Will One Cheat Day Ruin Ketosis? - ketolibriyum (2024)

Ketosis is a metabolic state that occurs when the body does not have enough glucose to use as its main source of energy.

This causes the body to break down fats into ketones, which are then used as fuel for the body instead of carbohydrates. This process is triggered by a keto diet.

Staying in ketosis can be difficult, so you may be wondering how strictly you have to adhere to your keto diet to stay there.

If you've been following a keto diet or are just trying to learn a bit more about it, here's all you need to know if one cheat day will ruin ketosis.

What Is a Cheat Day?

A cheat day is a day when you allow yourself to eat foods that are not keto-friendly. Which means indulging in high-carb foods that you can't have on your keto diet.

For example high-carbohydrate snacks such as pasta, pizza, bread, desserts, chips, soda, etc.

Will One Cheat Day Ruin Ketosis?

Yes, even just one carb-rich meal can quickly get you out of ketosis. The carbs eaten on a cheat day will halt the production of ketones immediately until they are all metabolized by the body.

It's not that complicated to achieve ketosis, but it does take time and effort. Every time you have a cheat day, your progress will be reset and you'll need to start all over again.

This exchange between being in ketosis and having cheat days may hinder the benefits of the keto diet especially for weight loss and overall well-being altogether.

What Happens To Your Body on a Cheat day?

Remember to think about these things before you go into a carb binge on your cheat day. You may experience the following things:

  • Blood sugar spikes
  • You will be out of ketosis
  • Weight gain
  • Increased hunger and cravings
  • Keto flu

It can take some time to switch back to using ketones as an energy source after a cheat day.

How Long Does It Take to Get Back in Ketosis After a Cheat day?

The answer depends on what you ate on your cheat day. If you ate keto-friendly low-carb snacks then it will take less time to get back into ketosis than if you ate things like bread, pizza, or ice cream.

It also depends on how many days you’ve been in ketosis before your cheat day. If this is your first cheat day then it will take longer to get back into ketosis because your body has been exclusively burning fat for fuel up until that point.

On average it can take about 1-2 weeks before the body begins producing enough of its own ketones after a cheat day.

How To Cheat on Keto The Proper Way?

Will One Cheat Day Ruin Ketosis? - ketolibriyum (1)

The proper way to cheat is with keto-friendly meals. If you crave something specific, try looking for substitutes that are keto-compliant. There are tons of recipes online that will help you recreate yourfavouritemeals into a keto-friendly version.

Having a cheat meal instead of a cheat day is another way to cheat the right way. Unlike a cheat day, a one-off cheat meal will be much easier to stay in ketosis with.

Now and then it is ok to have some carbs as long as you keep it under the 50g limit, so try to make the most of your daily allowance.

Conclusion

Cheating on your diet can make progress significantly more difficult, especially if you're trying to lose weight.

Cheat days can lead to blood sugar spikes which are not ideal if you are a diabetic. It can also make you crave unhealthy foods and make you gain weight. Consider taking cheat meals instead of cheat days.

Finally, to maintain a balance between eating a keto diet and still being able to have a cheat meal, try out keto-friendly alternatives to yourfavourite carb-rich snack.

Be sure to take a look at our snacks section, we offer multiple varieties ranging from chips and crackers to bars and chocolates along with tons of keto-friendly recipes.

Alternatively, you can also opt for our keto coaching program where we take care of everything for you. From delivering meals to providing you with one-on-onecounselling with our keto coach. Check it out now!

References

University of British Columbia Okanagan campus. (2019, March 27). On the keto diet? Ditch the cheat day: Just one dose of carbohydrates can damage blood vessels. ScienceDaily

Dashti HM, Mathew TC, Hussein T, et al. Long-term effects of a ketogenic diet in obese patients. Exp Clin Cardiol. 2004;9(3):200-205.

Will One Cheat Day Ruin Ketosis? - ketolibriyum (2024)

FAQs

Will One Cheat Day Ruin Ketosis? - ketolibriyum? ›

Yes, even just one carb-rich meal can quickly get you out of ketosis. The carbs eaten on a cheat day will halt the production of ketones immediately until they are all metabolized by the body.

Will one cheat day ruin keto? ›

If your primary goal of following a keto diet is to lose weight, the occasional cheat day or cheat meal is not going to completely wreck your progress even if it disrupts ketosis. Ketosis has potential health benefits, one of which is calorie control.

Can one day of too many carbs kick you out of ketosis? ›

It's common to reach for the carbs when you decide it's time for your keto cheat day. However, that isn't always the best option. If you eat more than 50 grams of carbs in a day, you'll throw your body out of ketosis. As a result, you'll stop burning that belly fat and converting it into energy.

How long does it take to get back into ketosis after one cheat day? ›

If you've cheated on keto, you're likely out of ketosis. Once out, you'll need to strictly follow the keto diet to reenter ketosis. This process takes several days to 1 week, depending on your carb intake, metabolism, and activity levels ( 6 , 7 , 8 ).

Will one chip ruin ketosis? ›

Chips, crackers, cookies and snack foods are all off-limits on the keto diet. Low in fiber and high in carbs, these items do not support the goal of keto eating, aka reducing carbs enough to stay in ketosis and burn stored fat.

Can you do 5 days on 2 days off keto? ›

Keto cycling doesn't have a strict definition. Some people choose to have five or six days on keto followed by a day or two off. Others will do keto for 10 to 12 days followed by three to four days off. Devine typically doesn't recommend taking more than two days off keto.

Will one slice of pizza take you out of ketosis? ›

Regular Crust

This type of pizza crust can have up to 33g of carbs without any added sauce or cheese. If you're limiting your carbs to 20-50 grams per day, one slice of this type of crust will likely kick you out of ketosis.

What is the maximum number of carbs to stay in ketosis? ›

On the keto diet, you are allowed to have no more than 50 grams of net carbs per day – and the fewer, the better!

Will banana ruin ketosis? ›

Bananas. Bananas may be great for muscle recovery, reducing bloat, and calming an upset stomach, but they're on the list of foods you can't eat on the keto diet. With 25g of carbs per 100g serving, bananas are too high in carbs.

Will 70 grams of carbs kick me out of ketosis? ›

Most ketogenic diet guidelines recommend limiting your total carbohydrate intake to 15-30 grams or 5%-10% of your total calorie intake a day. Eating more than 50 grams of carbs may disrupt ketosis.

How do you stay in ketosis after cheating? ›

How To Get Back Into Ketosis After Cheating
  1. Intermittent Fasting: ...
  2. Start a Workout/Exercise Routine: ...
  3. Increase Healthy Fat Consumption: ...
  4. Minimize Carb Consumption: ...
  5. Increase Your Water and Electrolytes Intake: ...
  6. Consume Adequate Levels of MCT Oil and Protein: ...
  7. Attempt a Zero Calorie Fast:
Jul 1, 2021

How to jump start ketosis in one day? ›

You can make several diet changes to reach ketosis in 24 hours, including:
  1. Increasing your fat intake.
  2. Cutting out added sugars and processed snacks.
  3. Eating moderate amounts of protein.
  4. Consuming an abundance of non-starchy vegetables.
  5. Taking supplements such as exogenous ketones.
Jan 31, 2023

Will one cheat day stop ketosis? ›

While many dieters think of cheat day as a well-deserved reward, nutritionists say there are downsides to it. Some disadvantages of having a cheat day on keto include getting knocked out of ketosis and hindering further weight loss.

What food won't break ketosis? ›

Here is a list of all the low-carb foods that are appropriate to eat when you're following keto.
  • Fish and seafood.
  • Low-carb veggies.
  • Cheese.
  • Avocados.
  • Poultry.
  • Eggs.
  • Nuts, seeds and healthful oils.
  • Plain Greek yogurt and cottage cheese.
Aug 15, 2023

Do avocados kick you out of ketosis? ›

If you have decided to follow a ketogenic diet, you should know that the avocado is a fruit you can include in your meals due to its healthy fat content. Avocados contain 5 g Monounsaturated Fat and 1 g Polyunsaturated Fat, making avocados great for a keto diet.

Will one cheat day ruin my diet? ›

While your metabolism may go up in the immediate aftermath of a splurge, it doesn't stay that way for long enough to make a significant difference. “Cheat day calories can add up fast and bring your weight loss progress to a screeching halt — or even reverse it,” Taylor warns.

How much protein will ruin ketosis? ›

#1: Eating too much protein.

The body can convert the amino acids from excess protein into glucose, potentially sabotaging your weight loss efforts and keeping your body out of ketosis. For a 2,000-calorie diet, this translates to about 75g of protein at about 10-20% protein.

Will one piece of chocolate kick you out of ketosis? ›

It's unlikely that a small piece of chocolate will kick you out of ketosis; however, this depends on the amount you eat. Chocolate with a high sugar content will significantly impact your blood sugar levels and insulin response, potentially affecting your ketosis.

Does one meal a day cause ketosis? ›

The OMAD diet means your body will stay in ketosis, and burn fat due to the reduced number of calories eaten only once a day. You'll see rewarding results in no time.

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