Expert Q&A

Lost 3 and a half kg in my first 3 days…is this normal while doing intermittent fasting on a low-carb or ketogenic diet?

Why Rapid Initial Loss Happens on Low-Carb and Keto

When patients begin a low-carb or ketogenic diet combined with intermittent fasting, dropping 3.5 kg (about 7-8 lbs) in the first three days is common and expected. This isn’t mostly fat. Your body stores roughly 3-4 grams of water for every gram of glycogen. As insulin drops on low-carb intake under 50 grams daily, glycogen depletes rapidly and water follows. Add the natural diuretic effect of ketones and reduced inflammation from eliminating grains and lectins, and the scale moves dramatically.

In our The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset protocol, we see this pattern repeatedly during the first 70-day cycle. The lectin-free low-carb plan we use accelerates this by removing inflammatory triggers that cause fluid retention. Most clients lose 2-5 kg in the opening days before the rate slows to a sustainable 0.5-1 kg per week of actual fat loss.

What the Scale Is Really Telling You

Of that 3.5 kg, typically 60-75% is water and reduced gut inflammation, 15-20% is glycogen, and only 10-20% may be true fat. This is why we track body composition with smart scales and focus on non-scale victories like reduced joint pain, better-fitting clothes, steady energy, and improved blood pressure. Obsessing over daily weigh-ins leads to frustration once the initial drop plateaus around day 5-7.

Our Japanese-style walking intervals and red light therapy sessions during this phase help preserve muscle while the body shifts into fat-burning mode. The protocol’s targeted Drops further support hunger control and gentle detoxification so the transition feels manageable even for complete beginners dealing with joint pain or hormonal changes.

How The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset Structures This Phase

The book outlines 69 Transformation Steps that integrate low-dose tirzepatide cycling only after the first 10-14 days of real-food reset. This prevents the common mistake of medication dependency without rebuilding metabolic health. We emphasize chaotic intermittent fasting later in maintenance to keep hunger signals healthy long-term. Patients with diabetes or blood pressure concerns see labs improve quickly: many drop A1C 1.0-1.5 points in the first 10 weeks while losing visceral fat.

Stick with the exact 221 lectin-free recipes provided. Avoid the mistake of chasing faster loss with extreme calorie cuts; that backfires with metabolic slowdown. Instead, focus on consistent 16:8 or 18:6 fasting windows, daily 30-minute walks, and recovery. By week 4 most clients report the “whoosh” effect where clothing loosens even if the scale slows.

Turning Rapid Loss Into Lifelong Metabolic Freedom

This early success is motivational but the real gift of the protocol is what follows: restored hypothalamic function, balanced hormones, and the confidence that you can maintain results without perpetual medication. Hundreds of our patients have kept 30-90 lbs off by completing all three 70-day cycles and transitioning to maintenance habits. The initial 3.5 kg drop proves your body responds when modern obstacles are removed. Use it as fuel to follow the full roadmap rather than a quick fix.

💬 What the Community Says

The community shows strong consensus that losing 3-4 kg in the first few days of keto or low-carb intermittent fasting is completely normal and mostly water weight. Most practitioners in beginner forums report similar experiences, often calling it the “keto whoosh,” and note it levels off after week one. Many with prior diet failures or hormonal issues express relief seeing the scale move quickly, though a vocal minority worries about sustainability and muscle loss. Experienced users frequently advise tracking measurements and energy levels over the scale, sharing stories of 20-40 lb losses over months when combining fasting with walking. Insurance and time constraints come up often, with people appreciating simple protocols that avoid complex meal preps. Overall sentiment is encouraging for newcomers embarrassed about obesity, though debates continue on how much is fat versus bloat and the best way to prevent rebound once initial excitement fades.
Clark, R. (2026). Lost 3 and a half kg in my first 3 days…is this normal while doing intermittent . *CFP Weight Loss*. https://ask.cfpweightloss.com/ask/lost-3-and-a-half-kg-in-my-first-3-days-is-this-normal-while-doing-intermittent-fasting-on-a-low-carb-or-ketogenic-diet
Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, FNP-C, APRN
About the Author

Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, is the founder of CFP Weight Loss in Nashville and CFP Fit Now telehealth. Over 35 years in healthcare — Army Nurse Reserves, Level 1 trauma ER, hospitalist — he developed a 30-week protocol integrating real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 30–90 pounds. He and his wife Anne-Marie lost a combined 275 pounds using the same protocol.

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