This is where I was confused for a long time when I first started LC'ing. I thought if I seen the stix chanch that ment I was buring my own stored fat for fuel. When I found out differently I was disapointed so I don't use the stix any more. Bottom line.. you may be in ketosis but don't nessesarly mean your burning your "own" body fat.

Tanya


Member since Jan 2002
re-started on 1-3-03
272/187/185<--(next goal)

Doc Insomnia,

I don't disagree with anything you say! In fact, you said what I was trying to say (but better than I did). BUT my point remains the same!
Just because you are *burning fat* does NOT mean that you are burning *STORED FAT*. So, my answer to the original poster {essentially} is YES, you CAN be in ketosis but not be losing because if you are eating a pound of cream cheese each day (while very low in carbs), the ketones you are seeing are most likely from the cheese, not your hips.
I completely understand the ketones and the ketostix, but I don't think I expressed myself well (LONG day ) and when I went back and read my reply I can see my error.

I also understand that people should NOT put too much emphasis on the stix as I lost 50 pounds while NEVER registering more than *trace* to *moderate* on them. (I used them faithfully for 6 months and then gave up)
Too many factors interfere with their use.
If you drink a lot of water (like I do) then the urine is often too diluted to show many ketones.
Also, some people's body's have alternative ways of expressing the ketones. For some, the ketones make more of an appearance through breath or body odor... I never had much problem with body odor, but for the first month or so, my breath was toxic!

That's my only point.
I'm not opposed to anyone using them. They can be a positive confirmation that one is staying true to the woe... but they are NOT necessarily an indicator of weightloss. And I think that was the original poster's question.
Sorry, if I caused any confusion!

Summer

I'm only on day 6 of induction, so I don't really qualify for this forum, but I've lost 10 pounds so far. I've been checking my sticks, and was in ketosis after the 2nd day...but only trace thru small amount. Only one day was I in the medium range...so I guess everyone is different and there are no pat answers! Hey...I'm ecstatic with my loss!!!!!!!

227.5/217.5 helloooooo 150!
Gertie

I really appreciate all the responses to my original question. I didn't think I was eating a lot of fat... but since I do consume a fair amount of nuts, that is probably why I test high on the stix and haven't lost a whole lot.

A snack I've been craving is an apple with mozzarella stix. But an apple is about TWENTY carbs!! I just don't want to use up all my carbs in one sitting! LOL.

I find that I definitely need to increase my veggie consumption. So I will try that and also get my butt in gear on the treadmill and I bet anything the whoosh fairy will come back to my house.

Thanks again!!

Michelle -- 208/196/140
Started Atkins 9/03
On my way to finding the new me.... WATCH OUT WORLD!!

Shark,
With statistics you can prove anything. While your arithmatic is certainly correct, and the numbers you chose do work out to about 50/50, I prefer to work with my actual numbers.

Starting weight 232
Starting BF% 44
129.92 lbs lean, 102.08 lbs fat

Lost 46 lbs

New weight 186
New BF% 37
117.18 lbs lean, 68.82 lbs fat

Lean loss = 12.72 lbs
Fat loss = 33.26 lbs

27.7% of my loss was lean mass.
72.3% of my loss was fat.

Definitely not at 50/50 split.

Please note: I don't mean to advocate no exercise. I certainly agree that weight/cardio training is important and I look forward to actually working with weights that I can put down. It seems I have been hauling around my own personal dumbells strapped to my thighs all these years.

Interesting thought there. Why aren't my legs just bulging with muscles, considering how much "weight" lifting they have been doing?

Rave
232/187/130

Shark,
Do you have a particular weight training plan you follow or do you have access to a gym? Unfortunately I will have to rely on what I can afford to buy and fit in a small living room.

By the way, the 27.7% was of the pounds lost, not of my total lean mass.

Ketosis for me is a very nebulous state. I have never been able to get those D@#$ things out of the "trace" range.

Rave
232/187/130