Whats it all about then?

I'm on 2nd week now, day 3, of induction and yet to experience the tiredness, stinky breath etc etc that alot of the naysayers say happens.

1. Is this normal?
2. Is it different for everyone?
3. If its inevitable then is there a time when it ends or throughout this diet will you be experiencing this?

My main aim is to lose a couple of stone, was 16 now 151/2 yay me!, so was intending to do 2 to 3 weeks induction, then the next phase then the last bit, all in all around 6 months then go onto a much more balanced regime.

The one good thing thats come out of all this so far for me at least is the balance, 3 meals a day, no snacking and lots of water.

My big concern is this ketosis thing....speaking to a vet the other day and they said if they have any animals in with high levels of ketones in they're up on an IV drip before you can say....etc

Thanks in advance.

Matt
In the UK

Hello Matt. Ketosis affects each person a little differently. I have never had the "bad breath" but have had the appetite suppression which is also a major signal that a carb addict is in ketosis.

Ketosis is not the same as the Ketoacidosis that your vet friend spoke of. That is a dangerous condition for a diabetic to be in but ordinary ketosis is different. People regularly get into ketosis if they are ill and not eating, by fasting, pregnant women who can't keep food down in the first trimester.

Ketones are described as "the ashes of burned fat" and are used by the body as fuel when there is no glycogen or glucose available.

Studies have shown that brain and heart, which can use glucose or ketones as fuel, would RATHER use ketones.

If a body needs glucose, the liver converts some of the protein into glucose - about 15% of the protein you eat.

So if you are not a diabetic, you can relax about ketosis. If you want further research on this, Search this site for ketoacidosis and you'll find things in the Research/Media Watch section about it.

As you progress through the stages of low carbing, gradually adding carbs (the lower glycemic type, not sugars and starches) you will come out of ketosis and not be in it in Maintenance at your goal. But it is always there as a fallback if you start to gain again.

Well, first of all - consulting a VET about your diet might not be the best thing to do...

As for ketosis. No, not everyone get stinky breath. And most people actually report that they get a "high" rather than loss of energy. The first 2-3 days of induction might lead to grumpiness, fatigue etc if you were a total carb addict in the past - due to it's detox effect. And to cut coffee cold turkey (as some people do) can have a similar effect.

But I wouldn't worry if I were you. You're losing weight and you feel fine. Just keep to the rules and be patient.

Cheers!

/gil

I was on Phase 1 South Beach (virtually identical to Atk-induction) for 1 month and I have never been tired or felt weak on this diet.

I also have asked my wife if I had bad breath and she said no. (and believe me, she would have told me!)....

I think everyone's different. The important thing is that you're sticking to the plan and losing weight.

Ketosis is kind of like nuclear power. People who don't understand how it works are scared to death of it.

Bill...........310/270/225........almost halfway there.

Ahh thanks very much all

I didn't consult my vet over my diet hehe I just happened to be talking about it and she mentioned that

Oh and yep I feel incredibly energetic, whereas my wife who is doing it with me for moral support (she doesn't need to lose any weight imho, but girls are girls <grins>) feels absolutely whacked.

I shall see how I go, doing this in the UK is pretty easy but pretty bland, we got married in US, FL, Last year and I remember wandering round the aisles of a supermarket in Naples and there were entire aisles devoted to all this yummy low carb stuff!!

Thanks again for the info much appreciated

LOL. I didn't think you did. I was joking. Sounded fun though.

About not having as much "frankenfoods" over here in Europe, thank your lucky star. That way you'll have a better chance to keep this WOE the way it initially was intended - clean, fresh and full of natural raw materials and produce. All these LC-junkfoods seem to stall people anyway. And this WOE is supposed to foster our eating habits into healthier thinking, not replace one bad thing with another.

Having said that, here's a thread you might be interested in, if you haven't found it already: LC Foods in UK Supermarkets

I don't know Gilibel. I get some of my best advice from my vet. And he assures me if I ever blow out my knee he can fix it for less than half what it would cost me with a human doc. Did a great job on my dog. Besides, I think curling up on a blanket in a cage to recover for a few days with meals brought to me sounds much better than lying in a noisy hospital bed with tubes stuck everywhere they can think to stick one and then some.



Squid

Now that sounds reassuring!
Can I have his number?

Well, a vet specialized in primates should be able to take care of some of my exes at least.

Haha theres irony for you, my wife specialises in primates, shes a vet too (although I guess thats pretty obvious if she specialises in primates :P)

ROFL