Really discouraged

(Suzanne Barton) #21

Thanks Madeleine! I’ll reconsider it then. I did want to track my blood ketones cause I’ve read it’s more accurate than the urine strips.

(Don Marcus) #22

You might want to find a different way to test as well. Ketostix are known to be not the most reliable indicator of ketosis after the initial stages of adaptation

(Suzanne Barton) #23

Right…I’ve read that but I don’t think I’m past the initial adaptation stage yet, which is why I started using the ketostix. I felt so bad I thought for sure I wasn’t even producing ketones let alone using them. So I thought the stix would at least let me know if I was making ketones.
Or is my thinking totally messed up?

(Suzanne Barton) #24

Thanks for MyFitnessPal tip! I downloaded it this morning and started using it.

#25

Yes salt with the water is a good idea. I usually add it right to my water bottle so i never have to think about it other than whether it tastes too salty or not salty enough. It actually helps quench the thirst.

(Suzanne Barton) #26

I tried adding salt to my water. 1/2 tsp to 40 oz…then 1/4 tsp to 40 oz…just could not handle the taste. Made me nauseous and gave me heartburn which I thought was really strange but oh well.
Then I read last night on another thread where someone suggested just dumping 1/4 or 1/2 tsp in your mouth and drinking water immediately after. So I’ve tried that today twice and it works better for me.
I admire people who can handle the straight salt water. :persevere:

(Don Marcus) #27

No you should be good if you’re still adapting to it. It’ll turn the stick a color because of the excess ketones in your system that your body doesn’t really know how to use yet. Once it figures that out it will burn ketones for fuel rather than just releasing them.

(Precious Honey) #28

I cant suggest tracking your food enough. It can be a real eye opener when you think you are getting enough of something and find out you arent.

The blood ketone lancet is such a fine needle that you wont even notice it. Put a little pressure on the finger you are going to prick with your thumb, put the lancet on your finger and push the button. You dont even see the lancet and the amount of blood you need is super tiny.

(Suzanne Barton) #29

Good suggestion. I don’t want to do it but if it will help…plus I don’t have to do it forever. Someone else suggested tracking for a few weeks or so. I can live with that. I downloaded MyFitnessPal this morning and tracked my first meal. I got 60.3 g fat, 28.5g protein and 1.2g fat.

(Suzanne Barton) #30

Well I sure wish the body would get with the program here! Lol. I read about people who start keto and are like, “I felt so fabulous after the 3rd day!!” :thinking::angry:. And in the meantime, here’s me…8 weeks later…:confused:

(Allie) #31

It is really important to track, at least at first, as too much protein can undo all your hard work. I use My Fitness Pal, as do many others, but there are other options.

You don’t need to religiously count calories, just track your protein and carbs.

(Linda) #32

If you’ve got PCOS, it’s almost a guarantee that you are insulin resistant and if your insulin levels are high, this is going to be tougher than for someone who is insulin sensitive. Are you able to get your doctor to check your fasting insulin levels via a blood test? I know you said you don’t like blood tests, but it really helps if you have a baseline.

In fact, try to get a full blood panel done including CRP (measures inflammation), fasting glucose, HBAIC, lipid panel (cholesterol), liver and kidney function etc. if you go back to the doc and tell him you are feeling really crappy, it would be irresponsible for them not to do it, especially as they are new and don’t really know your history.

All the other suggestions about logging your food for a few weeks are really good, don’t give up, this way of eating really works and ultimately will make you feel much better, emotionally and physically.

KCKO (Kept Calm and Keto on!)

(Retta Stephenson) #33

@Suzanneb, thought I’d pass on a trick I learned a few months ago about minimizing the pain from the finger prick. I have to go to a coumadin clinic frequently, and get pricked. That technician is amazing! I hardly feel it, honestly. So I watched closely, and here is his secret (modified a bit since you are doing it to yourself, not to someone else):

First, always go off center, not dead center at the tip, where most of the nerve ending are. And the most effective: use the thumb of the hand you are pricking to press as firmly as you can just above the prick spot. I’m not sure if it diverts attention away from the prick, or if it slightly numbs it. Either way, I can hardly feel it!

Hope that helps, cuz I used to be a total wuss about being pricked. Now… no biggee.

(Suzanne Barton) #34

Thanks! I will give that a try, as I really would like to know blood ketone levels

(J DAKIC) #35

If you buy one of those pen tyoe needles for taking blood to check sugar you will find it really does nit hurt at all.
I also press down hard on the said finger with my thumb and really do not feel the prick - just the pressure.
Having said that I cannot get myself to press down and draw own blood if my life depended on it and have to get hubby to do it for me :joy::joy::joy:

Not affraid of pain as can take a knife to myselft easily to remove fireign bodies embeded in the skin or muscle or to remove skin tags but to press down on the said needle is just impossible.

If you are like me just get someone else to do it for you. Press hard on the tip of the finger and let your partner prick the skin and you will see that you may not feel it at all :+1:

(Linda Culbreth) #36

Whatever it takes…

#37

Aack! you can remove skin tags with a knife! I’m slightly horrified but very impressed.

(Cindy) #38

You’re not getting enough potassium, which will make you feel bad. See the % daily requirement over to the right of the potassium listing? You’re taking 4-6% of your daily requirement for a standard diet using these supplements. You probably need to be taking in 4,700-5,700 mg daily.

If your diet isn’t making up the rest, try some other methods of supplementing. Many of us use lite salt or NoSalt, both of which are much higher in potassium. You can put it on food or add to water or broth. I use Mio to flavor the water.

Your magnesium is very low as well. I’m taking 400 mg daily, and I’d suggest that you switch to magnesium citrate since it won’t cause the same kind of intestinal issues that magnesium chloride can.

(Siobhan) #39

Epsom salt baths also help since you can absorb the magnesium through your skin as well.

Also yeah definitely up salt and fat. I hesitate on potassium because too much can cause problems, but slowly increasing it along with epsom salt baths might work.
I am not a doctor but that is something to try based on my own experiences.

Also add salt to your water or take a salt shot with a swig of water when thirsty to make sure youre not getting too much plain water and flushing out all your salt.
You will need MUCH more salt than you think. Fat to satiety. Moderate protein (1-1.5g per kg of lean body mass).
Trust me even if you track now, after a month or two you wont need to. I tracked at first and now no longer do because I have all the common ingredients in my head already.

(Suzanne Barton) #40

I also suppliment with magnesium citrate. And I use pink Himalayan salt on my food and also just dump about 1/4 tsp in my mouth when I’m drinking my water. I do that probably 6-7 times a day. Should I do more?
My macros are set at 75% fat, 20% protein and 5% carbs although I never reach the 5% carbs. How do I know if that’s the right ratio for me, especially since I’m having trouble getting into ketosis or fat adaption?