Well, I've gotten my detosis sticks and have been "expiramenting" with them all day today. Just trying to get a feel for how they work, etc.

I know everyone is different, but through the course of the day, does the color of the strip go alot lighter, then darker? Also, is it possible that by drinking a lot of water, you are dilluting the urine so much that the strip isn't affected?

One more question......how many carbs (about) are needed to throw you out of ketosis? I accidently measured my veggies wrong, and ended up eating almost 15 carbs at one meal (thought I was getting 9! That's what I get for talking on the phone while cooking!). I felt badly that I may have "thrown" myself out......will it take until, say tomorrow, to get back into ketosis again? I know these all sound like silly questions, but you guys are the pro's, and I've no one else to ask!

Thanks a ton (again!)

The stix are not all that accurate AND they only measure ketones in urine. Ketones are also eliminated through the breath (which is measured at the Atkins Center in NYC with a big, expensive machine) and through the intestines. So don't rely a lot on what colour change you do or don't get.

Yes, the stix show different amounts throughout the day. Mine are highest at night. Other people are high in the morning. Exercise changes the reading but the Atkins Center has said that drinking water doesn't dilute the reading.

Each person should determine their CCLL (Critical Carb Level for Losing) by trial and error. It is probably a bit different for each person and may depend on exercise level.

If your extra carbs were from veggies, then I wouldn't worry. Just keep on and don't get too upset at the colour of the stix.