Ketone test strips

[timmeh]

Hi its me again! does anybody know what the regular range of ketones is in the urine specimen while on induction should be? and would ketosis still occur even at the next phases?

Tim

[SunnySmile501]

Re: Ketone test strips

The range can be from none that register to dark purple, but if dark purple, you are probably dehydrated. All that matters is if it turns a trace, and some people don't even turn that much. Ketostix are not the be all end all of ketosis. Many things figure into turning the stix colors including hydration, time of day, fat intake, exercise, etc. After drinking alcohol you will get a false positive until all the alcohol is burned and out of your system.

After you leave induction, there should come a time when you are no longer in ketosis. You can still lose when not in ketosis. You can be IN ketosis and not lose weight.

Sunny!

[BellyButton]

Re: Ketone test strips

Hi, again pardon my ignorance, but where can I get some of these testing sticks? Also can someone direct me to an article or thread where it is explained how exactly these things work? I'm a tad confused. Thanks so much!

[Creek]

Re: Ketone test strips

I have to ask the pharmacist for Ketosis sticks at the drug store. They are kept behind the pharmacy prescription counter. Mine are made by Bayer and are called Ketostix. You dip them in urine or pass the tip of the stick through your urine stream and wait 15 seconds to read them. Any shade of pink is ketosis and I've journaled the results, and believe me....the darkness of the shade has no connection to actual weight loss.

I am using them only to determine my ACE (or CCL) as I go up the OWL rungs. When I hit the point that the stick is negative, I've found it. I would offer a disclaimer and tell you that not everyone turns the ketostix pink and they are still in ketosis. I am one of the fortunate ones that registers on the sticks.

They certainly are not necessary to the program, but for those for whom they work, it's encouraging to see visual evidence.

[timmeh]

Re: Ketone test strips

thanks for the response Miss Sunny!!! well one thing's for sure, i know i'm in ketosis coz i've been on induction for at least a week and a half and i'm not dehydrated either coz i drink more than enough water to flush it out. work out is the only thing i left out on, kinda hard to incorporate it at the moment, coz im still getting tired sometimes because of the induction period, but i know its no excuse hehe <<< at least if keep doing whatever this smiley's doin ill lose my love handles lol.

[IrishMom82]

Re: Ketone test strips

I found Ketosis sticks at Walmart near the pharmacy, they were in the same aisle as the diabetic sugar testing thingys (sorry I don't know what they are called).

Creek, how do you use them to figure out you CCL? Aren't you only supposed to be in Ketosis during Induction? I'm sorry I'm just confused.

[Thinker]

Re: Ketone test strips

I found Ketosis sticks at Walmart near the pharmacy, they were in the same aisle as the diabetic sugar testing thingys (sorry I don't know what they are called).

Creek, how do you use them to figure out you CCL? Aren't you only supposed to be in Ketosis during Induction? I'm sorry I'm just confused.

I use them....but I almost believe they're counter productive in Induction. Simply put - in Induction you have less chance of screwing up since you are watching everything so carefully. I found them more useful later - when you're experimenting w/other foods and someting is sneakign in that you don't realize.

My two cents....

[timmeh]

Re: Ketone test strips

thats a good point Thinker. So i guess its pretty helpful to have it handy specially on OWL phase then, coz you can often check if your body has reached its carb limit and stopped ketosis, then you can move into pre maintenance.

[Creek]

Re: Ketone test strips

Yes, you find your ACE or your Critical Carb Limit (CCL). You know the number of carbs that you can maintain your weight. If you are like me and have a lot to lose, you find that number and stay below it to continue weight loss.

Let's say that I get up the OWL Rungs to Rung 5, and my Ketostix goes negative and stays negative on that rung, and my weight loss stops. If I back off to Rung 4 again, my ketostix turn pink and lose another pound. I've found my ACE to be 45. To continue my loss I can eat anywhere between 20 and 40 carbs which means that I will have alot more selection that the Induction level alone.

I could have:
Induction carbs - 20 (15 carbs are vegetable)
+ 5 carbs of vegetables (Vegetable Rung One) -25 carbs total
+ 1/2 cup unsweetned yogurt (Dairy Rung) - 30 carbs total
+ 1 oz of walntus (Nut Rung - 35 carbs total
+ 5 carbs of Raspberry's or Strawberry's (Fruit Rung) - 40 carbs total

I don't have to eat that everyday, but I can have it and stay below my ACE and learn how to eat for LIFE. When I get to maintenance, it should be a simple matter to add the last rung (5 carbs) to keep my weight steady.

Thinker is also saying that they are useful for detection of hidden carbs that sneak into your food. It's a nice warning system if you eat out a good bit.

[BellyButton]

Re: Ketone test strips

Thanks everyone! I've learned a lot.

I picked up some Ketostix today (6th day of induction) and turned it pink! My last question is how exactly do they work. Like say, if I decided to have a bowl of cereal and some chips, then took the test in an hour, would it then be negative? Just curious how quickly they work. Gracias!

[IrishMom82]

Re: Ketone test strips

Thank you so much for the explanation Creek, very helpful!

[LCer09]

Re: Ketone test strips

Aren't you only supposed to be in Ketosis during Induction? I'm sorry I'm just confused.

No... why would you want to stop burning fat for fuel after induction? After induction you go up the rungs to see how many/what kinds of carbs you can eat while staying in ketosis. While you could still lose while out of ketosis (after all, people lose weight on WW and such), I can't see any logical reason for anybody to want to go that route. Not if low carb/ketosis works for them anyway.

[Elizellen]

Re: Ketone test strips

Let's say that I get up the OWL Rungs to Rung 5, and my Ketostix goes negative and stays negative on that rung, and my weight loss stops. If I back off to Rung 4 again, my ketostix turn pink and lose another pound. I've found my ACE to be 45. To continue my loss I can eat anywhere between 20 and 40 carbs which means that I will have alot more selection that the Induction level alone.

Actually, strictly speaking it is not quite correct that seeing no change in the sticks equals reaching your CCLL, though in your example it is, Creek.

In the section headed Lipolysis Testing Strips: Proof Positive towardsthe end of Chapter 11

Moreover, in most cases the LTS (lipylosis testing strips) will no longer turn pink or purple once you are taking in 50 or more grams of carbs a day, so they are of no use as people get above that level of carb intake.

So if you reach 45 net carbs and your ketosticks stop registering but you still lose weight you have not yet eaten over your CCLL and need to keep on adding net carbs till you stop losing weight and inches.

In Creek's example she stated she stopped losing weight, so had reached her ACE which is correct - but others might find they still lose at carb levels higher than the one at which the ketosticks stop working, which is great! We had one member post a few years back that she was up to 100 net carbs and still losing!

[Creek]

Re: Ketone test strips

Elizellen is absolutely correct, the real test of your ACE is when the weight loss stops.

Also, it is my understanding that your ACE (CCL) can change for various reasons such as adding exercise or dropping exercise. It isn't a number that is fixed for life and needs to be re-evaluated periodically.

[losetocruise]

Re: Ketone test strips

Although I don't think it is good for people to obsess with ketostix, I think they are a great tool for encouragement, when the weight seems not to be coming off. If the sticks are still turning even a slight shade of pink or purple you are still losing either pounds or inches and eventually will see the results.

I also use them after eating out. I am really careful what I order but if they are not pink the next morning, I know there was some hidden ingredient. It can be as undetectable as sugar in a seasoning mix used on steak. I don't know how long it takes for something you eat to actually show up on the ketostix though. Does anyoe else know this?