ketosis

[Momto6ix]

hi all.

well, this is my 12th day following the diet pretty carefully, and i've yet to hit the purple, or even close, on the strips. best i seem to do is "small" but most of the time it says "trace". what am i doing wrong?

theresa

[2big4mysize]

Re: ketosis

if you are eating according to the chapter 11 acceptable food lists then the answer is nothing.

check the FAQ topics on stix and you will see why stix aren't a great indicator of the condition if your fat burning.

only one of the 3 kinds of ketones found in humans is even tested for on those stix and if you don't have extra not being used for enery ketones of that type cirrculating in your blood and spilling over into your urine your stix will have no color at all yet you are still in ketosis. I never got a stix purple and haven't used them except to test the tap water for somebody once since back in 2002.

Happy low carbing.

[Kent]

Re: ketosis

Like 2big said, the sticks are only one of the indicators for being in ketosis. Check yourself for the other indicators, like appetite suppressant, metallic taste in your mouth, funny smelling sweat, etc. If you are eating the right things in the right amounts (from the AFL), you have nothing to worry about. Have you been losing, Theresa?

[Eleonore]

Re: ketosis

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25721

here is my own panic thread about ketosis.
maybe it helps knowing you are not alone. I kept doing everything right, even with no "purple results" and I m losing...dont worry.



Ele

[Momto6ix]

Re: ketosis

thanx all for responding. yes, i am losing. and this morning I finally said to myself, You are placing too much emphasis on this little piece of paper.

I am not real sure of my totals in weight loss until this weekend, but i would guesstimate that i have lost between 3 and 8 pounds. I did not take a good, (naked) base weight when I started. I'm been doing this for almost 2 weeks now. 3 - 8 pounds? I'll take it. I'm smart enough to know ANY LOSS IS NOT A GAIN, therefore I'm succeeding.

gotta tell y'all though.......some of my kids are still giving me major grief over the diet. I went to dinner the other night with daughter's number 1 and 4; Jan & Julie, (who belong to a gym). we went to Red Lobster where I questioned my waitress about my selections. I was able to choose wisely my meal, and felt I had a less than 5 carb meal. Since I am in induction, and their only diet soda was coke, I had water to drink. I had grilled chicken, grilled shrimp ( a whole 5) and a small salad with oil and vinegar, that I picked the crutons,tomatoes and carrots out of. and certainly no dessert. My eldest, who is at the very least 40 lbs over wieght had a normal meal that I would venture to say had a zillion carbs in it. rolls, potatoe, ceasar salad with tons of dressing, cheesecake with mousse and whipped cream. The only good thing she had was the steak, and she left 3/4's of it on her plate. But she goes to the gym about 3 times a week and feels what I'm doing is wrong. It is escaping her that I'm the one losing weight. I listened with a smile as they told me that I was a pain and they were glad they weren't the waitress. I smiled as I dunked my few shrimp into the melted butter as my eldest told me my diet was just wrong. then I smiled as I gave them my standard reply, " I haven't asked you to go on the diet, I am on it".
My eldest, Jan, is an RN and she's got a strong, tough, no nonsense stubborn streak in her. I'm not sure she'll ever agree to it. I'll keep you posted on that. But my daughter #4, Julie, is still at home with me, and as I say, I lost a pound, I lost 2 lbs etc; I think she already feels, if this works for you then go for it.

I truly believe that for all of us, metabolism is the key. As some of you know, I have 6 daughters. and they are built so differently. They were all raised by me, I treated them all the same, fed them the same, vacationed with them the same, etc. Yet they are very different in stature. 2 of my daughters, #'s 2 and 6; are tiny tiny reed thin. They actually have very small bone structures and carry absolutely no weight on them. and they can lay on the bed and eat chips all day if they want. dripping wet, at 23 and 15, one 5'4 and the other 5'3, they might tip the scales at 100 lbs. three of them, #'s 1,3 & 4; struggle to maintain weight, with Jan failing. Julie works damn hard, she's keeps a size 6. She won't eat snacks, so in effect, she doesn't eat alot of carbs. And she is religious about going to her gym and working out. #3, Jill, is a lifeguard and she maintains about a size 11. Daughter #5, Jackie, is much taller than any of us at 5'8, 16 yrs old. She seems to be a perfect blend of thin on a normal size frame. but she is very aware that most likely she will lean towards the fat side of my family. she too, is careful with her diet.

I only mention them because as I said, I have these 6 living breathing specimens in my life, with bodies that seem to vary so much, yet they were all 'raised' by myself. It appears obvious to me that their bodies handle their fat storage very differently. It may be unfair, for sure it is, but that's the way it is.

I've decided I can live with this lifestyle. I believe I had a diet very high in carbs, always cereal, bagles etc for breakfast, lots of pastas for dinner. Apparently, my body does not do well with this. I'm now having bacon and eggs, lots of meats, water, cheese. I'm not starving and I am losing weight. Something is working and I'm fast becoming an advocate of Atkins. Ketosis strips? Be Damned !

This weekend I'm heading down to Georgia to visit my brother, a person who lost 40 lbs on Atkins. He's already prepared for us to be able to follow this diet while visiting him. I'm not afraid to go out to eat, visit relatives, nothing. I'll keep ya'll posted.......

Theresa

[dreamof145]

Re: ketosis

Theresa,

I think you answered your own question. We are all different. The best indicator I've found to measure your success on Atkins is the tape-measure!! It never ever ever lies unlike those sneaky scales and ketosis strips. Just do the plan the way Dr. Atkins suggested, make sure your watching your portion control, exercising, taking supplements and drinking water. If you are doing those things...then you are bound to lose inches.

I also keep a journal so that I can record all my doubts, frustrations and accomplishments. That way when I am feeling anxious...I go back and read what I've already been through. It helps me to get a grip on my emotions and not fall off the plan. You can do this!!

Look around and see all of the people (different backgrounds, different occupations, different races, different religions, different beliefs, some tall, some short, some heavier, some thinner) All of us at the ADBB are different and yet we are all working together to be comfortable in our bodies and our minds. Utilize the information, inspiration and support here to help you keep motivated.

Best wishes and so happy you've joined us!!!

[Eleonore]

Re: ketosis

Theresa,
I loved to read more about your family and how well you are doing.
It is true we are all different. Imagine how I feel when I come here and I read "2 weeks 15 pounds down!"...I swear, there were days when I could just cry of frustation. I think with time we have to accept the way we are and how our own body works.

all the best.

Ele

[2big4mysize]

Re: ketosis

good for you since your kids think it is wrong ask them if they have read the book and know what you are allowed to eat. if you were a real pain you whould have made the waitress leave all those picked out stuff out of your salad too.

I love your line about I didn't ask you to go on this diet.