Ketosis Strips- how do I read?

[Heatrae]

I just got the ketosis strips from Walgreens. I don't know how to read the strip....

is it the LIGHTER the color = I am not close to being in ketosis
or
is it the DARKER the color = I am not close to being in Ketosis.

Mine was kinda pinkish, so I don't know.

the scale on the bottle goes from yellow all the way to dark purple furthest to the right. What end of the spectrum am I shooting for if I want to be in ketosis?

Thanks

[Libellula]

the further to the right you are,the more in ketosis you are.

[PerfectMartini]

Originally Posted by Heatrae

I just got the ketosis strips from Walgreens. I don't know how to read the strip....

is it the LIGHTER the color = I am not close to being in ketosis
or
is it the DARKER the color = I am not close to being in Ketosis.

Mine was kinda pinkish, so I don't know.

the scale on the bottle goes from yellow all the way to dark purple furthest to the right. What end of the spectrum am I shooting for if I want to be in ketosis?

Thanks

If ketones are measurable in your urine, you are in ketosis. The amount of ketones in your urine is not extremely predictive of the amount of ketones being produced or used for energy in your body so you shouldn't get too hung up on exactly how much is in your urine. Whether there are zero or more than zero measurable is more informative.

[Heatrae]

Great thanks!

Do you know how much time will pass before I start to see it turn to purple. I've had no bread/pasta/starch carbs since last thursday.

When can I expect to see the strips change and some results from eating no carbs.

If you can tell me, I think it will help me to not get discouraged.

Thanks!

[Cynic]

When I got them, it had a color chart on the side of the tube. The darker it was, the more ketones you're excreting.

[PerfectMartini]

Originally Posted by Heatrae

Great thanks!

Do you know how much time will pass before I start to see it turn to purple. I've had no bread/pasta/starch carbs since last thursday.

When can I expect to see the strips change and some results from eating no carbs.

If you can tell me, I think it will help me to not get discouraged.

Thanks!

If the strip changes color at all you are seeing results from eater fewer (I assume you don't literally mean no) carbs and preferentially using fat for energy. In your first post it sounded like that had already happened.

Many factors influence how many ketones are excreted through your urine (including, obviously, how diluted your urine is). You shouldn't expect to ever see dark purple. You may and you may not. The number of ketones in the urine is not an accurate measure of the number of ketones in the blood or the degree to which your body is using ketones for energy though so if you have light purple and I have dark purple that doesn't mean that the diet is working better for me. We would have to get blood taken to know anything more than that we were both in ketosis.

[Heatrae]

Yes. I am eating foods that are not known for having carbs and sticking to the TNT diet. I am eating no breads, sugars, pasta, etc. So, any carbs I'm getting are small, trace amounts or what's contained in the lettuce I eat, etc.

The scale has not moved and I am on day 7. Maybe it's too soon to see any movement, but additionally, I am not having all the crazy withdrawls everyone else complains of so that made me wonder if I was doing the diet correctly and promted me to get the strips.

My color today was in the 'small' range/ pink. If I could just see a little reward this week (again, maybe it's too soon) that would make me feel better and I would know I was heading in the right direction and to keep eating the way I am.

[DirtyMartini]

Are you measuring body fat in any way?

Also, how are you on your calories? I know you just started TNT and were excited about everything you can eat on the diet. PerfectMartini & I went wild on the diet and ate about the same volume of food we were eating before - and saw a little bit of progress but not much. Figure it's the calories, so we're going to see how it goes on a slight calorie reduction (but not much). You might want to add up your calories over the next few days (maybe through the weekend) and see how you're doing.

[missjane]

Also, drop the alcohol.....at least at first. Two LARGE glasses of wine a day are not on the plan.