Two weeks in and I have some questions. I haven’t gotten past the small-moderate stage on the keto strips (I test first thing each morning) and I’m wondering what I might be doing wrong. Im closely tracking my food—-keeping carbs around 8-15/day, little if any snacking, no sugar replacements, plenty of coconut and olive oil and grass fed butter, a lot of spinach along with eggs, salmon, steak, avocado, burgers and some cheese (Burrata, feta, Parmesan and cheddar). Occasional blackberries and pecans for a treat. I’m eating plenty of fat and trying to keep my protein below or level to fat intake. Calories between 1350-1600/day. I have been doing Pilates and elliptical a few times a week. I’m well read on the subject of beginning keto and understand that no weight loss at this stage is not of concern. However I am concerned that I’m not yet in full ketosis and Cant figure out why.
Things to note about me:
41 yo female, 5ft tall, 135 lbs, 10 months post partum, 1 month out from breast feeding. Also currently at the tail end of my period. Any thoughts, advice,adjustments, shared experiences greatly appreciated!
Not reaching ketosis postpartum and post breast feeding
The pee strips are mostly useless. Your calories may also be a little low for this early in your trip. I’d worry less about constant ketosis and just keep getting quality food in. The baby weight will come off but you should make sure you’re nourishing yourself.
Ketosis is like pregnancy. You are or you aren’t. No degrees.
Some people never get very high numbers and have great success. Don’t worry about it. You are doing fine.
I am not restricting calories at all and am eating plenty. Some days I hit 1800 calories. I guess I’m wondering if I should be changing anything (eating more calories, more/less fat, more/less protein etc). And also wondering if the body responds to keto differently postpartum (does it take longer reach ketosis? Etc)?
I’m also unclear if low numbers still means I’m in ketosis? Thanks!
Well that makes sense calorie-wise. But what I meant about the pee strips is they are a poor indicator of ketosis, they only generally show anything during the very first part of your diet change, as your body will be wasting ketones in the urine.
I wouldn’t change anything, unless if you’re extra hungry, up the fatty meat. If I wasn’t completely carnivore, I’d still be getting 90% of my calories from meat - animals are the most nutrient-dense foods
for humans.
And what Ruina says is absolutely true.
My favorite keto diagnostic test is something I first read on these forums, so I can’t take credit for it, but here it is:
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Are you keeping carbohydrate under 20 g/day?
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Are you alive?
If you can answer Yes to both questions, then you are in ketosis.
It’s a funny way of making the point, but it’s true: your liver has to be making ketone bodies, because you have so little glucose (i.e., carbohydrate) in your diet. (Your liver is also making the little bit of glucose that your red blood cells and certain other organs need.)
Thanks for simplifying. That makes good sense. And I shouldn’t be bothered by just 2 lbs down right? 
The best test for ketones is to check your blood ketones. It may be worth the investment just to check them for a month or so to get a better idea of how your macro levels are working for you.
Also, for many women their ketones take a nose dive during menstruation. It could be because our bodies find menstruating stressful. I don’t know for sure. You may find your ketones (if they still register on the urine strips) will go back up now that your period has finished. If not, get a blood glucose monitor that also tests for ketones and try that.
Good heavens, no! Some women even gain before the weight loss starts. A ketogenic diet is primarily about metabolic and hormonal healing—the weight loss is a secondary effect, although it’s most people’s reason for adopting this way of eating. But if you look at it as a healing process, it is a lot less frustrating to contemplate the numbers on the scale.
A lot of women (and some men, too) find that after starting keto, they put on muscle and/or increase bone density even while losing fat, which can mess with the scale number. The best guide to progress is often the fit of our clothing. For example, my weight has been stable for over fourteen months, but I can now wear trousers that were far too tight a year ago. They are still a bit tight, even now, but this time last year, I couldn’t even get them over my butt, much less button them.