Just wondering how many of you use the ketosis strips? Do they help you, do they frustrate you? How often do you test with them, and what time during the day works best?

I use them fairly often - especially since I have started OWL and would like to monitor how I react to certain foods.....if I have higher carbs or something new, I do like to test once in a while to see if I am still in ketosis.

I understand the best time to test is in the evening 2 hours after a meal. If you test in the morning upon awakening you will almost always be in ketosis and your sticks will register darkest due to lack of water during sleep hours.

For those that don't know - it does not matter how dark the stick registers...any "pinkness" indicates your body is in ketosis. But all this means is that your body is burning fat for fuel instead of glucose - it can be dietary fat and not stored fat (which is what we all prefer!). I have noticed if my fat intake is higher (70%) my sticks still register ketosis, but my weight loss stops. I have better results sticking to around 65% as I guess at that level I may be burning stored fat, instead of dietary fat!

Froufie

I used to test every evening. Now, I do it every couple of days or especially if I haven't noticed any changes on the scales.
Regardless of the results, I won't get discouraged unless I stay out of pink for several days. (Which so far hasn't happened.)

used them daily in the beginning and usually tested first just before I went to bed. I figured that after a day of eating IF I was still in ketosis that I had had a successful day.

NOW I only test when Ive had a carb bing (LIKE YESTEDAY!) to confirm that I am able to get myself BACK into ketosis.

SOMEONE on this board (and forgive me but I forget who) gave this WONDERFUL tip. Cut your strips in half. (the long way of course!!). Because all you need is a tiny portion of the test pad to tell what color it is AND this doubles your suply. And for those of us pinching pennies THIS was one of the BEST tips I ever got!!

Any of this help? L

Now I maybe use them once a week, just to make sure all is going well.

I test every night about 10 pm. Every time I have tested I get the same result so I had my wife try it and she showed different so they must work. It seems you may need to use them in the beginning until yoiu learn how to read your own body and you can tell exactly what the strip will say before you use it.

I have never used them but I think if they help to motivate you then go for it! I just couldn't really afford the extra expense.

I use them--often in the beginning, once in a while now just to make sure that ketosis continues (especially since I add in some extra carbs now and then).

I use them
First thing in the morning when my urine is most concentrated.

I use them once every few days. Of course I have only been on this diet since 11-10-03 and I have been purple the entire time......

But I use them not so often but I do use them.

It just makes me laugh to think there are thousands of folks taking a wiz with a stick in their pee. Then they flick it dry, and hold it looking for it to change color.

We certainly do have tons of time on our hands dont we........

Max

I use them every day. I just started two weeks ago, so they've given me reassurance that I'm burning fat -- no matter what kind. There were some days during induction that I didn't lose, or even gained (always lost it the next day -- it was water), so the sticks confirmed that my body was doing what it was suppose to.

I used them constantly in the beginning. I use them now only once in a while when I remember too. I think they definitely helped me to stay on the diet because I could "see" that I was burning or eliminating fat. I don't put too much emphasis on them now, I wasn't getting the purple results as much. I'm glad I read that it doesn't always have to be purple and that is definitely a great tip to cut them in half. Thanks

Thank you everyone for your responses! I haven't tried the sticks yet... I'm thinking they would probably be just another thing in my life to obsess about

I think it is best to test in the evening before bed. If you are in ketosis, this will confirm that you didn't have too many carbs that day. For new LCers, you should test every day or every other day as you get used to eating this way. After about 3 or 4 weeks, maybe test once a week just to make sure you are still on the right track