Help please, ketones too high

NoortjeGrolsch

Hi,
I'm on day 4. I used ketostix and got 0.8 g/l (8 mmol/l).
I also realized that I lost my appetite, so I only ate 898 calories today.
I'm worried. Has anyone experienced something similar?
How can I bring the ketones down?

Scochrane86

all is good. Ketostix are not all that reliable, although a good tool at the beginning for some. Your ketones are not necessarily too high, but you may be a little dehydrated and need to kick up your water. Try increasing your water and see what the stix say.
Not being hungry is a great thing! I am down to 1 meal a day and 1 snack. The protein and fats in our diets help up go longer between eating. Somedays I eat 600 calories, some days I eat 1700.
You need to try and get the "old way of dieting" out of your mind - Keto is almost completely backwards to that.
If you are not hungry, don't eat! I have fasted for 24+ hours because I wasn't hungry - this is your body doing its job while in ketosis (using the stored fat already in your body as energy). while you are likely not fat adapted yet, you will notice a decrease in hunger, and that is great!
your doing well!

Scochrane86

As your body becomes fat adapted, and stays in ketosis, you will notice there will be small, maybe no trace of ketones on the test strips. this might worry you again, but its perfectly fine! try not to get too caught up on the ketostix.

1thankful_momma

There is a difference between Keto acidosis and having ketones in your urine because you are on a low carb diet. If you aren't a diabetic then it is ok to be dark on the Keto stick.

anglyn1

I find I have days where I'm barely hungry and a few where I'm extra hungry. If I'm not hungry I don't eat and I eat more on hungry days. It evens out in the end.

Sunny_Bunny_

That's not too high. You're fine. Drink some water. You may just be dehydrated. That can produce a darker color just like being very hydrated can produce a lighter color.
High ketones aren't an issue until they get over 10 mmol/dl by blood measurements. Ketosticks can't tell you that.

The only other potential issue would be if your blood sugar is over 250. If it's not. You're fine. Quit panicking.

Sunny_Bunny_

And you have no appetite because your body is happily eating from your belly. Enjoy it while it lasts. Appetite will increase when bodyfat reduces.

kirkor

If you're not actually diabetic, ketostix are useless.

RalfLott

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