2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

[BlueSkies]

i'm wondering when ketosis ends - would that be in the maint. phase after goal is reached? or can you stay in ketosis forever?

would it be unhealthy to remain in ketosis (not induction) after reaching goal?

in other words, if i never eat beyond my ccll would i always be in ketosis? this science behind this diet is so interesting to me . . . and you seem to really understand it. does all of your info come from dandr or are there other good sources out there i could read also?

thanks! my goal is to know as much about this wol as you do lol!

[Jasmain]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

Well.. I am not 2big, but I thought I'd try, since 2big (mommy 2big) keeps telling me to open my mouth, and this came from the DANDR! Not sure EXACTLY when ketosis ends, but this is the normal progression, and it will end at some point, most likely it stops completely when you find your CCLM (Crititcal Carb Level for Maintenance). That part 2big really will have to answer, I just thought this info might give you a bit of insight.

OWL and Ketosis - Okay, this is what the book says!

1. during OWL you are looking for you CCLL also (Critical Carb Level for Loss) or the most carbs you can eat and still lose weight (though slower loss).

2. IF you are using keto strips, they will usually stop turning color right before you hit your CCLL.

3. If you are consuming more than 50 carbs a day, they will definitely stop turning color, but as long as you are still losing pounds and/or inches, that is fine. You are still functioning primarily as a fat burning body even though you may not be producing enough ketones to show up in your urine.

Bottom line, you can appear to be out of ketosis while in OWL, but as long as you stay at your CCLL once you find it, and are still losing pounds and/or inches, you are progressing as you should, and that is natural. Be on the lookout for cravings while you are adding new foods. Things that give you cravings or a return of the pre-atkins hunger should either be avoided, OR you can try eating them with fat (like cream with fruit if a certain fruit gives you cravings, or cheese with something else that would go with cheese). If they STILL cause you trouble, avoid them.

Do the rungs in order, they are listed that way because of the way they will affect your blood sugar. Not everyone gets through all the rungs, because of this. Some of the later rungs may need to be saved and added during pre-maintenance. You will most likely reach your CCLL before all rungs have been added.

I hope that helps!

[BlueSkies]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

thanks jasmain!

it seems like the fewer carbs i have the better i feel. <20 a day is great for me, and i am hoping that it won't be necessary to increase that amount - i feel better in ketosis than i have ever felt in my life! i don't wanna stop it 50 pounds from now!

so if i find my ccll and stop my weight loss would that be putting me out of ketosis? could i stay in ketosis forever and still stop loosing weight? does this make any sense???

[Jasmain]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

thanks jasmain!

it seems like the fewer carbs i have the better i feel. <20 a day is great for me, and i am hoping that it won't be necessary to increase that amount - i feel better in ketosis than i have ever felt in my life! i don't wanna stop it 50 pounds from now!

so if i find my ccll and stop my weight loss would that be putting me out of ketosis? could i stay in ketosis forever and still stop loosing weight? does this make any sense???

Do you have your book? It is not healthy to stay in ketosis forever. The diet has 4 phases, I'm afraid at some point you will definitely need to up your carb intake, depending on how much you have to lose total. You can stay on Induction for longer than two weeks, but you must move on to the other phases at some point. When you have 20-30 pounds left to lose, it's time to move on, most likely, or if you get bored with your food choices during Induction.

OWL is a slow process of adding certain food groups in order back into your diet in a controlled manner, so that you can begin to understand how other foods, or more of the same foods, effects the way you feel, the cravings you have, and most importantly, to continue training yourself to deal with cravings from certain foods you may find create that problem for you. The increase is gradual. Your CCLL will allow you to still lose weight, you'll find it somewhere in the second phase, OWL (ongoing weight loss). You can't find your CCLL without upping your carbs. The weight loss will slow, but that's natural, and you shouldn't be afraid of it. The last pounds you lose need to come off slowly, or you in all probability won't keep them off. You will still be in ketosis while you are eating under or at your CCLL, though it may be so light that ketostix wouldn't register the ketone level in your urine.

Have you read the DANDR? You might want to read the chapters on Induction and OWL over a few times so that you can get a better understanding of why and how the diet works and progresses.

[BlueSkies]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

i think i understand induction and owl . . . it's after that i'm not sure about. for example, betty - who has been at goal for 4 years, right? well is she still in ketosis or does that end in lifelong maint. . .

thanks for answering! i feel like i'm slowly sinking in a sea of information!

[Labarum]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

If you are consuming more than 50 carbs a day, they will definitely stop turning color . . .

THAT is not true - it depends on the individual and the activity level. I am usually in or on the very edge of ketosis. One day recently I had cycled 25 miles and had been feeding my hunger without stinting myself. I guess I had over 100g carbs that day, but the sticks were deep purple. Although I had drunk a lot of water I was probably still a little dehydrated after my ride, and that would have contributed to the keytone level.

I say again: it depends on the individual and the activity level.

[ttdriver]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

for example, betty - who has been at goal for 4 years, right? well is she still in ketosis or does that end in lifelong maint. . .

I haven't a clue because I've never ever used a ketostick .. I just "did Atkins" and let the fat fall off me. Never really cared about anything else! (call me simple!)

Betty

[BlueSkies]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

thanks betty -

it doesn't really matter, i'm just the type who questions everything for no good reason - this stay at home mom thing's a little boring lol so here i am harrassing you!

you look amazing btw!

[ttdriver]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

No problem .. I'm probably the only Atkineer who's never touched a ketostick!

Betty

[Jasmain]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

Thanks for chiming in Labarum.. wierd, the info came from the book. I suppose that Dr. Atkins wasn't talking about someone with your level of activity. In 25 miles of cycling, you most likely burn so many carbs you stayed in ketosis. I'm sure that's not the norm for most people, I'm also pretty sure you know that too, especially on induction.

A lot of things will depend on what sort of and how strenuous the activity is that you do. Most people will have a higher CCLL and CCLM based on how active they are. Someone who is not exercising won't be able to eat as many carbs and still lose or maintain as someone who is very active and burning them off. I think the point where you fall out of ketosis depends on that also. Because people are so different, it's not an exact number that speaks to every person. Dr. Atkins gives general numbers, which just give us a good idea of what to expect.

THAT is not true - it depends on the individual and the activity level. I am usually in or on the very edge of ketosis. One day recently I had cycled 25 miles and had been feeding my hunger without stinting myself. I guess I had over 100g carbs that day, but the sticks were deep purple. Although I had drunk a lot of water I was probably still a little dehydrated after my ride, and that would have contributed to the keytone level.

I say again: it depends on the individual and the activity level.

[2big4mysize]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

Sorry had to run errands with mother this evening.

Dr Atkins defines ketosis as the burning of fat for fuel. nothing more.
Every human being in the world is in Dr Atkins definition of ketosis every night as they sleep. Dinner fuel has been burned up and as we sleep our body burns fats for fuel no mater what type of meal you had for dinner.

There is nothing wrong with having ketones in our body. Did you know the human heart actually prefers ketones as fuel over sugar?
when we get to the higher carb levels at our CCLM we will be alternating between carb burning and fat burning everyday. We will use up the amount of carbs our body says it can tolerate and then we will burn fats some of use will have more carbs then others but it will be based on your metabol;ism and your activity levels.



woo hoo Jas and you didn't get it wrong. the key word is may.

3. If you are consuming more than 50 carbs a day, they will definitely stop turning color, but as long as you are still losing pounds and/or inches, that is fine. You are still functioning primarily as a fat burning body even though you may not be producing enough ketones to show up in your urine.

Happy low carbing

[teejay]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

Nope Betty you are not the only one. They just seem like a waste of time and money to me, so I don't bother with them either. Just chiming in from the peanut gallery

TJ

[Jasmain]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

I don't use ketostix either. Seemed to cost too much just for something to pee on!

[2big4mysize]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

actually you could be in deep ketosis and not change a stix at all either as ketones exist in 3 forms in the human body and the stix only test for one type, so why bother?

[BlueSkies]

Re: 2big - i have a question i hope you can answer for me!

thanks 2big, that's just the kind of answer i was looking for! i love all the detail you include in your posts!