When the Numbers Don’t Make Sense
Day 16. I broke a 26-hour fast with pure fatty mince. Nothing else. No carbs, no sugar. Just meat and fat.
Woke up expecting deep ketosis. Glucose: 118. GKI: 13.2.
What the hell just happened?
Three days after Sugar Chaos Saturday. One day after a shortened fast. I thought I’d nailed the rebound. Body had other ideas.
The Setup
Night before: 26 hours fasted. Broke with 630 calories of 25% fat mince. That’s it. Went to bed expecting stable readings in the morning.
11.30am test: glucose 118.8, ketones 0.5, GKI 13.2.
For context, the day before — mid-fast — I was at glucose 84.6, ketones 0.7, GKI 6.7.
I’d just eaten pure fat and protein. My glucose went up 34 points. And stayed elevated 18 hours later.
The Morning After
Felt wobbly all morning. Not ill. Just… off.
By afternoon, I’d levelled out. Body normalised. Energy steadied. But the question stayed: why did fat spike my glucose?
This wasn’t a carb mistake. I’d eaten exactly what the textbooks say to eat. And my numbers went the wrong direction.
What Actually Happened
This is gluconeogenesis in action.
When you break a long fast with pure fat and protein, your liver can convert some of that protein into glucose. It’s not a failure. It’s your body restocking glycogen after depletion.
Think of it like this: you’ve drained the phone battery — your glycogen stores — over 26 hours. When you finally plug in (eat), your body doesn’t just top up ketones. It prioritises refilling the battery first. Glucose production ramps up. Ketones drop. Numbers look “wrong.”
But they’re not wrong. They’re repair.
The Lesson
Your body doesn’t run on a spreadsheet. “Pure fat = stable ketosis” works in theory. But after 48 hours fasted, your metabolism has other priorities — like refilling the tank.
The chaos isn’t chaos. It’s your liver doing its job. Converting protein to glucose. Rebuilding glycogen. Preparing you for the next fast.
The spike settles. Energy returns. Ketones climb back. But you have to trust the process, not just the numbers.
Why This Matters
If you’re tracking GKI and seeing weird spikes post-fast, you’re not broken. You’re not doing it wrong. You’re watching your body prioritise repair over performance.
The textbook says: eat fat, stay in ketosis. The reality says: eat fat after a long fast, body restocks first, then ketosis returns.
This is the gap between theory and lived experience. And it’s why tracking matters — not to judge yourself, but to see the patterns your body follows.
Day 16 done. Numbers stabilised by evening. Ketones climbed back. Weight held steady.
If this sounds familiar, drop a comment. Let’s compare notes.
🎯 Key Takeaways
- Gluconeogenesis is normal — Your liver can convert protein to glucose after a long fast to restock glycogen
- Fat doesn’t always = stable ketosis — Post-fast, your body prioritises repair (refilling glycogen) over ketone production
- Glucose spikes after fasting aren’t failure — They’re your body rebuilding its energy stores
- Trust the process, not just the numbers — The spike settles, energy returns, ketones climb back
- Track to learn patterns, not to judge — Your body follows its own repair logic, not a textbook
Ready to Start Your Own Rhythm Reset?
If you’re navigating post-fast glucose spikes, refeeds, or any other metabolic surprises, the 14-Day Rhythm Reset walks you through the body’s repair logic — not just the textbook version.
👉 Get the 14-Day Rhythm Reset Guide (free)
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🔽 Read the Video Transcript
Day 16. Broke a 26-hour fast with pure fatty mince. Woke up expecting deep ketosis. Glucose: 118. GKI: 13.2. What the hell just happened?
Three days after Sugar Chaos Saturday. One day after a shortened fast. Thought I’d nailed the rebound. Apparently not.
Night before: 26 hours fasted, broke with 630 calories of 25% fat mince. Nothing else. No carbs, no sugar. Just meat and fat. Went to bed expecting stable readings in the morning.
11.30am test: glucose 118.8, ketones 0.5, GKI 13.2. For context, the day before — mid-fast — I was at 84.6 glucose, 0.7 ketones, GKI 6.7. I’d just eaten pure fat and my glucose went up 34 points. and stayed 18hours later
Felt wobbly all morning. Not ill, just… off. By afternoon, levelled out. Body normalised. But the question stayed: why did fat spike my glucose?
This is gluconeogenesis in action. When you break a long fast with pure fat and protein, your liver can convert some of that protein into glucose. It’s not a failure — it’s your body restocking glycogen after depletion.
Here’s the lesson: your body doesn’t run on a spreadsheet. “Pure fat = stable ketosis” works in theory. But after 48 hours fasted, your metabolism has other priorities — like refilling the tank. The chaos isn’t chaos. It’s repair. Trust the process, not just the numbers.
Day 16 done. If you’re tracking GKI and seeing weird spikes post-fast, you’re not broken. Drop a comment if this sounds familiar.
⚠️ Important: This is educational content based on evidence and personal experience. It is not medical advice. Speak to your GP before making changes to your fasting pattern, diet, or medication.
Questions? Email hello@waymorethanweightloss.com
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