strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

[vixie123]

Hi,

I've been on the extended induction for a little over 2 months. My ketosis strips have always turned very red but the last two days they have had almost no color change. The only difference in my diet is that I've included a lot of cauliflour in my diet and a glass of decaf peppermint tea. Can this stop ketosis? Im still eatting one 20 grams or less. Does anyone have any suggestions? Heres my menu for the last two days



baked chicken breast
1 cup cauliflour (steamed) with 1 table mayo and mustard.
1/2 boild egg
1/2 strip bacon

decaf peppermint tea, 2 packs of equal and 2 cubic inches of cheddar cheese

8oz fish fried in butter
1 cup lettus with vinegar

3 bbq chicken legs (mustard and salt seasonings)
1 cup cauliflour (steamed) with 1 table mayo and mustard.
1/2 boild egg
1/2strip bacon

120 oz of water. I use to drink 150 but Im not very thirsty anymore.

[cranberry]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

If I were to hazard a guess I would say that the 2 packets of equal are your most likely culprit

[vixie123]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

Hi,

Thanks, I going to cut out the cauliflower and tea and see what happens. I've even been thinking about a fat fast.

Thanks

V.

[Kent]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

First, remember Cauliflower is only a one cup per day vegetable on Induction and EI. That said, are there any other symptoms of being out of ketosis than strips not working, like no weight loss. It looks like your weight loss has been phenomenal 35 pounds in 2 months or about 3-4 pounds per week. There can be many things that cause the strips not to report, not the least of which humidity or not keeping them sealed air tight. Without additional information, my personal guess is that is what happened. Pay attention to the other signs of ketosis (bad breath, appetite supression, stinking sweat) rather than the strips, which can be notoriously tempermental.

How many inches and pounds have you lost this week?

PS - about the Fat Fast, it should only be used by those who are metabolically resistent, which by your reported losses you certainly aren't. I haven't seen anybody (or perhaps more than one or two) who has done the Fat Fast and used it to jumpstart their weight loss. Usually they lose one to five pounds, but bounce back once it is over.

[vixie123]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

Hi,

I think you hit it on the nose. Once I figured out how to make faux potatoes, I just couldn't get enough cauliflower. That was really the biggest change in my diet. Im going to go back to a cleaner induction.

I know its not the strips because I ran out and bought another bottle. All the of symptoms of ketosis have stopped for me. I've been stuck for over a week. I lost almost half of that weight in the first two weeks. I had 2 really amazing weeks in addition to that but the rest has been uphill all the way. Each week Im loosing less than the previous one. I guess thats just the way it goes but Im easily discouraged and it drives me nuts.

I was reading all night about stalls and found some information about carb blasting/refeeding. I went ahead and tried it yesterday, we'll see what happens.

Thanks for you post,

[Iapetus999]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

Hi,

I think you hit it on the nose. Once I figured out how to make faux potatoes, I just couldn't get enough cauliflower. That was really the biggest change in my diet. Im going to go back to a cleaner induction.

I know its not the strips because I ran out and bought another bottle. All the of symptoms of ketosis have stopped for me. I've been stuck for over a week. I lost almost half of that weight in the first two weeks. I had 2 really amazing weeks in addition to that but the rest has been uphill all the way. Each week Im loosing less than the previous one. I guess thats just the way it goes but Im easily discouraged and it drives me nuts.

I was reading all night about stalls and found some information about carb blasting/refeeding. I went ahead and tried it yesterday, we'll see what happens.

Thanks for you post,

I never got the strips to turn color.
Refeeding doesn't really work...most people have reporting poor results.
Or it may work once and never again.
The best way to break a stall is to increase exercise. Make sure you are getting the 20 carbs a day (don't cheat on the carb count either way) and drink plenty of water.

[vixie123]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

Wish you would have posted 2 days ago. lol. Anyway, I didnt gain any weight from the carb blast which I expected to do. No results yet. I have been thinking about upping my exercise, but I've been feeling tired the last few days.

Thanks

V.

[kkat55]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

If I were to hazard a guess I would say that the 2 packets of equal are your most likely culprit

I was just curious...have you always been using the Equal? I think aspartame is supposed to act just as sugar in your system and cause an insulin surge. That is why Splenda is recommended.

Anyway, this just came to mind when I read your post.

[limabean]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

I have lost almost 30 lbs and my strips never changed colors...always white. So I would not worry about it.

[vixie123]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

Lost 3 pounds this morning!!



Not sure what did the trick because I did the carb blast and stopped the cauliflower and equal at the same time. Next time I stall, I'll try it again and post the results.

Katt, I have not heard that about aspartame but thats good information to know. Equal was not part of my diet in the beginning. At first, I only drank lemon in water when I had a sweet tooth. I think I will have to give it up. I bought a HUGE box of equal from costco before I started this diet. Im not sure what to do with it now. It was pretty expensive.

Limabean, I dont think it would have worried me as much if those little suckers hadn't turned red in the beginning. I also stalled around this time. They still havent returned to red but I did loose those three pounds, so I am trying not to think about it too much. I have had them turn red and not lost anything, so there you go.

Thanks for the posts,

V.

[Desertthorn]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

I also wouldn't worry about it, You may have just left the cap off and the humidity got to them.

[fr1endly2]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

SO many reasons your weight may have slowed up. SOMETIMES our bodies have to play catch up and hold on to the fat a little more then other times.

I would definitely come off the equal and switch to what Dr. Atkins suggest splenda.
OTHERWISE stick with things and the weight will come off...i bet your going thru an
inches melting stage.......
BE STRONG it will pass...a week is not a stall and those other methods are for no loss for many weeks.

GOOD LUCK, we all know its frustrating and hard!

LISA

[vixie123]

Re: strips stopped turning red..any ideas?

Hi,

Yup friendly, I've given up on art sweeteners all together.

Just thought I'd post an update for anyone using the ketosis strips. This morning the strip turned dark red. I was excited so I tested in the afternoon...no color change. Finally, at dinner I was so frustrated that I used 4 strips and tested all of them at once. Some turned red and others didnt. These stupid strips stink! Im not testing any more.