Using Ketone Test Strips to detect fat vs. muscle burn

dengarrett

I just read that I can use ketone test strips to detect if I am burning fat vs. muscle. So I went to the drugstore and for about $12 bucks picked up a box. After peeing on one, it shows that I am ineed in the "moderate" level for ketones. This almost seems like a best kept secret in weight loss to know if it is being done safely or not.

ppiinnkkmmoonn

not true really you can starve yourself and still be eating muscles and turn that stick pick to purple there no truth in it in anyway. by my own tests and being at this thing for two years

EDesq

Many people who have done high protein "diets" like to use the strips...This came out when The Zone Diet became popular, years ago. People wanted to know when the moved into the"Zone" for optimum wt loss and wanted to Stay there. If you eat right and weigh on the scales you get the same results and save you 12 bucks.

dengarrett

Please take a look at this post below - I am concerned given the data shown that I am losing way too agressively. So I googled for "how do I tell if I am burning muscle instead of fat" and saw tons of hits about using the strips. $12 was a small price for a little piece of mind.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/207897-analysis-of-the-past-month-including-charts-and-data

dengarrett

not true really you can starve yourself and still be eating muscles and turn that stick pick to purple there no truth in it in anyway. by my own tests and being at this thing for two years

Wow!! 188 pounds lost speaks for a lot! Can any conclusions be drawn from a "moderate" reading?

chrisyoung0422

how the hell does the strip tell that? Sorry I have no idea what these are but thought they were for type 2 and stuff..

dengarrett

how the hell does the strip tell that? Sorry I have no idea what these are but thought they were for type 2 and stuff..

Everything I read says that excess ketones are created when fat is burned, and those ketones are detectable in the urine and measurable by the strips.

EDesq

There is No Such thing as "Losing to Aggressively" if you are morbidly obese! You have to weigh the effects of obesity on your Health (Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Emotional, Social and Financial) vs. WHAT (Some Muscle you can regain back in a few weeks.)REMEMBER You CAN REGAIN Muscle!

I am reminded of the saying, "When the wagon is Rollin', jump on IT! In this case, if YOU are losing weight good now, you had better continue because you may NOT get another chance; 6 months from now you could be up in here asking how to break a "Stall."

Relative to the strips>>>Been there, Done That, Go a T-Shirt. The novelty of losing weight makes one do a lot of Un- necessary stuff >>>In the beginning, so do what you like. Just saying it is NOT a New Thing.

dengarrett

There is No Such thing as "Losing to Aggressively" if you are morbidly obese! You have to weigh the effects of obesity on your Health (Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Emotional, Social and Financial) vs. WHAT (Some Muscle you can regain back in a few weeks.)REMEMBER You CAN REGAIN Muscle!

I am reminded of the saying, "When the wagon is Rollin', jump on IT! In this case, if YOU are losing weight good now, you had better continue because you may NOT get another chance; 6 months from now you could be up in here asking how to break a "Stall."

If you read the thread I mentioned you would see that I am not slowing down. But the data shows that I should be eating another 2200 calories per day given my rate of loss and I am not prepared to do that. On the other had, I don't want to burn muscle either.

EDesq

You ARE going to lose some muscle...that is a given. Do what You want to do for you. Like I said, been there, done that>>>Got a T-Shirt.

dengarrett

You ARE going to lose some muscle...that is a given. Do what You want to do for you. Like I said, been there, done that>>>Got a T-Shirt.

Please help me understand better - losing some muscle is a given?

ppiinnkkmmoonn

yes you will lose muscle it something that can not be help i can promise you that. great thing? muscle can be rebuild. so really no deal it what im working on now. look at it this way bigger people have more muscle then smaller people my body at140 does not need the muscle it had at 323 pounds right?

dengarrett

yes you will lose muscle it something that can not be help i can promise you that. great thing? muscle can be rebuild. so really no deal it what im working on now.

Well, I gotta trust someone that has demonstrated this much success. But this is not something mentioned in all that I have read but maybe I was just taking it too literally. Like I said, I am not letting up on the pedal - my fitness is the best now at 47 than it has been since my teen years even though I still have a lot of weight to lose. I feel better and stronger each day. And I have learned a TON from those on this site. Thank you!

dengarrett

bigger people have more muscle then smaller people my body at140 does not need the muscle it had at 323 pounds right?

Yes, that is a good point. But what about the heart? Is that a danger?

ppiinnkkmmoonn

bigger people have more muscle then smaller people my body at140 does not need the muscle it had at 323 pounds right?

Yes, that is a good point. But what about the heart? Is that a danger?

i get what your saying but when your larger you have plenty of fat to feed on before the body attacks the organs i read a lot but im learning no to get to technically with everything it will drive ya nuts lol

ppiinnkkmmoonn

but i do know those sticks can keep someone starting out motivated and if that is working do it and thats that

dengarrett

but i do know those sticks can keep someone starting out motivated and if that is working do it and thats that

Naw I am just a very technical person and love to understand everything "under the hood". It's a blessing and a curse but I am sensible enough to not "miss the forrest for the trees".

So in effect, the concern about burning muscle is more for those with less fat to lose?