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DanielBishop
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I first bought some ketostix back in about.... probably June or July. I don't use them very often, but that's only because I haven't been in a PROPER ketogenic diet until about a month ago.
Anyway.... the point is, I don't seem to ever get a ketone reading. I've read people saying they're not very accurate, but I thought it strange that I got a reading months ago when I was eating MUCH more protein and even many more carbs than I am now.... now I get no reading. So what gives? I'm a fair bit leaner than I was back then.... does your bodyfat levels make a difference? My friend who was also following the diet back when I first bought the ketostix got an extremely dark colour on the stick when we first tried it, whereas mine was significantly lighter (but at least it was something)..... and he's really fat. So it made me think that perhaps the less bodyfat you have, the less ketones are present in your urine? Someone please explain....
For the record, here is my diet. I've posted it a bunch of times before, so my apologies to those who are sick of seeing it. I follow Mr. X's CKD ratios with this:
Meal 1, 6:30am: Scrambled eggs, cooked in canola margarine (70% fat, no protein or carbs) to meet the fat requirement
Meal 2, 9:30am: Musashi 92% Protein powder (2.1% carbs, 1.5% fat, 92% protein) canola oil, psyllium husks, mixed with water
Meal 3, 12:30pm: Same as meal 2
Meal 4, 3:30pm: Same as meal 3
Meal 5, 6:30pm: Same as meal 1
So that's it. Same thing every day.... by my calculations, my carb breakdown is as follows:
Daily carb intake from the protein powder (on the days when I take the MOST powder): 2.025g
Daily carb intake from eggs (on the days when I eat the MOST eggs): 6g
That keeps me well under the allowable 20g mark. And I don't eat anything else. So why the nothing reading on the ketostix?
As for cardio etc, I don't do THAT much. Usually running or walking in the morning on an empty stomach. If it's running, it's usually 35 minutes or so jogging (70+% MHR) or HIIT (80+% MHR) or brisk walking for about 60 minutes (usually 60% MHR or possibly less).... I do that probably 4 times a week at least. I also lift weights 3 times a week in the afternoons with high intensity, 2 exercises per bodypart, 2 bodyparts per workout, 4 sets per exercise, 6-12 reps per set, 60 seconds rest between sets.
My job is also quite physical.... lifting and moving boxes etc (not heavy, usually no more than 20kg) I try to drink as much water as possible during the day.
From everything that I've been reading, this I should be in ketosis for sure. I don't really know if I'm losing any fat at the moment, since I always cave and binge on Sundays and eat all kinds of crap on my refeed days (chocolate, ice-cream etc) which probably gains back any fat that I lost in the week prior and more.
However.... what do you make of the ketostix reading in light of this?
Also.... I would like to use a touch of Splenda here and there. Mr X said that artificial sweeteners can keep some people out of ketosis, but I think he was talking about aspartame etc.... does the same happen with sucralose? If so, how much do you think would kick me out of ketosis?
Thanks.
Anyway.... the point is, I don't seem to ever get a ketone reading. I've read people saying they're not very accurate, but I thought it strange that I got a reading months ago when I was eating MUCH more protein and even many more carbs than I am now.... now I get no reading. So what gives? I'm a fair bit leaner than I was back then.... does your bodyfat levels make a difference? My friend who was also following the diet back when I first bought the ketostix got an extremely dark colour on the stick when we first tried it, whereas mine was significantly lighter (but at least it was something)..... and he's really fat. So it made me think that perhaps the less bodyfat you have, the less ketones are present in your urine? Someone please explain....
For the record, here is my diet. I've posted it a bunch of times before, so my apologies to those who are sick of seeing it. I follow Mr. X's CKD ratios with this:
Meal 1, 6:30am: Scrambled eggs, cooked in canola margarine (70% fat, no protein or carbs) to meet the fat requirement
Meal 2, 9:30am: Musashi 92% Protein powder (2.1% carbs, 1.5% fat, 92% protein) canola oil, psyllium husks, mixed with water
Meal 3, 12:30pm: Same as meal 2
Meal 4, 3:30pm: Same as meal 3
Meal 5, 6:30pm: Same as meal 1
So that's it. Same thing every day.... by my calculations, my carb breakdown is as follows:
Daily carb intake from the protein powder (on the days when I take the MOST powder): 2.025g
Daily carb intake from eggs (on the days when I eat the MOST eggs): 6g
That keeps me well under the allowable 20g mark. And I don't eat anything else. So why the nothing reading on the ketostix?
As for cardio etc, I don't do THAT much. Usually running or walking in the morning on an empty stomach. If it's running, it's usually 35 minutes or so jogging (70+% MHR) or HIIT (80+% MHR) or brisk walking for about 60 minutes (usually 60% MHR or possibly less).... I do that probably 4 times a week at least. I also lift weights 3 times a week in the afternoons with high intensity, 2 exercises per bodypart, 2 bodyparts per workout, 4 sets per exercise, 6-12 reps per set, 60 seconds rest between sets.
My job is also quite physical.... lifting and moving boxes etc (not heavy, usually no more than 20kg) I try to drink as much water as possible during the day.
From everything that I've been reading, this I should be in ketosis for sure. I don't really know if I'm losing any fat at the moment, since I always cave and binge on Sundays and eat all kinds of crap on my refeed days (chocolate, ice-cream etc) which probably gains back any fat that I lost in the week prior and more.
However.... what do you make of the ketostix reading in light of this?
Also.... I would like to use a touch of Splenda here and there. Mr X said that artificial sweeteners can keep some people out of ketosis, but I think he was talking about aspartame etc.... does the same happen with sucralose? If so, how much do you think would kick me out of ketosis?
Thanks.
