If your diet is like most people’s in the United States, then your daily food intake is probably made up of approximately 50% to 65% carbohydrates. Breads, buns, pastas, vegetables, etc. However, when you switch over to the keto diet, your daily calories are made up of roughly 75% fat, 20% protein, and 5% carbs. So instead of shying away from meat and butter, you’ll want to order an extra steak and maybe even some bacon … which isn’t always a bad thing!

While on the keto diet, your body will enter a state called ketosis, which is when you’re not getting energy via carbs, so your body burns fat instead. Because of this, you’ll start to produce ketones, which will then give you the energy you need. It can often be tricky to ‘force’ your body into ketosis, but there are products on the market specifically designed to supplement your diet and force your body into a constant state of ketosis.

The keto diet not only requires you to make major changes when it comes to what you eat, it also makes major changes to the way your body functions, which means that it can take time to take effect and even longer for you to see the results that you’re looking for.

However, it’s important to remember that if you’re having trouble reaching ketosis and/or don’t start seeing health benefits and weight loss right away, don’t give up! Just give yourself more time.

Weight loss might be the No. 1 reason people take the keto plunge, thanks to the fact that dropping pounds can be fast and drastic on the diet. When you make the switch to eating plenty of good fats, your body becomes proficient at burning them, which makes you feel full for longer periods of time. You’ll also no longer be relying on food that makes you pack on unnecessary weight.

However, if the weight doesn’t start melting off immediately, don’t freak out! The keto diet might not affect you the same way as others (more on that below).

While much of the buzz around the keto diet is focused on its ability to help you lose weight, there are plenty of other potential health benefits that can make this an option that you might want to consider.

The keto diet can help improve blood sugar, insulin levels, and cholesterol numbers, and it’s even being considered for cancer patients to help slow down the growth of tumors.

As you adjust to the keto diet, you might experience both fatigue and dizziness. One of the reasons you might see an immediate drop in your weight is because your body begins to lose excess water as you consume fewer carbs. However, this can also lead to mineral loss. If this happens, you might feel occasionally zapped of energy and could experience temporary dizzy spells.

Thankfully, as your body adjusts to the ketosis, the brain fog should pass. You can also up your sodium intake and eat some potassium-rich foods to help you through the rough patch.

As your body weans off carbs and learns to rely on fats, you might not only feel groggy and lose strength but also experience the dreaded “keto flu.” Just like the normal flu, this batch of unpleasant symptoms can have you battling nausea and headaches while making frequent trips to the bathroom. Again, water is your best bet for a little relief.

Drinking plenty of water will also help with nasty leg cramps that could pop up for the same reason that you might experience dizziness. The water loss and lack of minerals — specifically low electrolytes — that come along with reaching ketosis can cause dehydration. With dehydration comes painful cramps. So again, drink as much water as possible, and make sure you’re getting enough sodium and potassium.

When your body reaches ketosis, it will start releasing ketones, and unfortunately, these ketones are released via your breath (which might be on the stinky side). And that’s not all — when you suddenly start eating more fats and protein, your body can experience gastrointestinal issues such as gas and constipation. Again, this will hopefully be temporary as your body adjusts to your new diet, but it’s definitely not a pleasant side effect to wait out.

Everybody is different, and every body reacts differently to changes in diet. Reaching ketosis can happen incredibly quickly for some but might take a little longer for others. The same goes for seeing the results of the diet.

Various factors can alter how the keto diet works for you, including your preexisting diet, any health problems, and the amount of weight you have to lose in the first place (if that happens to be your goal). Don’t get frustrated if keto isn’t the overnight miracle diet that it’s been for your friend — just give it time.

Because of its current popularity, there are plenty of keto resources that you can find online. Along with tips, advice, and recipes, you can even get ketone test strips at your local Walmart to see if you’ve reached ketosis (yes, you have to pee on them).

There are also online groups where you can find help while you attempt this hard-core and potentially life-changing diet.

Not every diet is right for every body. Certain health conditions could be exacerbated by this food program. Before you start any major diet, make sure to check with your doctor to be certain your body is ready for all the changes.

Instead of fully committing to the keto diet right off the bat, try using an app like Noom that can help you lose weight in the long run. Not only will you have access to a ton of helpful information, you’ll also receive one-on-one coaching from experts!