To the low-carb dieters out there.

pauljsolie

I used to know someone who was doing Atkins and he checked his urine daily with keto sticks. I picked some up and checked mine but nothing showed (between negative and trace). I'm typically losing 2 to 2.5 pounds per week. What is the difference between conventional balanced nutrition weight loss and low carb diets like Atkins or South Beach. I could buy the book but I don't want to. Thanks

beccarockslife

Yep, Ketosis shows that your body is eating itself essentially. It happens when you have a low carb diet and high fat. Something to do with the liver.

I was constantly told off for being in Ketosis when I was pregnant, it's actually not that healthy a sign, it means one of the functions of your body is not working properly. It happens on VLC diets like Cambridge as well.

randisaucier

As long as you are losing don't be too concerned with what the Ketostix measure. All they do is measure the amount of ketones that spill over into your urine, if you are drinking a lot of water this may be the reason for the negative reading. There are other ways to tell if you are in ketosis or not.....sour odor breath, loss of appetite, and ammonia smelling sweat. You also may not actually be in ketosis depending on the amount of carbs you are currently eating. Even with that some low carbers will find they never achieve ketosis, however if you are losing I would not worry about it.

SHBoss1673

there's nothing wrong with low carb if that's your choice. There's a lot to read up on.

I posted this recently, it's basically a simple overview of low carb, it might be a good primer for you.

http://bankshealth.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/low-carb-diets/

pauljsolie

OK, thanks ranisaucier. I do drink half my body weight in ounces of water per day, my urine is practically clear and I take a number of supplements. My sister is a nurse and I've always been confused by what her take on this is. She does say that often people confuse ketosis with ketoacidosis which can destroy your heart. Yeah, I'm happy with what I'm doing. Would be nice if it were faster but 2 to 3 pounds a week is pretty good.

randisaucier

Also...... Ketosis does not mean that your body is eating itself. Many people are ill informed about the difference in ketosis due to a kentogentic diet such as Atkins, and ketoacidosis which is a serious medical condition. There is a DIFFERENCE!!! If a person is in ketosis when pregnant it more than likely has something to do with insulin production or gestational diabetes than diet.

pauljsolie

Thanks for the link SHBoss1673. Go Bruins, beat the Canucks, I hate Vancouver. They always beat up on the Wild.

Barneystinson

Ketosis is not an unhealthful state in itself. Ketoacidosis is not ketosis. Your sister is right on

I will respond with a more definitive answer later.

crisanderson27

Bumping this...interesting topic.

freerange

Nutshell,,,,, ketosis shows that you are burning fat instead of carbs. Thus endeth the lesson for the day, carry on.

IsMollyReallyHungry

bump!

wildon883r

Atkins was proven to be a per say fad diet fool. Low carb is NOT a healthy diet choice. It's our bodies main energy source by design. That's good carbs and not simple ones. Ketosis is ok for a short term but not for long term.We need to fuel our body adequately and that means giving it all the carbs it needs. Endurance athletes eat gross amounts of carbs because if they didn't they couldn't compete. Carbs are not the enemy with weight loss. Overly abundant calorie intake is.

freerange

Atkins was proven to be a per say fad diet fool. Low carb is NOT a healthy diet choice. It's our bodies main energy source by design. That's good carbs and not simple ones. Ketosis is ok for a short term but not for long term.We need to fuel our body adequately and that means giving it all the carbs it needs. Endurance athletes eat gross amounts of carbs because if they didn't they couldn't compete. Carbs are not the enemy with weight loss. Overly abundant calorie intake is.

wrong