I have a question......
Only one time has my ketostix read lavender. All other times I have read trace....I think. See My stick only changes to trace in the very middle of the square. The whole thing never changes no matter how much urine is applied. I have done this with all 3 different packages of ketosticks I've purchased. Has this happened to anyone else? Only a partial amount of the square changes color? Any help out there????

Most of the "stuff" that is on the stick is in the middle. Doesn't matter what part of the pad turns color as long as it does. As for the color, that also doesn't mean anything about the rate of loss - trace, purple, dark purple....

I do the "dip" method thus more of the pad shows color and less is "washed away" in the stream.

If I am eating 20 grams of carbohydrate, I am in ketosis. If I'm not straying from what I'm supposed to be eating, I stay in ketosis. MY BODY IS BURNING FAT. period.

I'm with Yvonne (whether she likes it or not!) - when you're in you're in. There's plenty of small stuff to sweat (CARBS!) but once you've really done that, taken your supplements, drank your water - what else is there to worry about as far as diet and ketosis is concerned? (I'm sure all you smarty pants can think of SOMETHING but you get my drift...)

Low Carbin' in A-Tex,
Jinx

PS, I believe that I read, according to nurse Rosebud's(?) experience, that the darker color is often indicative of dehydration - and this has been my personal experience. Some people dispute this, like everything . When I have the BAD headache, I check the ketostix - DARK, and sure enough after I drink a ton of filtered water I get to feeling better. This is the only time I ever get above trace or the one above that. Anecdotal, sure, but that's all I've got to go by...