How many days does it take to get into Ketosis?
CoconuttyMummy
Posts: 685 Member
Hi guys. I'm not sure if any of the old-timers can remember me (Knit n Miss, FitGoat, Sunny.. i remember you guys!). I used to be an active member a few years ago, got down to my smallest EVER and then fell off the Keto wagon about 18months-2yrs ago. And now i'm back - 20lbs heavier. No jokes. Sucks, right?! 
Those carbs did a real number on me! (well, strictly speaking, my lack of self-control around carbs did a number on me, but anyways..) ..
So today is my 1st day back eating Keto and i was wondering how long it might take for the Ketostix to change colour?
Those carbs did a real number on me! (well, strictly speaking, my lack of self-control around carbs did a number on me, but anyways..) ..So today is my 1st day back eating Keto and i was wondering how long it might take for the Ketostix to change colour?
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I’m not sure by urine testing but I had a blood meter and I remember I was showing over 0.5 ketones (I think it was 0.7) by around 1pm of my first day.
I had been fasting other than coffee with heavy cream from dinner at 6:30 the night before.
I had no metabolic condition that I’m aware of.
I don’t recall if I didn’t have urine test strips at that time or if I didn’t use them or I just forgot altogether. All I can recall is the blood meter reading because I was surprised at first to get that result but later on I found out it kind of made sense since I had been fasting. I just never ate breakfast so that was kind of my norm. I may have had some tendency to drop into mild Ketosis easily because of that.
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Oh, I’m not sure if they will see your question without being tagged.
@KnitOrMiss @FIT_Goat
Also, glad to have you back!
You’ll get back into it. No worries. You can do it!!!2 -
I remember you.
The answer is, as Sunny hinted above, it depends. Are you fasting? The faster (haha pun!) you burn through your stored glycogen the quicker you are in. So theoretically, you can go into ketosis within 24 hours. If your tank is full of carbs, it will take longer. Also, if you are still intaking 50g instead of 20g carbs. You'll go in faster at 20g. I think that's why everyone goes down that low, to get into ketosis faster.
As far as the stix go, I've never used the things, but 2-4 days should definitely start showing evidence. But remember, the darkness of the strip is dependent on your hydration too. Any color indicating ketones means ketosis. For keto purposes, it doesn't matter the shade. In is in.
HTH
We still have Open Threads on this topic in the LaunchPad so you could pop in there and skim through as a refresher when you get some time.2 -
This thread is a just in time kinda thread!
I was on Keto for couple of months and I was doing good. Lost few pretty quick. But then I got tempted to eat a bit of carb, here and there. And right off the wagon!
I tried getting back on ketosis and thought I was there but according to the stick, NO... So here I am trying to figure out what I need to do. I probably just need to LOOK closely at macro to avoid carbs.
My challenge for the week is that we have 4th of July party then friends from Canada staying with us for 4 days... Am I strong enough to say NO to Wine, Beer, Cocktails and all the yum yums?? urgh...😫😂1 -
Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »Oh, I’m not sure if they will see your question without being tagged.
@KnitOrMiss @FIT_Goat
Also, glad to have you back!
You’ll get back into it. No worries. You can do it!!!
Bless you, Sunny! I'm glad to be back too. It feels like coming home! xxx
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Sunny_Bunny_ wrote: »I’m not sure by urine testing but I had a blood meter and I remember I was showing over 0.5 ketones (I think it was 0.7) by around 1pm of my first day.
I had been fasting other than coffee with heavy cream from dinner at 6:30 the night before.
I had no metabolic condition that I’m aware of.
I don’t recall if I didn’t have urine test strips at that time or if I didn’t use them or I just forgot altogether. All I can recall is the blood meter reading because I was surprised at first to get that result but later on I found out it kind of made sense since I had been fasting. I just never ate breakfast so that was kind of my norm. I may have had some tendency to drop into mild Ketosis easily because of that.
Well, not quite as fast as you Sunny, but i managed to get into Ketosis within 36 hrs (about lunchtime today). Woohoo! What a great feeling - i was all set for problems! I really struggled when i first went Keto a few years ago, but i think many of the symptoms i was experiencing were caused by my Fibromyalgia, which i was diagnosed with several months later, rather than being the longest Keto Flu in history! I'm making sure to up my Sodium and i'll start taking Bulk Powders Electrolyte tablets tonight, so fingers crossed i wont experience those issues again.
Anyways, so great to see you still here Sunny!1 -
baconslave wrote: »I remember you.
The answer is, as Sunny hinted above, it depends. Are you fasting? The faster (haha pun!) you burn through your stored glycogen the quicker you are in. So theoretically, you can go into ketosis within 24 hours. If your tank is full of carbs, it will take longer. Also, if you are still intaking 50g instead of 20g carbs. You'll go in faster at 20g. I think that's why everyone goes down that low, to get into ketosis faster.
As far as the stix go, I've never used the things, but 2-4 days should definitely start showing evidence. But remember, the darkness of the strip is dependent on your hydration too. Any color indicating ketones means ketosis. For keto purposes, it doesn't matter the shade. In is in.
HTH
We still have Open Threads on this topic in the LaunchPad so you could pop in there and skim through as a refresher when you get some time.
Helllooooo there, Baconslave. OMG, i remember you too and so glad youre still here too.
Regards the colour of the Ketostix i really appreciate you mentioning that any level of Ketosis is fine as hydration affects the reading. I wasnt aware of this and i was quite shocked (happily so) by how dark pink it was earlier. Guess i need to increase the fluids in this heat!2 -
weatherking2019 wrote: »This thread is a just in time kinda thread!
I was on Keto for couple of months and I was doing good. Lost few pretty quick. But then I got tempted to eat a bit of carb, here and there. And right off the wagon!
I tried getting back on ketosis and thought I was there but according to the stick, NO... So here I am trying to figure out what I need to do. I probably just need to LOOK closely at macro to avoid carbs.
My challenge for the week is that we have 4th of July party then friends from Canada staying with us for 4 days... Am I strong enough to say NO to Wine, Beer, Cocktails and all the yum yums?? urgh...😫😂
You can do it!!! You've got this, girl!
I totally understand what it's like to just try adding a few carbs in here and there and then before you know it you're completely off the wagon. For me personally, i have a HUGE addiction to carbs. Once i start eating grains or starch all i can think about is more, more, more. And sugar? Pfft - times that by 10000! I am literally insatiable once ive tasted cake or cookies or w/e and my willpower just crumbles. Not only that, but when i eat carbs i lose the ability to feel full/satisfied and just continue to eat until i feel physical pain in my stomach from being so full and bloated. I have to accept that i have no self-control around carbs and i find it so much easier to boycott them altogether. If i had one cocktail or yum yum, it'd be alllll over for me lol. Perhaps you have more willpower than i do!
Also, regards getting back into Ketosis i agree with Baconslave regards your carb grams. This time round i've found it easier dropping my carbs to 20g total, rather than the 30g NET that i did before. Perhaps you could try lowering your carb limit a little if its quite a bit higher than this.
Anyway, enjoy tomorrow and best of luck x1 -
CoconuttyMummy wrote: »
You can do it!!! You've got this, girl!
I totally understand what it's like to just try adding a few carbs in here and there and then before you know it you're completely off the wagon. For me personally, i have a HUGE addiction to carbs. Once i start eating grains or starch all i can think about is more, more, more. And sugar? Pfft - times that by 10000! I am literally insatiable once ive tasted cake or cookies or w/e and my willpower just crumbles. Not only that, but when i eat carbs i lose the ability to feel full/satisfied and just continue to eat until i feel physical pain in my stomach from being so full and bloated. I have to accept that i have no self-control around carbs and i find it so much easier to boycott them altogether. If i had one cocktail or yum yum, it'd be alllll over for me lol. Perhaps you have more willpower than i do!
Also, regards getting back into Ketosis i agree with Baconslave regards your carb grams. This time round i've found it easier dropping my carbs to 20g total, rather than the 30g NET that i did before. Perhaps you could try lowering your carb limit a little if its quite a bit higher than this.
Anyway, enjoy tomorrow and best of luck x
Thank you! I shall try! I will be taking food pix and post, so that you know how hard and tempting it is.... Oh boy.1 -
Welcome back, CoconuttyMummy! I remember you too.0
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Welcome back. The important thing is that you are back. I can't tell you how long it will be until you get back into ketosis. It is different for everyone. But, I can tell you that being consistent will get you there.0
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@CoconuttyMummy welcome back. Keto is in the news more now and then but after 5 years keto is still the best way of eating for my physical and mental health that I have ever eaten.1
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I was on Keto for three weeks, keeping my carbs to less than 20 daily, without losing a single ounce or going into Ketosis. I have to admit, I was getting ready to throw in the towel. Then I did a Carnivore Challenge and, within a week I had lost weight and was in Ketosis, according to the strips. Stayed on it for 10 days and then went back to my regular eating plan, this time keeping my carbs to less than 15. Once again, I have not lost an ounce, although the strips still say I am in Ketosis.0
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I think it was The Bear, who originally pointed out, that for some people low carb just wasn't low enough. They needed to be zerocarb (what has recently been termed carnivore) to lose their excess weight. So, I buy that.
At the same time, three weeks is still very short term for any diet. If you hadn't been dieting before, you should have seen some loss, but if you had you might not. The amount of loss someone should have in three weeks can easily be hidden on the scale by various factors.0 -
I had been on a diet before that. The doctor had me on a high protein, low carb, low fat diet and I did lose 9 lbs. However, it was mostly veggies, which I am not a big fan of. Saw everyone here talking about Keto and, the thought of being able to eat cheese, bacon and other foods I was craving seemed right up my alley. I'm going to stay on my regular schedule for another two weeks and, if I'm still not losing, I'll go back to carnivore and see what happens.0
This discussion has been closed.