Ketostix Frustration

[myabigail]

I'm in Day 7, and I was very excited a few days ago when I first bought my Ketostix and confirmed I was in Ketosis, because I wasn't really experiencing any other 'symptoms.'

Yesterday morning, I had a pretty dark pink, and I could feel it! I had the metallic taste in my mouth and my urine smelled different.

But today, I tested first thing and NOTHING, nada, zip, zilch. I even re-tested. Both strips came out boring beige. I was a good girl yesterday, so I'm kind of confused.

I still have a slightly metallic taste -- not nearly as strong -- but my urine doesn't smell different.

Meanwhile, I've started my TOM waaaaaay early. I'm on a 90-day cycle with the pill, and this is a month and a half early.

Why have I fallen out of ketosis?

One note: I did actually have 2 of the Atkins vanilla shakes before going to bed (1 net carb each). I went grocery shopping the night before last after work, but apparently got home without one shopping bag -- the one with the meat I was going to have for dinner. I worked late yesterday, so by the time I realized this, it was too late to remedy. I had eggs again and was STARVING. Aside from more cheese or more eggs (overload on both already), the shakes were all I had. But I'm shocked if that killed the ketosis.

[not2late]

Re: Ketostix Frustration

If you have the physical signs of ketosis, are losing weight, and following the diet, then I wouldn't worry about the ketostix.

They have problems. For instance, they only measure one type of ketone body. And that ketone only comprises about 20% of the ketones your body produces. They are temperature and moisture sensitive: if they are expired or are a "bad batch", they may be inaccurate. I work in a doctor's office and we have a similar urine test strip. We have to check their accuracy frequently because one time we had a bottle that consistently measured 100 + blood in distilled water.

[EverLosing]

Re: Ketostix Frustration

I'm in Day 7, and I was very excited a few days ago when I first bought my Ketostix and confirmed I was in Ketosis, because I wasn't really experiencing any other 'symptoms.'

Yesterday morning, I had a pretty dark pink, and I could feel it! I had the metallic taste in my mouth and my urine smelled different.

But today, I tested first thing and NOTHING, nada, zip, zilch. I even re-tested. Both strips came out boring beige. I was a good girl yesterday, so I'm kind of confused.

I still have a slightly metallic taste -- not nearly as strong -- but my urine doesn't smell different.

Meanwhile, I've started my TOM waaaaaay early. I'm on a 90-day cycle with the pill, and this is a month and a half early.

Why have I fallen out of ketosis?

One note: I did actually have 2 of the Atkins vanilla shakes before going to bed (1 net carb each). I went grocery shopping the night before last after work, but apparently got home without one shopping bag -- the one with the meat I was going to have for dinner. I worked late yesterday, so by the time I realized this, it was too late to remedy. I had eggs again and was STARVING. Aside from more cheese or more eggs (overload on both already), the shakes were all I had. But I'm shocked if that killed the ketosis.

Feel free to search the board for the endless ketostix posts. UGH!! Damn stix!! If you've been on plan, you haven't fallen out of ketosis. Don't worry!!

Someone jump in and correct if I'm wrong but you're not supposed to test first thing in the morning....like a pregnancy test. I believe you're supposed to do it approximately 2 hours after eating a meal. TJ called the manufacturer of his stix and that's what they told him. Just up from a prolonged resting state (sleep) is not going to give you an accurate reading. Also, some women don't register at all on the stix when ToM comes to town. You most likely are one of those women.

I was on the 90 day cycle pill too. I had to stop for awhile. Haven't started back on them yet. Was trying to figure out if they were holding me back. This WOE can seriously screw with your cycle, but relax, it should calm down. It may even go away altogether. Keep on keeping on. Use a scale rarely and a tape measure OFTEN. That's your true measurement....not the color on a stick you peed on!! I wish you didn't have those stix. They can be a worse addiction than a scale addiction. While we're on the subject, it also doesn't matter which shade of pink or purple you are. It's like pregnancy....you are or you aren't. Do a search and you'll find more than you ever wanted to know about the ketostix.

[Peej]

Re: Ketostix Frustration

I don't really trust the sticks. I've done Atkins before and several times I've lost my resolve because of peeing on those sticks and not seeing color. Every time, during my first 2 weeks of induction, they are super-purple and then all of a sudden they shift to very light pink for no reason. I'm not sure what that is an indication of if anything, but I try not to give it much thought. As long as you're following the rules, you should be fine!

Also, the shakes can be bad news. I doubt it would really mess with your overall weight loss and its better than cheating completely. I think they may have knocked me out of ketosis before but I really have no idea. If you need to use the sticks, take the result with a grain of salt.

[miwachiru]

Re: Ketostix Frustration

Ketostix are only measuring the ketones in your urine. When you are in Ketosis, the excess ketones that are not burned will spill over into your urine. So, its possible to be in ketosis and burning all of your ketones WITHOUT them spilling over into your urine.