It won't erase if you don't complete the day, so no need to fudge your numbers. It simply won't alert your friends that you've completed the day. I think I completed like 10 days in the very beginning, but nothing in nearly a year.

michelle172415 wrote: »

Well, I just tested and the strip showed a small to moderate amount of ketones. I'm hoping that it is accurate, it would certainly explain my current brain fog

You are probably in ketosis, and really that is what you need to know. The strips (from what I have read) will measure what your body does not use, which is why it is expelling it through the urine. As you progress into keto, the strips quit working as your body is consuming more and more of the ketones you make. So are you making ketones? Sounds like it. Is your body fully utilizing them? Not yet. I've read this can take a few weeks or even a few months. So when people panic that their strips don't detect ketones yet they have done everything right, it means they are in full ketosis now. But that is why the strips quit being useful as it really doesn't have much to measure. For me I use the Precision Xtra and test once a week. (It is not cheap!) But honestly, I can now 'feel' where I am with ketosis. There are signs, like reduced appetite, bad breath, stable blood sugar...etc. I dropped out a keto a month ago and I was RAVENOUSLY hungry, like crazy. I pigged out on eggs, meats and healthy fats but avoided most carbs for 2 days just to get back in keto. Good luck!

If you are eating fewer carbs than you body needs you will produce ketones. I think the brain alone needs something like 120g of glucose daily, if you consume less than that your body will deplete your glycogen stores, once that's done it will convert some from protein and start burning fat thus producing ketones. If you are consuming low carbs you will inevitably produce ketones. Common side effects in the beginning are reduced appetite also since you are depleting those glycogen stores you will be releasing water as well likely triggering thirst to replenish that water.

I guess it would depend on the definition as to whether or not you are in keto. Are you producing ketones, yes, based on above criteria, check your numbers.

Ketostix are probable useless, aside from the fact that they help you to see an actual physical change to prove you are flushing ketones. Again though based on the fact your body has to burn fat for fuel if it's lacking glucose, you are producing ketones whether a stick shows it or not.

Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »

If it's showing ketones you are making them for sure.
Sometimes they don't show ketones when someone is actually making them. That's how they are inaccurate. I personally think when that happens its related to very dilute urine from drinking a lot of water. Simple dilution preventing it from showing up. There's nothing wrong with drinking all the water you want.

Yeah, I guess that could be true since I used to drink 100+ ounces a day, and now that my blood sugar is fairly close to normal, I am drinking 40 - 50 a day.

I think the strips are mostly accurate. Mostly. Which annoys me because I can rarely get above small ketones.

BTW The brain fog is probablyfrom low electrolytes. A cup of brothe will probably help with that.

Congrats. Sounds like you are doing well!

950 calories everyday is low. If they balance out with hungrier, higher calorie days, you're good. The lack of hunger is a transition to adjust to! It's so new, but is wonderful!

Thirst is a signal that your body, likely, needs sodium! Ketoers need to replace the sodium we lose by consuming 3000-5000mg of quality salt (sodium tablets work too!) everyday! The more fluids you drink, the more sodium you are losing!

The strips are neat to use for validation of ketosis, but don't work for some people when they don't have much fat to burn that leads to the excess being spilled over into the urine. They are worth a try. I find that I can use them any time of day (when I do). You just hold them under your urine stream, no need to catch a sample (or clean catch as you mentioned). Good luck!