Am I in Ketosis?

[jlrospen]

Hi,
I just started Atkins 16 days ago and while I LOVE how I feel, I'm a little worried that I'm not going into Ketosis. I haven't had any of the symptoms or the 'flu' that I've read about on this site. I am losing weight very slowly (5 lbs in 2 weeks). I have been working out for months though so I may not have the immediate water weight loss because that's already gone. Is it possible to be in ketosis but not have any symptoms? Am I doing something wrong?

[Georgiana]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

Is it possible to be in ketosis but not have any symptoms?

Yes. Some people don't "feel" any symptoms. The fact that you are losing weight is what matters.

What symptoms were you expecting to see for though? Did you read this FAQ: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...g-ketosis.html

Am I doing something wrong?

Probably not... but you might want to post a complete menu (include quantities and net carbs) and let us take a look at it.

[Georgiana]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

I am losing weight very slowly (5 lbs in 2 weeks)

How much weight do you have to lose?

[Georgiana]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

Oops... I see this is your first post. I didn't notice in which forum I replied.

Welcome to ADBB!

[jlrospen]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

Hi, I am new here! so thanks! I want to lose about 20 pounds and I'm already down about 5. I'm being married in May and want to look my best! Here's today's menu:

2 whole eggs scambled
2 servings coffee
tons of water
small diet coke

1 peice of cheese, 2 net carbs
2 turkey sausage links, 1 net carb
2 cups salad, 2 net carbs
5 tbsp dresing, 5 net carbs
chicken breast
sugar free creamer, 4 net carbs

dinner will be meat and a veggie and if I have any carbs left over I like to have a sugar free chocolate after dinner.

How does that all sound?

[Desertthorn]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

I would ditch the diet coke,(just because it isn't healthy) coffee and check out the sausage ingredient list carefully for fillers. Also that SF cocoa should be avoided.

Don't worry so much about ketosis, the best way to monitor your weightloss is with a tape measure believe it or not, scales are evil and ketosis only means your burning fat, last nights dinner fat, body fat. etc

[jlrospen]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

Desertthorn: what do I do when I NEED chocolate?

[Georgiana]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

I'm being married in May and want to look my best!

Fair enough!

Are you reading Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (2002)?

Since you're doing this for your wedding... keep in mind that Atkins is not a quick fix. In fact, for many people, using it as a quick fix works worse than using other diets as quick fixes... and they end up gaining back more weight than they lost. So, if you want to do Atkins without gaining more weight (after you stop) and mess up your metabolism with yo-yoing, then you should make Atkins a lifestyle.

Your menu now...

Depending on what vegetables you have for dinner, you are undereating vegetables. Over half of our net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber) should come from veggies. If "salad" means lettuce, then there are more nutritious vegetables you can choose from the Acceptable Foods List for Induction:

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6781-what-foods-can-eaten-induction.html

I believe you are also undereating calories. Enter your food into something like fitday.com to check.

And in FitDay, also take a look at your vitamin and mineral intakes to check if you are making good food choices.

Your fat intake might be too low. During Induction, approximately 65% of our calories should come from fat and 30% from protein.

1 peice of cheese, 2 net carbs

How big is this piece?

What kind of cheese it is?

2 turkey sausage links, 1 net carb

Did you check the ingredients?

2 cups salad, 2 net carbs

Lettuce?

sugar free creamer, 4 net carbs

It's junk and it likely has sugar and trans fats in it. You can use real cream instead.

a sugar free chocolate

A sugar free chocolate... not allowed before OWL Rung 3 (nuts & seeds).

[Skeptika23]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

Desertthorn: what do I do when I NEED chocolate?

To put it kindly - you don't need chocolate. Humankind lived for thousands of years without it!

Part of the point of Induction is to break those habits which can quickly spiral into self-destructive eating. If you are a person who likes sweets - it's best to cut it out completely during Induction.

It's like those of us who are caffeine addicts (I used to be one myself): Caffeine is a problem for some of us when it comes to weight loss, and having no caffeine during Induction helps you break that addiction (and find out if it bothers you, or not). It's not that you can't ever have it again, but during Induction, you quit those things in order to learn what you can, and cannot, personally handle as you move through OWL.

[Elizellen]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

Hi JL - welcome to our ADBB family

Congratulations on losing 25% of your total hoped for loss in only 2 weeks
That is a great result, and means you should now be thinking of moving to the main weight loss phase of Atkins before too long.

Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) is when you will really learn about what foods (if any) your body is badly affected by as well as discovering how many carbs you can eat and still lose weight,

[jlrospen]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

wow! you guys are tough! ok, I'll get rid of the candy and coffee creamer.

The cheese I ate was sharp cheddar. I didn't look at the sasuage ingredients, just the carb and fiber counts. And the salad I ate was one of those in the bag called veggie delight (carrots, radishes, red cabbage and lettuce).

I do have the New Deit revolution book and am reading it. At first I thought this would be a quick fix to fit into my wedding dress HOWEVER, after these past 2 weeks, I'm so darn happy with how I feel, I'm going to stick with this.

[Skeptika23]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

wow! you guys are tough! ok, I'll get rid of the candy and coffee creamer.

The cheese I ate was sharp cheddar. I didn't look at the sasuage ingredients, just the carb and fiber counts. And the salad I ate was one of those in the bag called veggie delight (carrots, radishes, red cabbage and lettuce).

I do have the New Deit revolution book and am reading it. At first I thought this would be a quick fix to fit into my wedding dress HOWEVER, after these past 2 weeks, I'm so darn happy with how I feel, I'm going to stick with this.

Not tough! Just trying to help you be successful!

[Georgiana]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

carrots

Carrots are not allowed during Induction though. They are a starchy vegetable and come in OWL Rung 8.

after these past 2 weeks, I'm so darn happy with how I feel, I'm going to stick with this.

Glad to hear this!

[Desertthorn]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

Desertthorn: what do I do when I NEED chocolate?

Wellllll, induction is time to get rid of those needs...but I know where your coming from.

[imagood1]

Re: Am I in Ketosis?

if you feel you "need" chocolate get up and do something to get your mind off it. It sounds like you're doing well -- just remember, don't use your net carbs for non nutritional foods (creamer, sweetner, etc)....make your net carbs count toward your nutrition!

Good luck