Ketosis
MelMelMiller
Posts: 54
Today is my 6th day and I need some recommendations on how to reach ketosis? I've lost a couple of pounds but I'd like to be at a higher level of Ketosis. Any suggestions?
As a side note I've kept my carbs under the 20 per day for the last 3 days and for the first 3 days it was at 20-25.
As a side note I've kept my carbs under the 20 per day for the last 3 days and for the first 3 days it was at 20-25.
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Replies
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Hi,
I have been considering purchasing Ketosis sticks, but I can become a little obsessive! Do you find that they are a good motivation/ guide?
Sorry I don't have any suggestions for you, this is my 1st day on induction!0 -
Good morning!
The odds are overwhelmingly in your favor that you are already in Ketosis. As far as trying to get further into it, there's not really anything you can do, and you shouldn't try. If you are below 20 grams of carbs per day, it will take care of itself, and in another week or so, (with exercise and lots of water) you will start to see the weight fall off, quite quickly.
If you've kept your carbs under 20/25, then you've used up your body's stores of glycogen, and you are already burning fat for fuel. Again, make sure that you are drinking at minimum 64 oz of water a day. I didn't notice "big" weight changes until near the end of my second week. The first week of "Atkins Induction" was awful for me (headache, leg/arm cramps), and I hope that it's a bit easier on you. After the first week, I felt great, and still do!
I've been in Ketosis for 50 days as of this morning, another 0.4 lbs and I will have lost 30 lbs in 50 days. I am still pretty close to induction levels (25 grams of carbs/day) and walk/run every day, weights every other day, and at least a gallon of water per day.
I just purchased my second bottle of KetoStix (50 strips per bottle) and I find them to be a great motivator, even though for a non-diabetic they really don't provide all that much useful information. They're really just for fun, you get visual feedback that there really is something happening due to the lack of carbs.
Initially, I found it turning "light purple" and I was overjoyed ("Hooray! Ketosis achieved!") And then they started getting to be a darker shade of purple, especially after workouts, or sleep, etc. I took a thermogenic pill ONCE and the strip nearly turned black, but it was all just for fun. Now that I've been in ketosis for almost two months, my body is beginning to use ketones more efficiently, and the color indicator is getting lighter again.
That means nothing, there is no reason to be alarmed. I am still in ketosis, and plan to be until August 8th.
So, long story short: You are doing what you need to do, the weight will come off quickly. If you try to rush it, or make it "low cal/low fat" your body will most likely go into "starvation mode" and you won't lose anything, and you'll have zero energy. Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll be all set. (Remember, multi-vitamin/multi-mineral pill daily, salad vegetables, and water, water, water!)
Best of luck, you'll do fine!0 -
I was kind of wondering the same thing. Looks like we're on about the same time-table. I started Wednesday last week so it's been 6 days. I was pretty low carb before (100ish grams/day) so I was hoping to dodge some induction symptoms. On about day 4 I started getting really nauseated just thinking about food. I'm feeling better today but still have a queasy stomach. Anyway, I'm taking these symptoms as signs I'm in ketosis???
Good luck!0 -
I feel like the Ketostix are a great motivator so I bought some just so I could check my levels. I guess I'm lucky since I haven't had any induction symptoms yet. I started last Wednesday so today is also my 7th day. I've lost roughly 4 pounds so I'm happy with those results I was just worried because I wasn't reading higher on the Ketostix. I've been stuck at the normal faint pink & almost moderate but never reached the darker red portion of ketosis. But as long as I continue to lose weight I won't complain, lol.0
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I bet they are motivating! Maybe I will try them out. Who knows how accurate they are? It seems like from what you are eating and the weight loss you are experiencing that you are in ketosis and things are going well!
I'm hoping for a bump up in feeling well and energy tomorrow. I haven't done my normal exercise routine in the last week b/c I've just been not feeling well. But I'd like to get back to it! I do walk 4 miles/day in my commute but I like to do some strength training a few days a week as well.0 -
Good morning!
The odds are overwhelmingly in your favor that you are already in Ketosis. As far as trying to get further into it, there's not really anything you can do, and you shouldn't try. If you are below 20 grams of carbs per day, it will take care of itself, and in another week or so, (with exercise and lots of water) you will start to see the weight fall off, quite quickly.
If you've kept your carbs under 20/25, then you've used up your body's stores of glycogen, and you are already burning fat for fuel. Again, make sure that you are drinking at minimum 64 oz of water a day. I didn't notice "big" weight changes until near the end of my second week. The first week of "Atkins Induction" was awful for me (headache, leg/arm cramps), and I hope that it's a bit easier on you. After the first week, I felt great, and still do!
I've been in Ketosis for 50 days as of this morning, another 0.4 lbs and I will have lost 30 lbs in 50 days. I am still pretty close to induction levels (25 grams of carbs/day) and walk/run every day, weights every other day, and at least a gallon of water per day.
I just purchased my second bottle of KetoStix (50 strips per bottle) and I find them to be a great motivator, even though for a non-diabetic they really don't provide all that much useful information. They're really just for fun, you get visual feedback that there really is something happening due to the lack of carbs.
Initially, I found it turning "light purple" and I was overjoyed ("Hooray! Ketosis achieved!") And then they started getting to be a darker shade of purple, especially after workouts, or sleep, etc. I took a thermogenic pill ONCE and the strip nearly turned black, but it was all just for fun. Now that I've been in ketosis for almost two months, my body is beginning to use ketones more efficiently, and the color indicator is getting lighter again.
That means nothing, there is no reason to be alarmed. I am still in ketosis, and plan to be until August 8th.
So, long story short: You are doing what you need to do, the weight will come off quickly. If you try to rush it, or make it "low cal/low fat" your body will most likely go into "starvation mode" and you won't lose anything, and you'll have zero energy. Keep doing what you're doing, and you'll be all set. (Remember, multi-vitamin/multi-mineral pill daily, salad vegetables, and water, water, water!)
Best of luck, you'll do fine!
So informative thank you!!
Ok, I am totally early in the induction day 2! I got some ketostix today and it identified that I was in the second darkest block; I am really surprised it is there already. Prior to induction I completed a 5 day juice fast and prior to that I was on a low carb diet for approx. 1 week; I was wondering if this could be why my reading is high.
Regarding the low calorie and low fat comment... I am consuming high quantities of fat, they make approx. 50% plus of my diet per day. MFP suggests my calorie intake is 1400, but I am only managing 1100 and I am stuffed! My carb intake is approximately 10-12 grams of carb per day. Do you think that this is an acceptable amount calories/carbs/fats etc for induction? Or are my calories too low?
Thank you!0 -
So informative thank you!!
Ok, I am totally early in the induction day 2! I got some ketostix today and it identified that I was in the second darkest block; I am really surprised it is there already. Prior to induction I completed a 5 day juice fast and prior to that I was on a low carb diet for approx. 1 week; I was wondering if this could be why my reading is high.
Regarding the low calorie and low fat comment... I am consuming high quantities of fat, they make approx. 50% plus of my diet per day. MFP suggests my calorie intake is 1400, but I am only managing 1100 and I am stuffed! My carb intake is approximately 10-12 grams of carb per day. Do you think that this is an acceptable amount calories/carbs/fats etc for induction? Or are my calories too low?
Thank you!
Hi there, I apologize for the delay!
I must start by saying that I'm not a doctor or a registered dietician, I've just studied Atkins, read the boards, and read "The Atkins Essentials" at least six times. I'll try to answer as best I can, but I really suggest getting a copy of "The Atkins Essentials" from the library (paperback or e-book), or even buy a cheap copy from Amazon.com.
Low carb diets require vegetables, vitamins, and minerals and can be very uncomfortable, or even dangerous if your levels get TOO low.
That said, Ketosis already? Wow! That's a lot faster than I did, that's great! If you depleted your glycogen stores in your muscles through low-carb eating, it certainly sounds like a viable reason behind your strong reading so early. I can't really say what your calories should be. If you can do 1,400 calories per day, that would probably be a little better, at least until you're further into Induction. However, the book keeps reiterating that you're supposed to eat when hungry, and only until you're satisfied (not stuffed), but satisfied for real. When it gets to that point, the calories take care of themselves. It sounds like that is exactly what you're doing, so bravo!
Your projected fat / protein / carb intake percentages seem spot-on perfect, nicely done!
Finally, please stay safe by eating the three cups of veggies per day (add cheese and ranch dressing if you like, it's okay!) at least 64 oz of water (you can have diet pop, but it doesn't count as "water"), and at minimum 30 minutes of cardio.
Good luck, be safe!0 -
OK DUMB question...what is Ketosis? I have been trying atkins for a week already and Im down 7 lbs but this ketosis you speak of...WELL Im not sure of it.0
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There are no dumb questions, no worries!
Ketosis merely means that our bodies are using fat for energy, instead of sugar (carbs).
Ketones (also called ketone bodies) are molecules generated during fat metabolism, whether from the fat in the guacamole or body fat that we're trying to burn. When our bodies are breaking down fat for energy, most of the it gets converted more or less directly to ATP. (This is the "energy molecule.")
When the body's sugar stores are used up, with very few more being taken in (less than 20 grams per day), the body starts producing ketone bodies to burn fat instead. This is the "ketogenic state" or ketosis.0 -
Atkins himself says in his original books that the Keto strips are only tools for you to use , but he also says they are NOT neccesary nor need to be used, they are only there if you want to see it. with that said I have to tell you, that when my wife does atkins, she has a terrible time getting those strips to change colors, every time this happens to her, we all know she is in ketosis, and we all see the weight loss on the scale, and I believe that atkins even discusses this in his book, ( that some people wont make the color change), so if the strip is causing this for you, I wouldnt use them personally,
NOW<<< if you do want to see them get darker, eat more fat , even to the point your eating like 80 percent fat and 20 percent protien, you will turn those strips the darkest purple you have ever seen in a couple of days, but that also means taking out all your vegies all your net carbs and all your sugar alcholols what have you. just fat and protien, so if your unwiling to do that, then I would take Atkins suggestion and not even use the strips, they may be more of a stumbling block than a help in that case?
When I do the Atkins Fat Fast, those strips for me are almost black, but then again on the Fat Fast your eating only fat for 3-5 days
Hope this helps0
