ketosis

[Daner]

Hi! I would appreciate alittle help with ketosis. I am not sure I understand how it works. Could someone please share their knowledge?!:confused:

[maxlharris]

It would help if you were a little more specific.

Ketones are partially burned fats. They are good fuel for most body functions. They body will start to burn fat for energy, in the form of ketones, when you starve it of carbohydrate to point where you don't have enough glucose to run everything. You first must burn through your stored glycogen, which can last you a while.

You will often here that ketosis is dangerous. This is not correct. Ketoacidosis is a very dangerous condition indicating some very bad stuff for diabetics. But it has nothing to do with normal, healthy ketosis.

Anything else, you're gonna have to be more specific.

[Daner]

I am in ketosis...I looked up the ways to tell if you are and I bought strips. Although I read that they are fairly inaccurate. My next question is, If you are in ketosis shouldn't you continue to see a decrease in your weight? I have not ost a pound for almost 3 weeks. Just curious. Thanks for the info.

[maxlharris]

strips: not terribly accurate. Problems are: 1) only measure urine, do not account for sweat, feces or breath, all valid means for dumping ketones. 2) Urine gets diluted if you get enough water. If you are getting dark purple, you either dump a lot of ketones through urine or you're not drinking enough.

Ketosis != continued weight loss: Given the total caloric content of the diet, it is possible to take in enough fat that your body will produce ketones from dietary fat and not burn stored fat. It is also possible to burn fat while building muscle, thus holding the scale stable while the composition of the body changes. Lastly, The weight doesn't peel off evenly. It comes off in fits and starts. In the early going of the diet, it generally goes quickly and evenly. As you get closer to goal, the pounds come off harder, in chunks sometimes, and sometimes you have to wait on it.

Post a few menus. Let's see if you're eating stuff that's in the way.

Ketosis is simply a sign that you are burning fat for fuel rather than sugars. Nothing more, nothing less.

[LisaS]

to take the example to the extreme - if you ate 5000 kcal a day and 4500 of it was fat (and 500 protein) - do you think you'd lose weight? Doubt it. Probably be in ketosis though.

[Daner]

Max you are so full of interesting knowledge. I thank you for your input, it makes things more clear on a lot of levels. I think I was eating fewer calories than I needed and my metabolism just decreased. I increased the calories by about 200 and dropped another 2lb. You were so right about the chunks. I recently started working out with a trainer and I think I am building muscle again too. Thanks