How many days into induction did it take for the strip to turn purple? I thought it was only supposed to take a few days and here I am on day 5 and it is only a very light pink. I hope I am still in ketosis.

Light Pink means that you have done it!!!! You are in ketosis!!! If your reach dark purple you need to drink more water.

Great Job!!!

takes me 3 days to get into ketosis pink range. Purple = dehydration

I keep seeing this "warning" from folks and I don't think that it's necessarily true.
All it really means is that the concentration of ketones is high.
It doesn't tell us anything about why it's high.
Yes, it's true that the concentration could be high because the amount of water is low, but it could also just as easily mean that you're drinking enough water and producing a large amount of ketone bodies in excess of what your body can use for energy.
Just another 2 cents.

Ketoboy,

I am going by what I have discussed with my doctor and nutritionist.

I thought if the strips were only slightly changed that you were NOT in ketosis. I've been frustrated thinking mine should be darker. But I am losing.

Barbara, if you are getting frustrated, don't use them. You will hear alot that they are not very reliable and may not work for some people. I use them once in a while. The best indication of ketosis is the ketosis breath, smelly urine, no appetite and best of all..WEIGHT LOSS!!! Good Luck hun

Hi All,

First of all, turning the stix purple definitely can mean dehydration - but it doesn't definitely mean you are dehydrated. It may just mean you are deeply in ketosis. Of course it can also mean you have just eaten a very fatty meal, or drunk some alcohol.

You'll find more info about ketosis if you read Doreen T's article "Ketosis and Ketone Test Strips" which you'll find in Low Carb Tips on the orange bar at the top of the screen.

Rosebud

My sticks are usualy dark purple. Yes I do test in the morning when I havn't had that much to drink, but I dare anyone to tell me I'm not drinking enough water

Many things can effect the color of the sticks. REad the tips link at the top of the page. Diatary fat, alcohol, dehydration and so on can make things appear darker. Light pink is just as good as dark, and some never get a color change, but lose steadily. Don't make silly sticks something to stress about

I am almost always just barely in the pink. For me, I think it's because I dring a lot of water. But, I've lost 20 lbs in 2 1/2 months so light pink is working for me!

I can always tell I'm in ketosis, without the strips, by the strong smell of my urine and much stronger underarm b.o. I don't get the bad breath that most people seem to get and I haven't read that anyone else experiences the increased b.o. The longer I do this WOE the more I realize how individualized it is for everyone!

Vicki