Question about Lipolisis, Ketones, Energy and Blood Sugar

[SLIM QUEST]

Hello Everyone, Hope all is well...

I am sorry if I am way off on these questions but I guess I am a little anxious about my body not having many carbs and that it can actually function well on a Ketogentic Metabolism instead of the other...

I am on day four and started to change the keto sticks to a dark pink red color... Help me understand... once I start buring fat for fuel (Lipolisis) my body produces the Ketones... then my body automatically uses the Ketones to produce glucose giving my body energy and my body will automatically regulate my blood sugar levels at normal and healthy levels? Is this correct?

If so once I am in Lipolisis and producing Ketones is there ever a chance that my blood sugar can drop to dangerously low levels due to the low carbs I am eating? or if I am not producing enough Ketones at any given time? Do I ever need to keep carbs or sugar around just incase my blood sugar drops do to not enough carbs or Ketones in my system? or will my body regulate that process and I don't have to worry about that process any more?

Please try and clear this up for me so I sleep better at night... So far so good I have lost 7.5 pounds... is that to much to fast? or am I right on? thanks for your help... by the way I am losing more weight with 1200 more calories than I had before I started losing weight... amazing...

Thank you "SLIM QUEST"

[chinadoll]

Re: Question about Lipolisis, Ketones, Energy and Blood Sugar

A very very small percentage of people will feel lightheaded and may need to move to rung one and add some more veggies, but if you are eating something every 4-6 hours (if you are worried, make it 4) and eating after a hard workout so you refuel your body, low blood sugar should not be a problem. In fact, since this way of eating keeps your blood sugar more stable you should have fewer problems because your body isn't releasing the vast quantities of insulin any more that cause drastic dips in blood sugar. The ketone levels likewise should pose no problem. These things are the foundation of this way of eating. If you are feeling good and losing then stop worrying. Otherwise if this concerns you so much that you are constantly fretting over the chemistry by which Atkins works, perhaps a different WOE would be better for you.

Having said that, hundreds of us here on this site have never had a problem, some of us after years on Atkins. So I hope that you can relax and enjoy feeling well and eating well on this WOE.

[not2late]

Re: Question about Lipolisis, Ketones, Energy and Blood Sugar

Hello Everyone, Hope all is well...

I am sorry if I am way off on these questions but I guess I am a little anxious about my body not having many carbs and that it can actually function well on a Ketogentic Metabolism instead of the other...

No need to worry about that. Your body will change over.

I am on day four and started to change the keto sticks to a dark pink red color... Help me understand... once I start buring fat for fuel (Lipolisis) my body produces the Ketones...

That's correct.

then my body automatically uses the Ketones to produce glucose giving my body energy

Ketones can be used as an energy source by the body.

and my body will automatically regulate my blood sugar levels at normal and healthy levels? Is this correct?

Your blood sugar levels will be regulated because you are controlling the amount of dietary carbs. For example, if you eat a pound of sugar, your body will release insulin to grab the excess sugar in your body.

You have a "normal" insulin range and a "normal" blood sugar range. By controlling the carb intake, you keep these levels constant. It's a relative thing because if you have high blood sugar, then controlling the carb intake will "lower" it to a more normal range.

The trend in diabetes management nowadays is a "controlled carbohydrate" approach, where a given number of carbs are eaten throughout the day. For example, if the limit is 100 grams, then the carbs are divided as 30 grams each for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus 10 grams for a snack.

If so once I am in Lipolisis and producing Ketones is there ever a chance that my blood sugar can drop to dangerously low levels due to the low carbs I am eating?

It's possible particularly if you don't eat enough and/or you have a medical problem with your insulin secretion.

or if I am not producing enough Ketones at any given time?

The ketone production really doesn't play a great role in blood sugar stability.

Do I ever need to keep carbs or sugar around just incase my blood sugar drops do to not enough carbs or Ketones in my system?

Well, we do eat carbs on Atkins. During Induction Phase we eat no more than 20 carbs daily, the majority of which come from the acceptable Induction vegetables. So you won't be eating a "no carb" diet. Also Dr. Atkins recommended that we spread our carbs throughout the day. And Induction Phase lasts only a minimum of 14 days. On Day 15, you may move to On-Going WEight Loss phase where you will be able to eat a wider variety of foods and eat at a carb level for your body.

But if you have an underlying medical problem than you should consult your physician before you begin Atkins or any other low carb or high carb diet.

or will my body regulate that process and I don't have to worry about that process any more?

If you don't have any medical problems then your body will be able to compensate. However if you do, then it might take your body a bit more time to do that.