I have been (99% of the time) trying to guesstimate my ketogenic diet. But I wanted to know whether I was producing ketones or not so I purchased an inexpensive breathalyzer from amazon. Without consuming any alcohol I am
Pretty consistently blowing a 0.03% BAC throughout the day today. This would most likely be marginally green on a ketonix. I did have ONE bakery cookie (small) last night so I’m hopeful that by tomorrow the numbers will rise. I’m 5’1” and at my heaviest ever I was 130lbs while 9mo pregnant and that was 12 years ago. Weight is not my problem. Mental fog and fatigue are so ketones are rather important to me. Does anyone have experience with these machines? I’d rather not stick myself with a ketometer if i can avoid it!
Breathalyzer ketone testing
Prncespms
#1
kib
(karen)
#3
I have one of these too. I find blowing hard into it gets a reading of 1.0 and blowing gently between .4 and .6. So it’s basically useless as a measuring tool, but a good yes or no meter. I’ve been satisfied with the purchase and it’s cheaper than ketostix, $7 for an indefinite number of tests. Since I can’t really figure out whether the actual ketone count is important or better if it’s high - making (and dumping) lots of ketones, or low - maybe my body knows how to use them now, I’m happy with “yes”.
Prncespms
#4
Thanks @kib that makes sense… I guess just knowing there is SOME ketone production is a little reassuring!
kib
(karen)
#5
Exactly.
What we’re really after is fat adaptation, where our bodies become adept at burning fat for fuel. As long as there are ketones there, the process is progressing.
My reasoning for rejecting the ketone blood meter aside from the cost is that people are all over the board as far as what’s a “good” number, and whether higher is better. Some people who are great at using ketones don’t excrete a lot of them. Rather than chase some number no one seems to agree on anyway (and having to stab myself 1+ times a day to find out my own actual number, ergh), I’ll settle for $7 and a yes. 
barns
(John)
#6
I started keto a week and a half ago and got one of those cheap meters also. It said zero for the first almost week untill i did my first 24 hr fast while on keto( We have been doing this on Wednesdays for awhile). When I woke up I was measuring .02. Later in the day was back to zero. I have 2 of these to compair with each other and am getting similar results. I have been what i think is solid on food under 20 total carbs and between 110 and 130 protein.(I am 6 2 and 213lb.) Is it normal to see keytones go in and out throughout the day. I know these arent the best devices to measure keytones with but I am looking more for a yes or no right now.
kib
(karen)
#7
My range even with what I think is consistent blowing is between .03 and .09. Since I’ve gotten the meter I haven’t been below .02 (non-keto husband consistently registers 0.0), but it does go up and down, seemingly randomly.