds than losing it. Instead, opt for nutrient-dense whole foods that are filling.
  • Genetics
    Keto diet isn’t suitable for everyone, which might be the reason you are gaining weight. When a diet isn’t right for your body, it won’t give the desired results. Therefore, get the APO-E gene test to understand how your body metabolizes fat before opting for any diet.
  • Excessive alcohol
    Even if you drink only two beverages per week, it can impact your body’s ability to lose weight. This is because alcohol stops ketosis, rendering your body unable to burn fat effectively.
  • Consuming excessive calories
    Keto diet works on the calorie-deficit principle. However, if you overeat recommended keto-friendly foods such as avocados, full-fat dairy, and olive oil, which are high in calories, then you will gain weight instead of losing it. Therefore, pay close attention to your portion size and ensure you exercise regularly.
  • Overdoing cheat days
    While you might be efficiently following the keto diet, you might also be indulging in too many cheat days than necessary. Even if you eat more carbohydrates one day in a week, your body won’t be in ketosis anymore. This means your weight loss will decrease and gain weight instead.
  • Stressed and sleep-deprived
    When you are stressed or when you are sleep deficient, you will gain weight. When you are stressed, cortisol is produced, which directs your body to store fat. When you are sleep deficient, you have the tendency to eat more than necessary, causing you to eat foods that may not be keto-compliant.
  • Eating artificial sugars
    Are you relying on artificial sugars? If the answer is yes, then it may be a contributing factor to your inability to lose weight. When foods are marketed as ‘no sugar’ or ‘low on sugar,’ you are prone to eat them in larger quantities. However, these increase your blood glucose levels, which leads to weight gain.