Keto Diet Hungry at Night – What Is The Reason?

With summer just around the corner, I have been working out regularly. Much more than wishing for the perfect summer body, I believe in the health benefits of working out, and to improve my overall well-being, I decided to change my diet as well.

I’ve spend a lot of time researching different diets, and I’ve tried a fair share of diets so far. But, the truth is, although I’ve managed to lose some weight that I almost instantly gained it back, my health suffered. This time around, health is my priority!

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I’ve noticed that the keto diet has been gaining a lot of traction lately. From friends, colleagues, and gym partners, to celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian, everybody seems to approve of this diet. I thought I should really try to keep up with the Kardashians and give keto a try, but I didn’t expect to experience the keto Diet hungry at night curse.

Praised as the anti-hunger diet, I was surprised by all the cravings I experienced. I’m one of those people that believe that the light in the fridge is there so we could eat at night, but I expected for that old habit of mine to decrease once I start the keto diet. I researched online and I consulted with a few people who have embraced the keto diet as a lifestyle. Little did I know, I was doing it all wrong!

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Here are the top 3 mistakes that held me back and a few tips that helped me beat keto hunger and night cravings.

Proper Start

When I first started the keto diet, I was all about following the macros without fully understanding what macros meant. The keto diet is based on reducing the carbohydrate intake and moderately limiting protein intake, while focusing on eating good fats. It’s important to consume just the right amount of each nutrient after previously setting your goal: lose, maintain, or gain weight.

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Macros describe the daily caloric intake for the keto diet. There are three categories: optimal fats, carbohydrates, and proteins.  They also differ from person to person. Macros are based on the person’s age, weight and height, activity level, body fat percentage, and of course – your goal. Although macros are often referred to as the roadmap to a successful diet, I learned the hard way that you can’t follow the macros blindly, at least not at the very beginning.

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At the very start, your only goal is to gradually prepare your body for ketosis. Try to cut down the carb intake to around 20 grams per day and scale up fats intake. If you eat enough fats, chances are you won’t feel hungry either.

The Stress Factor

One of the main causes of obesity is stress. According to a number of researches, weigh gain is more often than not linked to stress. Emotional eating is one way we cope with stressful situations. By nature, I get anxious if something doesn’t go according to plan and I tend to reach for chocolate or chips.

While on my first attempt at the keto diet, I used to stress a lot about not being able to keep up with the macros, as mentioned above. Of course, I sought consolation in sweets and chips, which is the exact opposite of what I should have been doing.

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But, at my second attempt, I learned to literally chill. It not only helps my physical health, but I’ve been feeling a lot better mentally as well. A good mind set together with proper diet is a bliss that I’ve recently been experiencing!  And, if you’re a stress eater like me, I’d recommend you look for some healthy snacking alternatives.

Sleep

Possibly the hardest thing for me when I’m on a diet is to get enough sleep. As somebody who is constantly on the run, doing five things simultaneously, sleep is the last thing that comes to mind.

But, procrastinating on your sleep and going to sleep at random times every day leads to sleep deprivation. And yes, sleep deprivation is as bad as it sounds! Our bodies need energy to function and the two main sources of energy are food and sleep. When on a diet, you’re reducing your meals, and just imagine cutting on sleep as well.  This is one of the major factors for Keto Diet Hungry at Night.

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Scientifically speaking, our digestive system secretes a hormone known as gherlin. Gherlin is secreted when our stomach isn’t full, hence, we feel hungry. But, a lesser known fact is that sleep deprivation also increases gherlin levels, so there’s no wonder we are hungry at night.

Keto Diet Hungry at Night – The Bottom Line

Taking all things into consideration, it’s fair to say that eating keto-friendly foods is not enough in order to see the benefits of this amazing diet. Remember that the first thing you need to do is prepare your body and mind for ketosis, and not try to go into ketosis from the very first day. Combined with good night’s sleep and good mind set, there’s no doubt that you’ll see for yourself why the keto diet is so famous!