How do you know if you are in Ketosis?

Fruity smell to your breath, A urine dip stix will pick up ketones. If you think this is you go see your DR pronto!

I thought this was a good thing... Isn't Ketosis when you burn fat rather than carbs as energy? Or am I using the wrong word? I asked my doc today about Ketosis and he said I don't have to cut out all carbs but that if I did, it would accelerate my weight loss.

Shae

I like to stay in ketosis. I check every day with the dip sticks. Unless I go over 45 carbs I'm steady with ketosis and it does help my weight loss. I go into a stall for a few days if I eat too many and then it takes me a good 2-3 days to get back in and the weight loss kicks right in.

Also, the smell is always described as fruity but to me it smells like gasoline. It's a weird kind of smell for sure.

Check with the pharmacist at your local drugstore, they can point you in the direction of the ketosticks. If you pee on them and they turn bright purple you're in ketosis. There's a guide on the side of the container that will show what "level" of ketosis you are measuring.

For me, I found that hardcore ketosis was really unpleasant and I did better when I ramped up my carbs a bit. Many sleevers will swear by the full-blown ketosis, but I didn't like it or do well with it. I hated the foul taste in my mouth the most.

Hi... I don't mean to sound dumb but, what is that exactly? Getting sleeved 11/22... Thank you

Ketosis is where you burn fat cells for energy rather than carbohydrates. Consuming little to no carbs for a few days gets you there and continuing to keep the carbs below 40 or so will keep you there. Supposedly, it will make the weightloss go quicker. I have heard some people say that they are a little fuzzy in the head when trying to learn something new or recall information because the brain works on carbs. But, this only happens to some people. Here is a good article: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/180858.php.

Shae

I went to my skin care doc (ok, let's be real I was getting botox) and the doc actually asked me if I was in ketosis because he said he could smell it! I freaked out and thought I had bad breath or something but he swore it wasn't bad just a smell he recognized as ketosis.

Kind of cool!

I don't get along with the ketosis concept, but as the OPs doc suggested, it may accelerate the weight loss. For me, it's not worth the downsides to get to goal in six months rather than seven, assuming that it works as advertised. We are malnourished enough as it is with the limited volume and high protein requirements without adding the ultra low carb restriction to it as well. If I were starting out heavier and needed every trick in the book to get to goal, then it might be worthwhile. At this point, I seem to work better with a reasonable amount of complex carb in my diet, burning more calories with longer and more intense workouts, than when keeping lower carb. But we are all different in how we respond to these things - try the low carb/ketosis diet and see how it works, but don't be afraid to go to a more balanced diet if it doesn't do much for you.