Hello fellow low-carbers.

I just wanted to pass this on for people who are having strange negatives on their ketostix. I usually pee into a small container and all week I had been getting negatives after going for days at 20g carbs/day. I then realized that if ketostix are the cheap-o ones, they have a very small amount of "the color changing stuff" on them. That means that you have to IMMEDIATELY get the stick out of the urine and hold it stick horizontally the whole time.

Try this if you're getting strange negative readings. I'm now in the purple!

actually my non Ketostick brand was cheaper then the actual ketostick brand by Bayer. The Bayer one's you have to read in 15 seconds while then no name brand you read within 2 minutes. Both show me the same results no matter how I hold them. I'm always the same--moderate, never higher, sometimes lower. I've never been purple.

is there a time of day that is better to check it? I have ordered some as I have no clue exactly where I fall on the carb count. I'd like to check occasionally.

Morning is usually the best time to check for ketones...

I find morning are best, for me as well...and anytime I've gone more then 3-4 hours between meals, so before diner usually is good as well, or before bed, if you havn't eaten since diner. See this is why I'm addicted to those damn things, I chek EVERYTIME I go.
Help me for I am addicted

My pharmacist laughed when I asked for a small box. I said I didn't want to get "hooked on testing". I test once each morning to make sure I haven't made any boo boo's. I cannot get my diet up to 20 carbs without eating too many calories, though. So far, so good.