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Keto Cheat Day: Should You Have Them on a Ketogenic Diet?

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Cheat meals. Everyone thinks about them, and the ketogenic diet is no exception. But is a keto cheat day really worth it? Or will it mess up your progress completely? 

Intellectually, you know a cheat meal won’t help with your weight loss goals or allow you to experience the positive impact of the keto diet. At the same time, you don’t want to feel restricted, or develop a bad relationship (or fear) of any food. For these reasons, you may know people who purposely (and regularly) schedule treats, including on the weekends or at the end of the month. 

Below, you’ll learn how to treat yourself on the keto diet. This allows the occasional indulgence that benefits your physical and mental health.

Disadvantages of Keto Cheat Days

Hopefully, you’re following the keto diet as part of a healthy lifestyle — one that makes you feel good, gives you energy, and doesn’t make you feel restricted. That said, the occasional indulgence outside a keto diet meal plan might have physical side effects, including those that follow.

It Could Take You Out of Ketosis

Eating a high-carb food — even as the occasional treat — could take you out of ketosis. For this reason, try to take a look at your overall carb intake of the day when indulging. For example, if you enjoy a slice of birthday cake at a friend’s celebration, be sure to stock up on plenty of leafy greens and high-quality protein throughout the day.

It’s a good idea to test your ketone levels to know if you’ve been kicked out of ketosis.

Cheating Affects Your Fat Adaptation

Your body has to make changes (such as altering specific hormones and increasing enzyme production) to transition to a fat-burning state[*]. Having a regular dose of glucose can prevent your body from becoming fat adapted. This, in turn, could slow any progress made toward weight loss and fat loss goals (i.e. the reason you started keto in the first place). 

It Could Spike Your Blood Sugar

One of the reasons keto is popular for those with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or poor cardiovascular health is that it can stabilize blood glucose levels[*]. If you’re following the keto diet because of these health reasons, it’s important to know that eating cheat meals can cause blood sugar levels to spike.

Plus, since your glucose tolerance has depleted on keto, chances are you’ll experience a nasty sugar hit. If you eat dessert or high-carb food and don’t feel well the next day, it’s probably best to avoid it. 

Cheating Causes Cravings

One study finds that a low-carb, high-fat diet like keto has been shown to reduce appetite and hunger cravings[*]. While it does take an adjustment period to achieve these benefits, once your body becomes fat-adapted you are less likely to feel hungry and experience sugar cravings throughout the day.

By veering away from your keto meal plan and removing your body from a ketogenic state, you may find yourself craving carbs and sugar more than before. 

If you do find yourself craving sweets and carbs, opt for keto-friendly alternatives like at-home keto pizza or already-made keto cookies.

You Could Experience Keto Flu (Again)

Fatigue, headaches, low energy, headaches, and bloating are all symptoms you might experience when transitioning to burning fat (instead of glucose) for energy. If you choose to eat a high-carb food, know that you could experience these unwanted symptoms of keto flu again. (If this happens, supplementing with exogenous ketones may help.)

Implementing a Keto Cheat Day the “Right” Way

Whether you’ve been following keto for a few weeks or a few months, it can be a lifestyle transition. While you may have started keto as a means to achieve weight loss, fat loss, or improved body composition, hopefully, you’re experiencing other mental, physical, and emotional benefits. These could include improved energy, heightened mental clarity, and feeling good about your food choices.

Most of all, the keto diet can teach you to listen to your body. You’ve probably noticed you feel better when you eat a diet based on fresh, green produce, high-quality protein, and healthy fats than you do when eating lots of carbs and highly processed foods 

In other words, once you’ve followed keto for a significant period of time, you probably won’t crave the high-carb, sugary foods you once did.

If you do — whether it’s a special occasion or you simply would love to get your hands on a slice of pizza — know that there are plenty of ways (including delicious keto-friendly recipes and keto-friendly alternatives) to enjoy these foods. 

Follow a Cyclical Ketogenic Diet

On the Cyclical Ketogenic Diet (CKD), you would only eat a strict keto diet for five days within a seven day period. Many times, people choose to eat a standard keto diet during the weekdays, and following a high-carb approach on the weekends. 

While this will still likely kick you out of the metabolic state of ketosis, following a CKD can make eating keto more mentally manageable for some people.

Enjoy Keto Desserts and Comfort Foods

With the growing popularity of paleo, keto, and low-carb diets, the number of keto-friendly dessert recipes is endless. These recipes recreate your favorite treats and comfort foods with healthy ingredients with a low net-carb count so you don’t have to feel restricted. 

For example, baked goods are often made from almond flour or coconut flour instead of white flour, and sweetened with monk fruit or stevia instead of white sugar.

On this site, you’ll find keto-friendly versions of some of your favorite desserts and comfort foods, including: 

Experience Life Without Feeling Restricted 

A diet that causes physical or emotional deprivation cannot be considered healthy. Therefore, if you’re experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime moment, such as eating Italian pizza in Rome or eating a slice of cake at your grandmother’s 90th birthday, then it’s your choice as to whether you want to deviate from strict keto.

Ideally, following keto will help you to eat intuitively, knowing when you want to treat yourself and when you want to stick to green veggies, protein, and healthy fats. When faced with an opportunity to deviate from your keto meal plan, no matter what the occasion, hopefully you take the time to pause, assess the situation, and ask yourself if that particular food (and the experience that goes with it) is worth it. 

A slice of homemade apple pie from your grandmother? That might be worth it. A store-bought candy bar over your lunch hour? Maybe not. 

Keto cheat day: Ketogenic diet breakdown

There Are Plenty of Conscious Ways to Have a Keto Cheat Day 

When it comes down to it, it’s ultimately up to you whether you want to have a keto cheat day. It’s your responsibility to assess the situation, weigh the physical side effects, and consider whether there may be a healthier, alternative approach. 

For example, if you’re throwing a birthday party, offer to bring a cake that you can enjoy. Or, if it’s Thanksgiving, don’t offer to cook green beans or turkey (which are already keto-compliant). Instead, bring a low-carb pumpkin pie or make mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes

Of course, there are more and more keto-friendly snacks on grocery store shelves these days as well. Make sure you’re choosing snacks with clean ingredients that won’t kick you out of ketosis, like Perfect Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies and Bars.

Part of a ketogenic diet is learning to listen to your body, taking note of which foods make you feel good and which don’t. And you know what? Sometimes you may choose to indulge on a food — like dairy ice cream or a slice of pizza from your favorite pizza joint — that doesn’t make you feel your best. And that’s OK. But make sure it was a conscious decision to do so — not one done in a moment of sugar-frenzy cravings.

For plenty of ways to implement keto-friendly comfort foods and desserts, be sure to check out the recipe library on this site. Chances are, your favorite foods have been recreated into low-carb, keto-friendly versions that you can enjoy time and time again.

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59 thoughts on “Keto Cheat Day: Should You Have Them on a Ketogenic Diet?

  1. Not sure if this is all true? I’ve read a lot of articles about Calorie cycling on an 11/3 day schedule. All day that metabolism stays charged and fat burning is actually increased with the calorie cycling. I guess you could just add in more fat… but the studies suggest it does not matter what type of macros you add…

  2. This is an extremely great tips particularly to those new to blogosphere, brief and precise
    information… Thanks for sharing this one.
    A must read post.

  3. Ashley you are absolutely right , although it’s right about the keto diet and cheat meals, this is totally incorrect about how cheat meals are not good for the diet , refeed meals and cheat meals are actually great for diets

  4. If you had a cheat meal on you keto diet how long more or less will it take for your body to get back into keto state

    I train a lot as well if I had to hit a hard gym session will it help?

    Had amazing results with this new lifestyle…. and feeling super guilty after pizza and wine ?

    1. Me as well,,
      I started a water fast and i am on Day 8 . All week only water but last night I had some Jack and coke ( coke zero sugar ) which i forgot that when i drink i eat so last night I eat half of a Digiorno Pizza this morning i ate the rest. One Digiorno Pizza has 1800 calories so half yesterday and the rest this morning is 900 calories per day and I have had only water for 6.5 days on the night of the 7th day I did this mistake so now i am back on water fast only so I dunno how long it will take to get back into Ketogenic state but I will do it agian this next week lol.

    2. Another thing is I am not on a ketogenic diet which i think takes the body 7 days to a month to get in to Ketosis state. I am on a water fast so I have read if your on a water fast it takes about 48 hours for women and 72 hours for men to get into a Ketogenic state . I hope I can be back in Ketosis by Tuesday its Sunday now .

      1. Eat less than 20g Carbohydrates and pretty much can assure you in 24-48 hours you’re back in ketosis. It is true that fasting is the quickest way to get in ketosis, but it’s not necessary at all.

      2. Yep, eat zero carbs for 2 days I would just about gaurantee you’ll be back in keto. I do cheat meals. Yes it kicks me out of keto for a day or 2. But it also gives my kidneys and liver a break too. Losing weight is a marathon not a race. Do whatever it takes to stick to your guns long term and not give up. If that means an order of tater tots once a week, do it. Just my opinion.

    1. Hi Christina: Why would you feel guilty eating tortilla chips if you count them towards your carb intake? I have eaten tortilla’s with sour cream, salsa and shredded sheddar and did not feel guilty at all. I simply tracked what I was eating and I stayed within my limits. I’m guessing if you ate more than what was allowed, I can see how the guilt would set in. But you should not feel guilty if you’re not doing this all the time. On the other hand, if you had cake or something like that… which I did, that was a lot of guilt which wasn’t worth it. Now I’m back on track. Instead of cake, I’m going to eat no crust cheese cake which will be tastier and not as bad for me.

  5. It also depends on how often you decide to cheat. I generally stay on a strict, 20g carb per day diet year round. One day every 3 months I will allow myself to enjoy the carb-laden treats I usually avoid. Birthday, anniversary, Christmas and 4th of July are my usual off days and can make these special occasions even more fun. A week or so afterward, my ketone levels are right back where they should be, and it’s business as usual.

    1. Thanks for sharing this Aaron! As one who is new to this ketosis lifestyle, hearing this makes me feel like I don’t have to struggle with this along or feel as though I can’t ever have something that I enjoy. I know it’s not worth the frequent cheats or going way overboard, but every now and then or for those special occasions like my upcoming B-Day, 4th of July, Labor Day and the holiday, I’d like to enjoy the cheese cake with a tad bit of crust or a slice of sweet potato or apple pie. And I’m sure I can cut way down on the crust or not have it at all. I’d still be ok. Thanks!

  6. No mention of 85% cocoa… is this a no-no? Or is it considered a cheat or a keto approved food? I have a fantastic recipe for almond butter cups with coconut oil and 85%.The macros for this treat seem to work out in line with the Keto diet. Any thoughts?

    1. Hey Corrie, 85% cocoa should be okay depending on your goals and just make sure its unsweetened! Check the labels and take the carb/sugar count into consideration as well. Also, sticking with high quality brands of dark chocolate is definitely a good idea as well.

  7. This is very helpful. I’m three weeks into keto and have achieved great results, but having family visiting next week I want nothing more than go out for coffee and cake with them. Following this I’ve decided to allow myself a slice of delicious cake – followed by a good crossfit workout to hopefully my kickstart ketone levels.

  8. I find that a cheat makes it difficult for me. I have been off of the diet for a while now due to a cheat and seems hard to get back on it. Wish I had never stopped. However, the good news is that I have not gained weight back.

  9. Wonderful post however , I was wanting to know if you could write a litte
    more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit more.
    Many thanks!

  10. I have been on a keto diet for 3 weeks now, and down 15lbs. It still surprises me how i’ve stuck with it. Problem is, i get bombarded with temptations left and right to cheat. Even my mom feels bad that I cant eat a McRib… LOL. anyway. After reading the article, doing a little shopping on Perfect Keto, and a small plan I think I can manage this. Instead of the cyclical way, or once a week cheat meal, I’ll stick to once a month cheat. Afterwards i’ll fast and ease back into ketosis. Then begins another month of burn. I’ve done as much research as i can, but I am still learning everyday. All I know is that keto is a lifestyle, and if I want to see long lasting results, I will have to stick with it for the long haul.

    1. Hey Chris, you are right on the money!! Keto is definitely a lifestyle and the benefits will continue to show up as you progress through your journey. I’ve been studying the ketogenic diet for over 3 years now and I STILL learn something new everyday. Keep up the great work!!

  11. I’m going into week two and of course Christmas is looming around the corner! My grandmother made homemade lemon curd tartes and OH MY GOD I WANT ONE. Just one! But my mind is racking with guilt!!!! I’m doing my Keto strip test tomorrow. Is one small treat going to knock me out of these last two weeks? Hate feeling overly dramatic but damn! It’s hard feeling guilt when you’re seeing great results but so desperately want that damn treat!!!

  12. Meh, just polished off a bowl of Captn Crunch. Won’t feel guilty about it. I dropped 25 lbs in 2 months so a splurge on New Year’s is worth it. I know I’ll feel bloated for a couple days but not gonna beat myself up for having a treat.

  13. Thank you for all of the comments, so helpful. I began the Keto diet New Year’s Day after dabbling with it a bit in December. A friend lost 38 pounds in 6 months (she has been a great resource to get me jumpstarted with suggestions such as supplements, specific brands of mct, and other). I would like to lose about 30. I am half way through healing from a broken fibula, so my exercise is minimal. I am doing a little upper body strengthening (very out of shape). Knowing that each body is a little different, do you think I will lose any weight with a sedidentary lifestyle?

    1. Hey Melanie, great to hear you are jumping into keto. I definitely think you will see success even with a sedentary lifestyle right now. The foods you consume have a huge impact on your health and weight loss independent of exercise.

    2. I lost 20 pounds this month(first month in keto) and I am pretty sedentary. Going to be adding some exercise in with it soon but just wanted to let you know it’s totally possible.

  14. Hello , well i have been in and out of keto for one yeat , the longest period has been about 3 months and it actually did work and i’ve lost alot of weight but to e sincere i cant go keto for all my life even thou i love it and i loe its benefits , my question is can i do something like 2 days strictketo and the third day consume many more carbs ? can i still benefit from such a way of eating(weight loss and health in general) ? thank you

    1. Hi Hakim, that’s called cyclical keto which isn’t uncommon. It really depends on how your body responds to it. I would recommend sticking to the healthier, whole food based carbs if you decide to do this though. Avoid the processed junk as much as possible.

  15. I have been on Keto 2 and half weeks. 1st week lost 9 pounds. Second week nothing. Going into 3rd and have only lost a pound. However, I have been sick with the flu for 3 days. Ugh! Chicken broth is all I can tolerate . Dang it, this morning , I thought I would try to eat some grits which is loaded in carbs. Might have eaten a cup. No appetite. I hope this does not totally screw up my Ketos. I am concerned no more weight lost 2 and 3 week.

    1. Hi, Im on my week 2 and first I lost 8lbs and second week nothing. I was wondering how is your weightless going since it sounds just like my experience. Did it get going for you? I would appreciate your reply. Thank you.

  16. Hi! I’m wondering if I could get some help with this… I’ve been on keto for the past two weeks, in addition to three months of intermittent fasting, and I have lost maybe one pound. No fat, no inches, just that one pound. Any tips I could get? I’ve calculated and properly tracked my macros, I do hiit training anywhere from 3-5 times a week, and STILL nothing. Any help would be super appreciated! Thanks 🙂

    1. I listened to a Joe Rogan podcast & they spoke about calories canceling out keto effectiveness. They mentioned over eating of nuts & fats, for example. Best of luck!

    2. Hi Jada, I’m with you. I have been on Keto since March 26th and I’ve only lost a couple of pounds. This is my first time being on Keto or ever hearing about it but I’m so glad my Dr. introduced this diet and lifestyle change to me. It has been quite an adjustment but so far so good. I ate something I wasn’t supposed to on Saturday and felt really guilty so I walked for 3 miles to burn calories. Overall, I believe this is going to change my life, but I am a bit discouraged with the loss of lbs so far. I expected to see more after a few weeks. I realize everyone’s body is different, but I seem to be way behind the results that others are sharing. I eat 1400 calories a day… sometimes less and I don’t drink sugary beverages or fruits nor do I snack in between meals unless I am hungry. I have 50lbs… now 47 to lose. Like Jada, any help, suggestions or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.! Thank you!

  17. I have been on keto almost two months the first two weeks I have lost 13 pounds after only 2 pounds do you have any advice how to make it more efficient ?

  18. I’ve been doing keto for over a year and love it but I feel that at times it gets too restrictive! I wish bakeries and other small coffee shops would incorporate keto based items, that would be the ultimate! …but anyway, I work out 7 days a week and feel the uncontrollable urge to have something like a slice of pizza or a blueberry muffin. So today, I had my keto breakfast- hard boiled egg and XCT oil with decaf coffee and one brazil nut. Then, THEN! later in the day I was in a coffee shop and planned on just ordering a reg coffee. NOPE! that did NOT happen…I had 3 muffins, 2 apple fritters, and one cinnamon blowout. It was unbelievable and the best feeling ever. There’s just too much stress if I didn’t cheat. At any rate, I was still hungry so I had like 3 slices of pizza…do I feel guilty? of course, but should I? I mean can the CKD work, or would I always be in between metabolic states? Also, what can I do to avoid this irrational and over-indulging behavior please?

  19. I’ve been on the keto diet for a little over 2 weeks now and have dropped at least 1 dress size and feeling more energized after the first 3 days. I’m still learning more about the diet and playing it by ear but realized I’ve been doing intermittent fasting before starting the diet and have adopted a cyclical keto diet by having ‘cheat meals’ at least once every weekend. Surprisingly not craving carbs/sweets as much and just a few bites of pizza or sips of fruit shake during ‘cheat meals’ already feels good and satiating. Planning to keep at it and test from time to time to observe health effects. Have just started working out again (low impact at first) this week and don’t feel weak at all. I’m optimistic I can sustain this eating habit/lifestyle (fingers crossed) and hopefully add some helpful materials in the future:)

  20. I’ve been on keto diet for about 2 weeks and lost 4 pounds. Today I had a weak moment and had some gummie bears! My favourite junk food! My carbs are at about 35%, fats 49%, and protiens 16% now 🙁 . Will this take me out of ketosis? Have I destroyed my progress over a craving and have to start all over tomorrow?

  21. My wife and I started KETO the first of Oct last year, I have lost 30 lbs and she has lost 15. We have hit a plateau for the last month stayed the same. NO CHEATING either. Is there a supplement that can help? We are very creative with our recipe’s and NEVER eat out. I am ready to give up and go get some fries

    1. Hey Travis, have you tried incorporating different types of fasting or maybe playing around with your calorie and/or macro intake? Sometimes your body can adjust to the same thing over a period of time and it needs a new/different stimulus to break past a plateau.

      1. A good way to hold a 24 hour fast is this: Have an early lunch and stop eating at noon. You’ll skip dinner and breakfast, but get a good nights sleep. That way you’re sleeping for much of the fast. Break your fast at noon, 24 hours after you began.

      2. You can also try doing a bacon fasting for a week where you only eat bacon in the amount close to your macros.

  22. Thank you for sharing this!! I felt a lot of guilt even looking this topic since I just started the Keto diet about a week ago. I had asked my friend who started as well and she gave me a lot of grief for even bringing it up. I don’t plan on doing a cheat day soon or even at all, but I wanted to know since a previous diet had suggested one cheat day a week or so. This was very informational. I’m still not sure how I feel about the cheat day. I know for sure I want to make this new diet a habit before even making such a decision. But this really helped me find out the whole concept and how it fits in with this special type of diet. Thank you!

  23. Hi all, this is very interesting. I used to be a professional athlete and was always on diets, but more high protein, high carbs. And I always had one or two cheat days a month and I was fine. I opted for the Keto diet as I almost died last year (hemoglobin levels were down to 2) and then I got diagnosed with severe Ulcerative Colitis. I read so many success stories of people with Ulcerative Colitis and Chron’s that switched to Keto. I do not really have to lose weight, I am pretty lean. I want to heal my gut which Keto will do. But said that, I am sure I will have my cheat days, maybe one or two per month max. and have a pizza or sushi.I was in Keto after 6 days, which means my body adopts fairly quick. Did not have my first cheat meal yet, I hope I won’t feel too bloated or get a Keto flu, but the first cheat meal will show me…..

  24. I am 62 years old and 180cm (5’11) tall and have been in Keto since April 4th. My main reason for starting was to lose weight. For decades now my average weight was about 103kgs (about 225 lbs for you Americans) and after three months on the diet I have lost a bit over 14kgs (30lbs for you Americans) and I am still sort of shocked when I see the changed me in the mirror in the morning. For me, though, what has been an amazing side benefit is the drop in what had been dangerously high blood pressure. At one point I had a reading as high as 184 over 140 and that was on proper meds! In just one week after starting Keto I began to see “green” instead of “red” on my Omron blood pressure reader and after two weeks on the diet, my blood pressure has consistently been in the safe/normal zone.
    I read the initial article and all the comments because I see this as a way of life now and not a diet. Having this life-long goal in mind, cheat meals are an interest. For the past 4 years I have been living in the land of pasta, pizza, risotto, and some of the best bread and potatoes in the world. Italy is carb heaven or hell, depending how you look on it.
    I don’t want to cheat with sweets. No, it is the odd Bonci pizza, or small plate of pasta Amatriciana or risotto that I have a hankering for. I have not really looked into the carb cycling yet, but will read up on it. In my mind I would see myself cheating perhaps once, maybe twice a month, usually when company comes from Canada or there a birthday or something. I have found the whole cauliflower rice substitution thing quite interesting but Italy, or at least small town Italy, as opposed to big city North America, adheres to vegetable seasonality. When I started the diet, cauliflowers in white, orange, purple and green versions were readily available. Now I am struggling as they are out of season. Thank god water bufala mozzarella and a million other delicious high fat cheeses are available year round and are so cheap.
    Anyway, I see it is a calculated risk and when I am down another 5kg I am going to seriously look at it.

  25. I have been on keto for 2 yrs & 7 months. It is a lifestyle change, I have 1 cheat day every week, It depends on the person if you fall off get right back on track, do not beat yourself up! 139lbs gone & my cheat meals keep me sane.

  26. I’ve been doing a modified Keto/low carb plan for about 7 weeks, and am down 17.3 lbs. What I have found to be extremely helpful is that I do intermittent fasting (16/8) and track every little bite I eat into an app (I have been using Carbmanager). I have slowly incorporated berries after week 6, but limit to only once or twice a week. After week 4 I allowed myself a cheat day, and was pretty surprised that I didn’t really cheat too bad. What you think you might crave changes when you see how it can interrupt the process. I continue to be very mindful of that, if I feel I want to cheat. Risk vs reward. Not worth it for me right now, that may change once I’ve hit my goal.
    Also, I don’t have a gallbladder so I monitoring my fat intake, as this can be an issue. However, I have purchased a supplement to take to help with this.
    Ideally, I’d like to lose another 33 lbs, but I will let my body determine where my weight should be, not the scale. My question is, what happens once I hit my goal… do I continue or can I maintain my weight through cyclical keto?

  27. QUESTION: IF I regularly do 48 hour fasts, is it better for me to cheat right before or right after? I have a bit of an iron stomach so indigestion isn’t so important a consideration- just net effects on my weight loss goals. I enjoyed your post! First visit to the site.

  28. I think “cheat meals” work different for everyone no matter what kind of eating plan you are doing . I allow myself a cheat day of eating whatever kind of food I want , but still stay in a calorie deficit for the day . I do strict keto the rest of the time 2 to 5% carbs from keto friendly veggies, 25 to 30% protein, and 65 to 70% fat everyday. I have been doing this since Feb 15th of this year and have lost 110 lbs .I think for special occasions if you plan ahead and space them out right it doesn’t affect much as far as weight loss goes. I have never had any bad affects from doing what I call my treat day once every 8 or 9 weeks . I think it depends on what kind of food you are eating also . Eating a whole bag of doritos or a half dozen donuts is completely different than having a couple slices of pizza ,or a baked potato with that steak lol. Eat good non processed foods, and I think its ok to do

  29. Note to anyone going on vacation and wanting to cheat on your diet. One incredible way to do this is with intermittent fasting. Track what time you ate last the night before and wait 16 hours to eat again. If you can find time for some quick cardio in the morning you’ll be right back into ketosis. Begin your eating at the 16 hour mark and include lots of protein. Then eat pretty much whatever you want and repeat. If you really want the best of both worlds you just need to give up breakfast and workout at the end of your fasting window. You’ll stay in ketosis and or easily re-enter it right when your vacation is over even if you binged on drinks and cheesecakes. I’d wager you still won’t top 3k calories a day this way. Take a bunch of exogenous ketones your first week back from the trip and you’ll be just fine.

  30. You know what? I follow a keto diet 6 days a week. Saturdays are my cheat days, when my husband and I go out on dinner dates. Not may places are keto friendly anyway, and I just need to have some fun. I have NEVER had a problem losing weight doing this. I am the thinnest I’ve ever been in my life. Even after my cheat days, I don’t crave carbs, I don’t experience keto flu, I don’t gain weight, and no, it is NOT hard for me to go back to the keto menu the rest of the week. But, this is what works for ME. My mother told me the other day that her doctor told her, “If you find a diet routine that works, it doesn’t matter what it is, but if you find one that works for you, keep it! Stick with it!” Well, a cheat day works for me without visible consequences. Now, my cheat days don’t mean I get up in the morning and eat a bowl of ice cream for breakfast. Instead of eggs and avocados, I’ll have a bowl of Cream-of-Wheat with sugar, Cheerios with a squirt of honey. For lunch I might have a regular sandwich, or soup from a can. For dinner, it’s fair game. I’ll order Thai food with rice, or BBQ with mashed potatoes, and a dessert. The next day? Totally fine. I’m not sluggish, fat, etc, etc. Again, it works for me. Doesn’t mean it’ll work for everyone else.

  31. I Started the Keto diet 4 months ago to lose weightand have had three cheat days over this time.
    I have lost 9.6 kg, my cholesterol is down to a healthier range, my blood sugar has dropped from a fasting 6 to a normal 5.4 and my Dr is very pleased and said to just keep doing what I am doing.
    About three times over the four months on the diet I felt very tired and start craving sugary carbs. I have had a cheat day when I felt like this and I seem to feel a lot better for it and start on the keto diet the next day without the drained feeling. I am beginning to think I need my occasional cheats to build up my carb stores perhaps.

  32. i’ve been eating keto-friendly for 7 months now & i’m at my goal weight! i stay below 22-24 net carbs a day & 1250 calories & track macros. Lost 15lbs & adapted to keto eating rather easily & i feel Great!
    Wondering if anyone else has experienced thinning hair (I mean REALLY losing more hair in my brush daily than is normal). My thyroid is in range & i’m 70 yo female. No other health issues.
    Any suggestions for stopping hair loss if it is related to our keto eating habits…

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