a few questions

[SunnyDays]

Hello everyone...
I am a little confused and have a few questions.

1. After 4 days, I had lost 7 lbs. I was obviously thrilled, but now, 7 days in, I have gained 3 lbs back. I have been testing my urine twice daily and have been in ketosis since day 2. I have been strict on my carb intake...

2. I am definately experiencing some constipation issues.... what should I do to prevent this?

3. When I test my urine with the ketostix, I am seeing a lot of variation in the color read on the stick. Sometimes it reads large, others medium. Then, this morning it said small!!! By lunch, it was back up to medium. I dont really understand the variation. Does it have to do with water intake.

4. I have been drinking about 2 liters of water a day, is that enough?

5. How much is too much cheese? I have been eating a lot...it is my favorite food....

Thanks for any help or suggestions you can give! I am plodding along here....

[ceecee29]

Re: a few questions

hi there
I'm not so sure about the ketosis sticks (I have never used them) but I can think of a couple of reasons that the scale might be saying you've gained 3 pounds back- one of which you named already. Have you started taking fiber to deal with constipation? Also, eating a lot of salt might make you retain water, show more weight on the scale, and it also contributes to constipation. And finally, make sure you're not eating more than 4 oz of cheese per day. an ounce of cheese is a block like your thumb or one of those american cheese squares (just the measurement, I don't know why any one who likes cheese would ever eat those). I love cheese too. I have to be careful with it because it also contributes to my yeast issues... which can stall weight loss as well.
good luck!
ceecee
5"4
ST 167 (6/15/07)
RSW 157 (11/28/07)
RRSW 154 (2/20/0
CW 148 (end of week one of induction)
MGW 145 (for 3/5 end of week two of induction)

[SunnyDays]

Re: a few questions

I think that salt may be the issue...I have been reading more about sodium intake. The problem is that I think I take the easy route and eat a lot of deli meats, and I am sure they are loaded with salt. But oh...how I love cheese

[Elizellen]

Re: a few questions

I think that salt may be the issue...I have been reading more about sodium intake. The problem is that I think I take the easy route and eat a lot of deli meats, and I am sure they are loaded with salt. But oh...how I love cheese

Me too! I am sure it was for people like me that Dr Atkins set a limit of 3-4 ounces on induction as I could easily eat a whole pack of brie at one sitting in the pre-Atkins days.

For sliced meat snacks, have you ever considered buying a joint of meat or a whole chicken and cooking it at home so that you have some to cut up for use as snacks and for prepared on-the-go meals?

This way you will know what is in it and not have to worry about too much sodium and other stuff like sugar which many cured meats have in them.

As for ketostick readings, I am one of those who never seem to turn those pesky sticks any kind of colour - even when I was losing fast, so I dont use them at all nowadays. I do know that Dr Atkins told us to use them at the same time each day though

If you use lipolysis testing strips to measure ketone output, be sure to do so at the same hour each day.

and

No matter what I do, I can't get into ketosis, or the shade of purple on the LTS is very light. What am I doing wrong?
There are many reasons why a person's lipolysis test strip would be varying shades of purple. Each person's metabolism is different and therefore will turn the sticks a varying degree of purple. In addition, the time of the day, whether or not you exercise and what you ate at your last meal will all affect the test strips. Don't worry about the exact level of ketosis indicated by the strip. The important thing is to see how your clothes are fitting and what the scale says. And, remember, you don't necessarily need to use the strips at all.

[Elizellen]

Re: a few questions

1. After 4 days, I had lost 7 lbs. I was obviously thrilled, but now, 7 days in, I have gained 3 lbs back.

This is one reason it is often suggested you dont get on the scales every day Had you not weighed till now I bet you would have been happy to see you have lost 4 pounds!!

Our body weight varies immensely from day to day as well as during the day, so dont fret about the day to day variations. Mine was 7 pounds higher yesterday than it is today for example!! But as I know this happens on a regular basis I dont let it make me doubt the efficacy of my way of eating.