It depends.
- How long have you been in ketosis for before your cheat meal/day?
- What did your cheat meal/day consist of?
- Do you exercise regularly?
- Did you quickly get into ketosis when you first started keto dieting?
- Will you be intermittent fasting?
- 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.
FAQs
Start a Workout/Exercise Routine:
How to restart keto after cheating? ›
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.
What is the fastest way to get back into ketosis? ›
7 tips for reaching ketosis faster
- Significantly reducing the carbohydrate intake. ...
- Increasing physical activity. ...
- Fasting for short periods. ...
- Increasing healthful fat intake. ...
- Testing ketone levels. ...
- Checking protein intake. ...
- Consuming more MCT oil.
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.
How do I get into ketosis in 24 hours fasting? ›
Fasting for 12 hours is the fastest way to get into ketosis. 3 When you're initiating a very low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet, the fewer carbs you eat in the first 24 hours and the next few days, the more quickly your glycogen reserves will get depleted and the faster you'll get into ketosis.
How long does it take to recover from cheat day? ›
Don't turn a cheat day into a cheat week or month.
There is no best time of day, week, or month to return to healthy eating, so after a cheat day, take the next chance to re-establish your healthy routine. If you had an indulgent brunch, have a balanced dinner that evening.
Will one cheat day ruin ketosis? ›
A full cheat day of consuming sugar, bread and pasta will take your body out of ketosis, which may take days to recover from. That's why Carrico suggests a cheat meal every now and then instead. You'll likely consume a lower number of carbs than you would on a full cheat day.
Should 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.
What foods get you into ketosis fast? ›
The following is a list of the best healthy food options for a keto diet.
- Fish and seafood. Fish and shellfish are good choices if you're following a keto diet. ...
- Meat and poultry. ...
- Non-starchy vegetables. ...
- Avocados. ...
- Berries. ...
- Nuts and seeds. ...
- Eggs. ...
- High-fat dairy products.
Can a cheat day break a plateau? ›
Can a cheat day break a weight loss plateau? There's some evidence that an occasional, small break from dieting can lead to overall greater weight loss in some cases.
Depending on how glycogen-repleted you currently are, your metabolic flexibility, and the state of your metabolism, it could take anywhere from a day to two or three weeks.
How do you jumpstart a keto plateau? ›
Reducing your intake of carbs or calories, expanding your workout routine, reducing your stress levels, and trying intermittent fasting are all strategies to help break a weight loss plateau on the keto diet.
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.
Can you go into ketosis after 1 day? ›
It generally takes anywhere from two to four days to get into ketosis once you begin a ketogenic diet. However, how long to get into ketosis can vary based on the individual. It's important to note that many variables can affect how long it takes to get into ketosis, including: Activity level.
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.
What happens if you accidentally cheat on keto? ›
Cheating on your keto diet can kick you right out of ketosis, and you'll start burning glucose instead of fat. That means less fat burning, less energy, and less weight loss. And getting back into ketosis can take a few days to a week, depending on your cheat day shenanigans and your metabolic mojo.
How do I get back on my diet after cheating? ›
A good time to fast would be after a cheat day, when you've ingested extra calories and other toxins. It doesn't even need to be a whole dedicated to fasting. Instead, you can just skip a meal or consolidate eating all your calories into one window of time.
Can you get keto flu after a cheat day? ›
You may go through the keto flu again.
“When you go back to a ketogenic diet after being off it for a day or a period of time, you can easily get back to the diet the next day—but it will take a couple days to get the body back into the state of ketosis,” Hultin says.