How to Get Into Ketosis in 24 Hours

Are you intrigued by ketosis? 

Although invented in the 1920s, the keto diet has hit the health industry by storm in recent years. The theory is based upon a significant restriction on carbs and increased fats to generate a metabolic state that triggers the body to burn fat.  

To truly reach a state of ketosis, you need to understand the process. It’s not something you want to go into with little understanding.

With a traditional keto diet, you can expect to enter ketosis in a matter of days. But if you want to speed up the process, it’s going to be incredibly challenging. 

The reality is, ketosis in 24 hours is technically possible. However, it’s not an easy ride. 

Rushing yourself to reach a ketogenic state is not recommended, as you need time to transition. Ketosis should be part of a healthy lifestyle rather than a quick fix in an ideal world.

If you’re ready to get on board with a ketogenic diet, here’s everything you need to know.

What Is Ketosis?

Ketosis is the metabolic state in which your body converts fat into fuel using ketones. Usually, the human body uses carbohydrates for energy, burning through glucose. Without glucose, the body forces itself to burn through stored fat instead.

The process takes place following a drastic reduction in carbohydrate intake, usually through a carb-restricted diet known as the ketogenic diet.

How to Get Into Ketosis in 24 Hours?

Scientifically speaking, the process itself is simple. Achieving ketosis, however, is a different challenge altogether.

At its core, achieving ketosis is through a combination of fasting and exercising. Fasting means cutting out food for a limited time to allow the body to burn the glucose stored in the body. When there is no access to glucose, the system creates ketone bodies used as an alternative fuel.

With ketones, the body breaks down fat for energy instead of using sugar glucose like normal. So, glucose depletion is vital. 

Getting into ketosis in just one day requires strict action, mental composure, and a serious commitment to the method. For the fastest transformation, you must up your physical activity, cut out the carbs, and ultimately, begin fasting immediately. 

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How to Know if You’re in Ketosis?

If you’ve started a keto diet, you want to know if your efforts are paying off as soon as possible. Knowing the initial signs of ketosis will ensure you recognize your progress and stay motivated to keep it up.

As your body enters ketosis, it can be a confusing time. There are several indications that you are reaching a ketogenic state. Here are 3 telltale signs of ketosis to expect. 

What to Eat to Get Into Ketosis Fast? 

To get into ketosis, a strict, low carbohydrate diet is required that focuses on fats. Most ketogenic diets suggest consuming 70–80% fat, 5–10% carbohydrate, and 10–20% protein for your total daily calories.

Unlike other popular low-carb diets, the ketogenic diet doesn’t up your protein intake. However, high levels of protein can prevent ketosis from occurring. The diet uses protein in just the right amount to preserve muscle mass without reducing the effects of ketosis. 

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While the keto plan varies between sources, all restrict carbohydrates. Carbohydrates include bread, pasta, rice, and starchy vegetables like corn and potato. Your go-to meals are typically out of bounds on a keto diet. 

To give you an idea of what to expect, think high fat, moderate protein, and low carb. Depending on the program you follow, the foods below are generally accepted.

✅ Butter, lard

✅ Oils including olive, palm, avocado oil, and coconut oil

✅ Avocados

✅ Nuts and seeds

✅ Poultry 

✅ Fatty meats such as grass-fed beef, pork, and bacon

✅ Eggs, cheese 

✅ Non-starchy vegetables including all leafy greens, broccoli, and cauliflower

✅ Keto-friendly fruits like berries and watermelon

✅ Unsweetened tea and coffee

✅ Dark chocolate

Most nutrition plans will avoid:

✅ Starchy vegetables like potatoes, squash, and parsnips

✅ Fruit juices

✅ Legumes – beans, peas, lentils, and peanuts

The above is typical of what to expect when following a keto program. However, if you’re genuinely looking to reach ketosis in 24 hours, you’re not going to need these foods. Instead, the diet must be completely modified, and thus, revolves around fasting. 

Fasting forces your body to create ketone bodies. Ultimately, to reach ketosis, you shouldn’t eat at all in those 24 hours. Fasting is the move to take if you want to achieve ketosis faster. 

Before attempting fasting, you should first educate yourself on intermittent fasting. 

It’s important to note that entering a ketosis plan following a carb-rich diet will make the task extremely difficult. While not impossible, it will have a more drastic effect on your body’s reaction to the change. 

When carbs are still present in your system, the result can be a mental and physical crash. Alternatively, suppose you already follow a low-carb diet filled with greens and a moderate protein intake. In that case, the move to ketosis should be more accessible, especially if you’re trying to do it as quickly as possible.

Is It Good for Your Body to Be in Ketosis?

The ketogenic diet brings many health benefits, although it is not safe for everyone. Further research is required, but studies so far reveal the following advantages.

Negative effects of being in ketosis

As with any restrictive diet, there are adverse side effects. It’s certainly not suitable for everyone, and you should weigh the pros and cons before beginning a new program. Keto flu is an expected reaction, although it does not affect everyone.

Keto flu

Keto flu is the term given to the immediate symptoms when you first enter ketosis. Symptoms like the flu include headaches, fever, fatigue, irritability, and sleep struggles.

Although not a recognized medical condition, it is widely reported by those partaking in ketosis. Symptoms typically appear in the first few days of changing your diet. The body needs time to adjust to a new way of functioning, so a gradual move to ketosis is recommended.  

The best way to manage flu-like symptoms is to keep on top of your water intake. Glucose depletion leads to water loss, including electrolytes like sodium, potassium, and magnesium, essential to your health.

Drink plenty to ensure your body retains enough water to function correctly and avoid dehydration and loss of minerals.

How Long Does It Take to Lose Weight When You’re in Ketosis?

If weight loss is your primary goal, you’re probably wondering how fast ketosis is going to work. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed answer. 

Every individual that takes on ketosis may experience different results. A range of factors can impact your success, including your diet before nutritional ketosis, how your body reacts to the change, and how well you stick to it. We don’t want to sugarcoat it; the keto diet is hard.

Your current health and food choices can determine your weight loss. 

Your overall health 

Your current health plays an essential role in losing weight through ketosis. For instance, if you are overweight, you may shed pounds quicker at the start. But many variants can slow down the process.

Things like cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and any issues with your metabolism can reduce your ability to lose weight. However, this doesn’t mean you must give up on ketosis. It’s ok to slow down and await long-term goals.

Your food choices

As there are so many keto diets out there, it’s essential to choose one suitable for you. With that in mind, it’s necessary to find a program that focuses on clean foods.

As the keto diet promotes a high-fat content, it can be easy to indulge in junk food. While remaining within the realms of ketogenic eating, it’s not going to give you the best shot at shedding excess weight. 

It will help if you continue to eat clean keto foods that provide healthy fats rather than processed ones. Avocados, MCT oil, and fatty fish are considered good fats. Try to avoid bad keto foods like processed meats and cheeses. You should remain on the lookout for hidden carbs too! 

Stick to keto-friendly foods that will nourish your body at the same time. Don’t forget to consume lots of green vegetables too.

Also, you cannot rely on a nutrition plan without exercising. Getting active is crucial to losing weight and reaching that desired metabolic state. 

It’s unlikely that with a 24-hour keto journey, you will lose a significant amount of weight. However, in the first few days, most dieters see noticeable changes. Generally, this is a result of water loss. A reduction in carbs allows your body to release water, as it no longer needs to be stored for glucose.

Water weight loss can be dramatic, so it’s important to consume extra water throughout your plan to avoid an electrolyte imbalance.

A sustainable health goal is to drop one to three pounds per week in terms of weight loss. With keto, results are more likely to be seen gradually. Your body must adjust and transform to the keto way, soon becoming more efficient at burning fuel through fat. 

A Word From Our RD

How long does it take to get into ketosis? The bottom line

Overall, you can achieve ketosis in a short time with a lot of willpower. It’s not plain sailing, and many dieters fail to sustain the keto way of living. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a go, as many participants see great results. With any diet, it’s all about finding a balance that works for you.

Now that you know how to get into ketosis, you might want to consider taking the gradual route. The experience won’t be as stressful, allowing for a more comfortable transition. Without the extreme pressure of watching the clock, you can reap the benefits of ketosis more healthily.