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.

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. It's not that complicated to achieve ketosis, but it does take time and effort.

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 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.

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? ›

Despite the many health benefits of fruit, there is an issue with some fruits on the keto diet. Grapes and bananas, for instance, contain high quantities of carbs. 1 cup of grapes has approximately 26 grams and a medium banana, 24 grams of carbohydrate. As a rule, these fruits should be avoided.

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.

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.

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.

What food does not break ketosis? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

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.

What to do after a bad cheat day on keto? ›

To get back into ketosis after a keto cheat day all you have to do is to start eating proper meals according to your macros, drink plenty of water and mind your electrolytes. If you feel up to it do some light exercise to help deplete glycogen stores.

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.

Is it bad to go in and out of ketosis? ›

Cycling in and out of ketosis can cause digestion problems and brain fog — and you may gain back the weight you've lost on the keto diet. What Really Happens to Your Body When examines the head-to-toe effects of common behaviors, actions and habits in your everyday life.

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