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Ketone strips

ttw1211
ttw1211 Posts: 91 Member
edited November 2024 in Social Groups
Ughhhh! So last week I was doing low carb (about 50g). This week I started 20-25g. Why isn't my ketone strip purple yet? Lol.
It's a dark pink but I can't get out of "moderate" does it take a little longer? It's annoying me bc I'm barely eating any carbs

Replies

  • wabmester
    wabmester Posts: 2,748 Member
    I just use them as a yes/no indicator. The level isn't very useful for multiple reasons.

    Try measuring a couple hours after exercise. Here's my favorite graph from a Peter Attia presentation that shows how glucose and ketone levels vary throughout the day and how they're affected by eating and exercise.

    a42kbhb5jyg3.jpg
  • Sunny_Bunny_
    Sunny_Bunny_ Posts: 7,140 Member
    Achieving the darker color isn't important. You're just checking for an indication that ketones are being produced. If you're seeing moderate on the strips you're cooking up bunches of them... More than needed
  • ttw1211
    ttw1211 Posts: 91 Member
    Oh okay!! Thank you both :smile: yay!
  • SuesNewImage
    SuesNewImage Posts: 743 Member
    I agree & have found this. If you go too dark it can also mean you are dehydrated which is not good.
    So I just check am I in ketosis or not, a yes/no result.
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    I went for weeks with only 2 hits, then I found that in the morning I'm almost always zero. Now I check in the afternoon or early evening and am getting average almost always.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    I think I have only gone above moderate once or twice. High levels of ketones aren't needed. It sounds like you're doing great. :)
  • SuesNewImage
    SuesNewImage Posts: 743 Member
    Bob314159 wrote: »
    I went for weeks with only 2 hits, then I found that in the morning I'm almost always zero. Now I check in the afternoon or early evening and am getting average almost always.
    Check this out. I asked my nutritionist why I did the same with testing at different times of day.
    She told me the am test (after fasting overnight) is the lost accurate. Retesting during the day is influenced by your eating & hydration so is not accurate. So be careful @Bob314159 as a morning negative may mean you are really not in true ketosis. How many carbs are u a day?
  • Bob314159
    Bob314159 Posts: 1,178 Member
    I end up with an average of 25, 2 days at 40 in the last 30 days, back in August I was more like 75 average. My weight loss seems to indicate I'm on target.
    SuesNewImage wrote: »
    Check this out. I asked my nutritionist why I did the same with testing at different times of day.
    She told me the am test (after fasting overnight) is the lost accurate. Retesting during the day is influenced by your eating & hydration so is not accurate. So be careful @Bob314159 as a morning negative may mean you are really not in true ketosis. How many carbs are u a day?

  • SuesNewImage
    SuesNewImage Posts: 743 Member
    @Bob314159 Gr8 news you are losing weight - stick to what you are doing then as it is working for you.
  • ettaterrell
    ettaterrell Posts: 887 Member
    I only go above mod when I haven't drank enough water or had alcohol the night before so if ur even just light it means ur good
  • JessicaLCHF
    JessicaLCHF Posts: 1,265 Member
    ttw1211 wrote: »
    Ughhhh! So last week I was doing low carb (about 50g). This week I started 20-25g. Why isn't my ketone strip purple yet? Lol.
    It's a dark pink but I can't get out of "moderate" does it take a little longer? It's annoying me bc I'm barely eating any carbs

    Any color is good color. I wouldn't worry about trying to get to purple. Ppl lose keytones in sweat, breath and urine. Maybe yours are being lost more through breath. I'm usually mid-range pink but seriously, ANY color means you are a 24 hour fat burning MACHINE! Boo yah!
  • robosphere
    robosphere Posts: 66 Member
    Not to hijack, but the search on this website is not so great. Where do those of you in the U.S. get your strips?
  • wabmester
    wabmester Posts: 2,748 Member
    Any pharmacy -- they're commonly used by diabetics. Amazon also stocks them. The most common brand is "ketostix."
  • JessicaLCHF
    JessicaLCHF Posts: 1,265 Member
    Walmart. $6.49 for a fifty pack. If you're really cheap, I mean thrifty, you can cut them in half with scissors! ;)
  • ttw1211
    ttw1211 Posts: 91 Member
    JessicaLCHF wrote: »
    Walmart. $6.49 for a fifty pack. If you're really cheap, I mean thrifty, you can cut them in half with scissors! ;)

    Omg I never would have thought of that!
  • KarlaYP
    KarlaYP Posts: 4,436 Member
    I guess they could be cut in half, or more if your really good! Never thought of that one either!
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