How Long Does Keto Take to ‘Work'?’
/Weight Loss Fluctuations (5.5.2025 to 5.11.2025)
It has been a long time coming for our patience, along with our attention spans, to become so short. "All good things come to those who wait," and "patience is a virtue" have been replaced by "I want what I want and I want it now! And I mean now!!" Back in the day, news stories came to us via kids with paper routes, once a day. And to see broadcast reports, one waited for Huntley and Brinkley, Walter Cronkite, or (my hero) Peter Jennings to present the day's news in 22 minutes every evening. We all know how things have changed. Not only are constant waves of information thrust at us whether we like it or not, but 'on-demand' is a phrase that is part of our collective psyche. We take it as a basic human right never to have to wait ... for anything.
I'm often asked how long it took before keto 'worked' for me. Usually, 'worked' means "how long did it take for you to lose weight?"
It's an understandable question since budging the number on the bathroom scale or our trousers size tag motivates many people to try a very low-carb diet. The human desire for instant gratification may self-correct one day. The coming zombie apocalypse may cull the population, and the next crop of people will be more perseverant. Who knows? But for now, one thing we have to accept and get used to is that weight takes more time to come off than it does to put it on. Barring an intestinal parasite eating our food before our bodies get a chance to, rapid weight loss is rarely a thing. And when it is, it's usually not long-lasting or even preferable. I can't speak with authority on many topics but I can about my experiences when I laid off the carbs and laid off the excuses. (And, yes, I use the word excuses, not explanations. There's a difference. But that's a topic for another day ... )
My message is that while the fat-burning characteristics of the ketogenic diet are effective, they're not magical or immediate. Regardless of headlines or influencer clickbait phrases, it's a fat-burning protocol, not fat-melting. #theweightdisappearedovernight!
Nope.
"So why bother?" you might ask.
Let's start with defining what 'working' means in this conversation. While weighing less or transitioning from 2X to XXL clothes are legitimate successes, titrating off medications for chronic issues should count as working. Joints that no longer yell at us when we do something underwhelming, such as getting up from the sofa, means keto is working. Cloudy brain function clearing like fog burning off when the sun comes out: it's working!
For me, the scale numbers came down slower than the other improvements. My weight loss was visible to others, but the rest wasn't. After decades of focusing solely on how much I weighed, the scales fell from my eyes—pun intended. Adjusting my eating decisions to the simple concept of prioritizing fatty sources of protein, throwing in limited amounts of non-starchy vegetables, and enjoying limited amounts of full-fat dairy worked for me. I've never looked back. And, although I spent years being anxious for weight-loss—and by the way, impatience doesn't burn body fat—I was thrilled with the pace of the shrinkage of my body and the expansion of my health and vitality. I did not feel the need for speed. I needed to feel better, to feel in charge of the food I put in my gob.
How long did that take? It took as long as it took and for others may take more time or less, depending on several factors. Eating very low-carb resulted in subtle improvements for me. The joint pain resolved in about a week or so. The rest followed gradually and consistently.
But what about the weight? I lost at a gradual, normal rate. I lost 47 pounds in the first year, less than a pound a week on average. It was two more years before I lost the next 50 pounds. That would be too slow for some. It suited me just fine.
And patience truly is a virtue, a frustrating one for sure, but a virtue nonetheless.
I'm pretty much a spoiled brat, so if I can do this—and be patient while I do it—you can do this. I promise.
Disclaimer: I’m not a medical doctor, researcher, or Ph.D., but instead, I’ve been fortunate to have had the time and resources to research the ketogenic diet, also known as LCHF (low carb/high fat). The information I share is based solely on my understanding of that research. We are all responsible for our own choices, including what we put in our mouths, and there’s no substitute for each of us checking things out ourselves. And I’m not a medical professional in any way. Go Keto With Casey is not a medical site. “Duh,” you might say. But best to make it clear to all. I welcome questions, comments, and even civil criticism. I’m still learning. So, if you have something to add, go for it. Links in this post and all others may direct you to affiliate links, where I will receive a small amount of the purchase price of any items you buy through those links. Thanks!
