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Ketosis Help!
sasaar
Posts: 36 Member
Hi everyone,
First off---thanks to everyone who has been answering my questions the last few weeks and I'm new to this and have had many. You guys are super smart (and patient!)
I've been on the ketogenic diet for a few weeks now- I've been cranky, tired, lethargic, etc. I have about 10-12 lb to lose and have been working with a really smart and experienced nutritionist to do so.
The last week or so I finally saw the coveted dark pink-dark purple shades on my veto strips, but my weight hasn't move on the scale. (My nutritionist tested my body fat and I lost 1.7 on his machine.)
The last few days by strip got lighter and lighter. This morning my strip was the lightest shade pink (a shade or two above "negative". I didn't do anything different yesterday except eat some more vegetables (2 pieces of squash, a few cups of lettuce, a spear of asparagus) which may have put me over my carb goal of 20g per day. My macros are 20g carbs, 64g protein, 96-100g fat. I cut out salads entirely because the fats are so filling, I don't feel the need to bulk up my meals with a bowl of carbs, and have been getting most of my fats with nuts and avocados. I don't overdo it on the nuts, as I stick to my Dr's guidelines.
Any idea on what's going on? I do feel a little thinner in my stomach area, but want to make sure I'm on the right track.
Thank you!
First off---thanks to everyone who has been answering my questions the last few weeks and I'm new to this and have had many. You guys are super smart (and patient!)
I've been on the ketogenic diet for a few weeks now- I've been cranky, tired, lethargic, etc. I have about 10-12 lb to lose and have been working with a really smart and experienced nutritionist to do so.
The last week or so I finally saw the coveted dark pink-dark purple shades on my veto strips, but my weight hasn't move on the scale. (My nutritionist tested my body fat and I lost 1.7 on his machine.)
The last few days by strip got lighter and lighter. This morning my strip was the lightest shade pink (a shade or two above "negative". I didn't do anything different yesterday except eat some more vegetables (2 pieces of squash, a few cups of lettuce, a spear of asparagus) which may have put me over my carb goal of 20g per day. My macros are 20g carbs, 64g protein, 96-100g fat. I cut out salads entirely because the fats are so filling, I don't feel the need to bulk up my meals with a bowl of carbs, and have been getting most of my fats with nuts and avocados. I don't overdo it on the nuts, as I stick to my Dr's guidelines.
Any idea on what's going on? I do feel a little thinner in my stomach area, but want to make sure I'm on the right track.
Thank you!
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Replies
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How hydrated you are can effect the color of those urine tests. But that doesn't mean you made more or less ketones.
Your body will make what it needs to use. It makes extra too and that's what you're losing in urine and breath.
The color doesn't actually mean anything.
Having any color at all means ketosis. That's all you need.
Think of it like a pregnancy test... you either are or you aren't. A person can't be MORE or LESS pregnant.
It's either yes or no...
And actually, a NO could be a maybe...2 -
Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »How hydrated you are can effect the. Okor of those urine tests. But that doesn't mean you made more or less ketones.
Your body will make what it needs to use. It makes extra too and that's what you're losing in urine and breath.
The color doesn't actually mean anything.
Having any color at all means ketosis. That's all you need.
Think of it like a pregnancy test... you either are or you aren't. A person can't be MORE or LESS pregnant.
It's either yes or no...
And actually, a NO could be a maybe...
Thank you Sunny_Bunny_! That makes a lot of sense. I'm wondering, what does a darker strip mean vs a lighter one?0 -
@sasaar - A darker strip would mean you're less hydrated. I've tried not drinking fluids, testing, then drinking a couple pints of water - bingo! - shades lighter not long afterwards.
Here's a related thread:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/36676790#Comment_36676790
Be sure to read these two great sticky threads if you haven't already:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10358179/low-sodium-and-keto-flu-electrolyte-imbalance-may-be-your-problem
and especially this one:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10103966/start-here-the-lcd-launch-pad
FYI, here are the open threads from the Launch Pad:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10423197/open-threads-member-threads-on-low-carb-topics
@Sunny_Bunny_
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I've found the ketostix give me different results depending the time of day I test.
First thing in the morning, fresh out of bed, I get the lowest number / lightest pink. At noon, I consistently get the highest or second highest number / darkest purple.
This seems counter-intuitive to me from a hydration point of view. First thing in the morning I haven't had anything to drink all night, and I'm usually up to pee 3 or 4 times in the night, so I ought to be at my least-hydrated state. By noon I've usually had 5 or 6 cups of water, so I should be much more hydrated by that time.
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Hmm. Good question!
Do you eat breakfast?0 -
I don't eat breakfast as such, no. My morning routine is coffee, some water, an hour of cardio, some more water, 1st meal, some more water.
If I do a ketostix in the morning, it is before the morning coffee. Testing at noon would take place after everything listed above.1 -
Ketones will always be lowest in the morning because of the cortisol and insulin released to wake you from sleep.
The sticks CAN show more or less ketones of course but the point is it doesn't matter. And hydration does affect them as well so you can't even be sure it's more or less ketones or more or less hydrated.
I tested one day by drinking a lot of coffee to really get the diuretic effect going. Ordinarily I always had large ketones and I don't usually drink a lot, just to thirst. That day I tested to see if I could show less ketones by emptying my bladder more often and I did exactly that.
The longer time that I went between going pee, the higher my ketones were. If I went frequently, the lower they were. I wasn't giving much time for them build up in my urine.3 -
Steph_Maks wrote: »I don't eat breakfast as such, no. My morning routine is coffee, some water, an hour of cardio, some more water, 1st meal, some more water.
If I do a ketostix in the morning, it is before the morning coffee. Testing at noon would take place after everything listed above.
Great routine! So if you had no carbs, perspired, and exercised, then you would extend your fast, burn off any lurking glucose, .... and light up your pee stix!0 -
Thanks for all your replies! So the bottom line is that it doesn't matter what shade, as long as there is one that means I'm in ketosis, which is far burning mode? @RalfLott @sunny_bunny_ @steph_macks3
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Thanks for all your replies! So the bottom line is that it doesn't matter what shade, as long as there is one that means I'm in ketosis, which is far burning mode? @RalfLott @sunny_bunny_ @steph_macks
I think it depends whether you want to be in ketosis or super-ketosis™....0 -
Thanks for all your replies! So the bottom line is that it doesn't matter what shade, as long as there is one that means I'm in ketosis, which is far burning mode? @RalfLott @sunny_bunny_ @steph_macks
I think it depends whether you want to be in ketosis or super-ketosis™....
You just have to wear a cape to achieve super ketosis... duh!3 -
Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »Thanks for all your replies! So the bottom line is that it doesn't matter what shade, as long as there is one that means I'm in ketosis, which is far burning mode? @RalfLott @sunny_bunny_ @steph_macks
I think it depends whether you want to be in ketosis or super-ketosis™....
You just have to wear a cape to achieve super ketosis... duh!
Well now, that explains SO much about @RalfLott!! Don't worry, your secret is safe with us!
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This discussion has been closed.