I have been doing Atkins for a year. Never have I thought about using the ketostix until a couple days ago when someone suggested it.

I use them in the morning when I first get up and at night when I go to bed. I have watched everything I ate over the last 3 days. Kept my carbs low and didn't eat anything I wasn't suppose to.

The results ranged from low to moderate. One morning it was high then the next day low. Same at night.

Is there a certain time to test? What does the tests really mean? One other thing I have lost two pounds over the weekend even though the strip was high.

Pam

I was told to use them first thing in the morning and as long as you are in the color range and ketones are present you are in ketosis so don't worry! I usually only use them every couple of days now - or when I think I might have gone over in carbs I'll check each day for a couple days.

I also heard on here that if it is darker then you need to drink more water because you are partially dehydrated - don't know if thats true or not but the first was confirmed by a doctor! Haven't asked about the later comment.

Hope I could help!

So its fair to say that the closer to the color pink or negative you are the better? The ones I have start out at a peach color (negative) then goes to pink which is low and dark maroon which is high. Of course there is the in between colors.

DOesn't matter...unless it's negative...and then maybe not. Atkins (you can read all of this if you search for Ketosis on his site and then click on Ketosis FAQs), says that any reading trace -high is in ketosis. I have heard from another member that the darkest shade could be an idicator of dehydration (makes some sense as sometimes we don't show up with ketones at all if we have diluted our urine with too much water in our body). Having said that...you can see why a negative may mean nothing. You can still be in ketosis and just not be showing it. THe best indicator (as Atkins says) is whether or not you are losing weight and not feeling hungry. Best time to take it is first thing in the morning as you will have the "purest" urine as your first catch. Don't bother with it over the course of a day as you will fluctuate with meals and with exercise. You will be wasting your money. As far as a high carb meal....are you going over your daily allowance of carbs??? If you are, you're not sticking to your diet and it can take two full days to return to ketosis. Give yourself the full two weeks...or more if you want on induction and then gradually ease into larger amounts of carbs per recommendation in Atkin's book. Also remember to measure your body as sometimes that scale doesn't go down....but your measurements do!! It will help you stay motivated!!