Am I in Ketosis&should I keep doing what I'm doing

(Leigh Dillon) #1

Hi, I did keto in the summer and didn’t lose much weight & felt terrible, but if I’m being honest, I also didn’t give it much of a chance. I’m back on keto and it has been about a week and a half. I keep using the test strips to test if I am in keto and at best I get traces. I have read on many sites that the urine test strips are not the best at gaging your level of ketosis and that it also could mean that my body is using the ketones in my body and that is why I’m not testing positive. But I do feel like I have had the keto flu for the past week. I have not had carbs at all in all this time, have been eating very strict keto diet only. I have no energy at all, which is why I quit the keto diet last time, so am I in ketosis and should I soldier through? Will I start to gain back some energy soon? Oh and one last question for anyone with high cholesterol, how will keto affect this condition?

Thank you!

(Ellie) #2

Energy can be to do with electrolytes and salt as much as anything else.
Search on here for ketoaide and you’ll find a recipe for an electrolyte drink that helps. Also add liberal salt to your meals.
A lot of people feel ropey at the beginning for a few days but once you sort out your electrolytes and salt it should resolve.
There are also don’t very detailed articles on here in ‘show me the science’ about cholesterol and why is usually isn’t anything to be concerned about.
Are you tracking your macros? Do you know how many carbs, how much fat etc you are eating?

(Leigh Dillon) #3

Thank you I will check out that article and the electrolyte drink. No I was following a 2 week meal plan from the book “The Complete Ketogenic Diet for Beginners”. Then I lost my appetite for a lot of food so was only eating 2 meals a day, from the book mostly. I do have an app that I can use and will start tracking in there to know my carbs, fats and protein count.

(Ellie) #4

Check out www.dietdoctor.com for some good info, recipes and food lists.

(Running from stupidity) #5

I’ve looked at a lot of “keto” recipe books in the last few months, and have developed a healthy distrust of them in general. (I particularly like the ones that use flour, and sweet potatoes.)

Your best bet is to track your food intake so that you KNOW you’re eating right. If you’re not doing that, you’re guessing.

(Katie the Quiche Scoffing Stick Ninja ) #6

Urine strip tests measure the amount of ketones your body is wasting, not using.
Your body won’t learn to use those ketones for upwards of 6 weeks, that is called keto adaption.

(Leigh Dillon) #7

I have not come across any recipes that have flour or sweet potatoes in it, and probably would not make that recipe, as I know I should not have any starches or flour unless it is almond flour. I have been pretty strict with what I each, bullet proof coffee in the morning with whip cream, sausage round, one egg and 1/4 avocado and sometimes about 1/2 tsp of full fat mayo. Lunch/dinner is usually chicken/fish/beef cooked in coconut oil or almond oil with a salad with full fat (home made) caesar dressing and cheese, no croutons. I have nuts sometimes as a snack, and tea with whip cream. I am thinking that I need to stop with the nuts as I can get a little crazy with them?

(Running from stupidity) #8

They can be pretty dangerous, some a lot moreso than others.

Tracking would demonstrate this :grin:

(Leigh Dillon) #9

My issue is I had been doing weight watchers for years, and was very used to snacking all day long on fruit. I don’t eat fruit now and was looking to replace my grapes with something and nuts were the best option. I will stop the nuts, cold turkey so to speak lol, and see what can happen. Thanks for the advise on the nuts :smile:

#10

After a while, you won’t want to snack. Your appetite will reduce dramatically.

(John) #11

Nuts are not bad per se. You just need to limit the quantities because their carb content adds up. Choose the best nuts. Cashews, for example, are rather carby. Pecans, macadamia, almonds, walnuts, and Brazil nuts seem to be the best choices

Here’s a link to some information I found useful:

I usually go with raw unsalted pecans and almonds.

From reading some of Dr. Jason Fung’s articles about insulin and fasting, I try to avoid snacking or lots of small meals. Instead I eat regular-sized individual meals. Then I try to consume no calories or artificial sweeteners in between meals, to let the insulin levels return to normal. Not true fasting of course, just the normal insulin cycle.

I am trying to develop new habits and break bad habits, so learning to not succumb to the urge to nibble all the time is part of the mental battle for me. Whenever I feel like snacking, I drink water.

(Running from stupidity) #12

I agree with your plan to replace nuts with meat, cold or otherwise :slight_smile:

I certainly found this.

Yeah, nuts are good but dangerous because they’re morish.

(Leigh Dillon) #13

It has been about 3 weeks and I am finally showing that I’m in ketosis, is this normal? I have been chewing sugar free PUR gum and was not thinking that it would affect my ability to get into ketosis. I didn’t chew any yesterday and finally showed positive on my strips this morning. I am wondering if this gum is what has delayed my ketosis or if it takes 3 weeks for some people? I have lost minimal amounts of weight, but only weigh once a month as I don’t want to be a slave to the scale, so I could have lost more but won’t know for 2 more weeks. I also have less than a table spoon of sugar fee (skinny girl) sweetener in my coffee in the morning, will this affect my readings at all? Thanks

(Running from stupidity) #14

Quite possibly, yeah. Does for some, doesn’t for others.