How To Get Back Into Ketosis Quickly After Cheating [24-48 Hours] (2024)

It depends.

  1. How long have you been in ketosis for before your cheat meal/day?
  2. What did your cheat meal/day consist of?
  3. Do you exercise regularly?
  4. Did you quickly get into ketosis when you first started keto dieting?
  5. Will you be intermittent fasting?
  6. Did you drink alcohol or beer?

Your answer to these questions impacts how long it will take you to get back into ketosis.

In general, you will probably be back in ketosis within the next 24 to 48 hours if one or more of the following applies to you:

  • You were in ketosis for around a month or longer before cheating on the diet.
  • You are doing an extended intermittent fast (>16 hours) beginning after your last cheat meal.
  • You exercised on the day of and/or after your cheat day.
  • You got into ketosis quickly when you first started the keto diet.
  • You didn’t go too far over your carb limit with your cheat meal.

On the other hand, if you haven’t even had a chance to adapt to keto yet, you are sedentary, you had multiple cheat meals, and/or your body struggled to adjust to keto dieting at first, then it may take you longer than two days to get back into ketosis.

Keep in mind that these estimates are based on theory and should be used as a framework to understand what factors matter when it comes to getting into ketosis as quickly as possible after a cheat meal/day.

Overall, you can get back into ketosis as soon as 12-16 hours after your last cheat meal (with the help of fasting and exercise) or it can take as long as it did when you first started keto.

If you’d like to get a better understanding of ketosis, check out our recent article on the topic.

How To Get Back Into Ketosis Quickly After Cheating [24-48 Hours] (2024)

FAQs

How To Get Back Into Ketosis Quickly After Cheating [24-48 Hours]? ›

Intermittent fasting (IF) can help a person reach a state of ketosis. In some controlled cases, a doctor may recommend fasting periods of 24–48 hours , but most people do not need to fast this long to reach ketosis.

How to get back into ketosis fast after cheat day? ›

Here are a few tips to help you get back into ketosis:
  1. Try intermittent fasting. Combining intermittent fasting with the keto diet may help your body shift its fuel source from carbs to fat ( 9 ).
  2. Track your carb intake. ...
  3. Try a short-term fat fast. ...
  4. Exercise more. ...
  5. Try a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) supplement.
Jun 2, 2020

Can you go into ketosis after a 48 hour fast? ›

Intermittent fasting (IF) can help a person reach a state of ketosis. In some controlled cases, a doctor may recommend fasting periods of 24–48 hours , but most people do not need to fast this long to reach ketosis.

Can you stay in ketosis if you have a cheat day? ›

Conclusion. Keto practitioners say that you can absolutely have cheat days while observing keto. But it's important that you do it right to stay in ketosis and on track with your weight loss goals.

How can I get into ketosis in 24 hours? ›

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

How do you reset your body after a cheat day? ›

What to do after a cheat day
  1. Be kind to yourself. ...
  2. Remind yourself of other healthy behaviors your practicing. ...
  3. Don't turn a cheat day into a cheat week or month. ...
  4. Eat foods you crave most days. ...
  5. Stay consistent with exercise. ...
  6. Have a balanced meal. ...
  7. Practice tuning into your hunger and fullness.
Jun 28, 2021

How do I restart my keto fast? ›

Your 24- or 60-hour keto reboot should include drinking plenty of water, increasing your exercise regimen, drastically increasing your fat intake, and trying an intermittent fast. During this time, be sure to get enough electrolytes, get enough sleep, and don't exercise too much.

Will a 2 day fast put me in ketosis? ›

A 72-hour fast, or fasting for three consecutive days without any food intake, can help your body enter a state of ketosis. Ketosis is a metabolic state in which your body burns stored fat for energy instead of glucose from carbohydrates.

What foods get you into ketosis fast? ›

Eating a diet rich in fat while also limiting carbs prompts your body to burn fat, rather than glucose, for fuel. That's the basis of ketosis. People following a ketogenic diet get 75% of their calories from fats, which ideally should come from avocado, nuts, olive oils, and other unsaturated, or healthy, fats.

Can I be in ketosis after 2 days? ›

If you eat between 20 and 50 grams of carbohydrates each day, it will usually take you two to four days to enter ketosis. However, the time it takes to enter this state varies based on several factors. It may take you a week or longer to get into ketosis.

Will one cheat day ruin my progress? ›

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.

Will I gain weight after a cheat day on keto? ›

As long as you don't go overboard with the cheating and you maintain an overall calorie deficit, you should still be able to see results in terms of weight loss. One benefit of a planned cheat meal is that it allows a short period of indulgence, making it easier to stick to the keto diet in the long run.

Can a cheat day break a plateau? ›

A planned cheat day can sometimes shock your body into breaking through the plateau and going back to weight loss mode. It can also give you a mental break from being so careful with what you eat. Finally, a cheat meal gives you the chance to eat some of the high-calorie treats that may have been scarce recently.

How do I get back into ketosis ASAP? ›

Consuming a low-carb diet is vital to successfully reenter a state of ketosis. We recommend eating typically just under 25-30 grams of daily carb intake. This will force your body to use ketones instead of glycogen as an energy source, allowing your body to burn more fat.

How to speed up weight loss in ketosis? ›

To maximize weight loss on a ketogenic diet, get adequate sleep, reduce stress, be more active and consume whole, nutritious, low-carb foods whenever possible.

Can you go into ketosis after 1 day? ›

The time it takes to enter ketosis varies from person to person ( 6 , 7 ). In general, it can take 2–4 days if you eat 20–50 grams of carbs per day. However, some people may find it takes a week or longer to reach this state ( 6 , 7 , 8 ).

What to do if I cheated on my keto diet? ›

How do you recover from cheating on a keto diet? Depending on your carb intake, metabolism, and activity levels, it may take several days to a week to re-enter ketosis. The best way to recover from a keto cheat day is to resume your low-carb keto lifestyle.

Will a 16 hour fast put me in ketosis? ›

Additionally, note that forms of intermittent fasting that have shorter windows of fasting ranging from 12–18 hours per day may not reach this state, as ketosis may not be achieved with fasts lasting less than 24 hours unless you also follow a very low carb diet.

Can I fast after a cheat day? ›

Oftentimes after a cheat day or a binge, people think that they need a “reset” so they decide to restrict food the next day. However, fasting after a binge can backfire and perpetuate the binge-restrict cycle. It can lead to intense cravings and an obsession with food.

How long does it take to get back into ketosis after a binge? ›

Average timeframe: 48 hours

The average person may require around 48 hours before their liver restarts ketone production after consuming carb-rich foods. In order to facilitate this transition, ensure you get back on track with your ketogenic meal plan and stay well-hydrated throughout the day.

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