LLVLC On YouTube (Episode 47): Ketostix A Low-Carb Guide, Not Really That Necessary

Is your low-carb diet relying too much on Ketostix?

One of the most interesting tools we have at our disposal when we start livin' la vida low-carb to let us know whether we are doing it right or not is a testing strip that measures ketone levels called Ketostix (there are other brand names for ketone sticks, but this one from Bayer is the most common). Basically, here's how it works: you can check your urine on this testing strip to see how many ketone bodies you are excreting out of your body. Ketones are present when you are in ketosis which is instigated when you keep your carbohydrates at a ketogenic level (usually under 50g carbs daily).

I recently asked a group of low-carb experts the following question--"Is Ketosis Necessary On A Low-Carb Diet?" That seems to be a "well duh" kind of question which is why we use things like Ketostix to see whether we are in ketosis or not. But where people seem to get most confused is with the color of the testing strip. If it's light pink, then I must be doing something wrong. My Ketostix need to be dark purple if I am experiencing "deep" ketosis, right? I get these kind of questions every single week and they miss the point of the testing strips.

In Episode 47 of "Livin' La Vida Low-Carb On YouTube," Christine and I seek to better explain the purpose of Ketostix by telling you what they are for, what the various colors actually mean, why showing no ketones on these strips may not be a bad thing, and how you can virtually guarantee your body is in ketosis. I'm astonished by how many people are still so concerned about the results of their Ketostix, but hopefully this video will clear up some of the miscommunication.

Find out all you need to know about Ketostix in today's video:



Noted biochemistry professor Dr. Richard Feinman from SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn, New York provided a very succinct explanation for how these Ketostix are supposed to work:

"There is a continuum of ketosis. In fact, one of the features of ketone bodies is that, unlike other fuels, glucose and fatty acids, they can be present in plasma over a wide range of concentrations. What is true is that Ketostix measure ketonuria (ketones in the urine) which may or may not give you an accurate view of plasma ketone bodies. If ketone bodies are used as fast as they are made, you may never see ketosis."

This should give those people who see pink or even beige on the ketone testing strips hope that they are indeed in ketosis even if the tests say otherwise. The bottom line you should remember is that Ketostix are merely a low-carb guide to provide proof that you are livin' la vida low-carb in a ketogenic state, but they're really not that necessary if you are keeping your carbohydrates significantly reduced below 50g daily. When you are doing that, then you WILL be in ketosis. Hopefully this clears up some of the confusion about why some people seek purple and others see pink or beige.


"The Biggest Loser" 4 contestant Isabeau Miller

Also in today's video, Christine and I share about our upcoming trip to Nashville, Tennessee to attend "Biggest Loser" 4 contestant Isabeau Miller's FitCamp. Since landing in the final four last Fall on the hit NBC-TV weight loss reality series, Isabeau Miller has taken her passion for her own personal weight loss journey and is now helping others who struggle with obesity like she once did before Jillian Michaels got a hold of her tail and whipped it into shape. Today she is a personal trainer and is giving me and several of my readers a chance to experience what it was like to be on "The Biggest Loser" over a special two-week period.

The first session of FitCamp in July just concluded and our session in August will commence on August 17th. We will be doing a daily video log of this experience and sharing it on YouTube as part of a FitCamp series of videos. Isabeau said she will not be allowed to be videotaped because of contractual obligations from her stint on "The Biggest Loser." But I'm gonna ask permission from the other people who will be there going through this experience with me to talk about how FitCamp is helping them. I am super-excited about this, especially in light of my recent 30-pound weight gain I've experienced. Perhaps this will get me back to where I need to be. I sure hope so. :)

We LOVE making videos for you and doing them on topics that YOU care about. Tell us your show ideas for future videos by e-mailing them to livinlowcarbman@charter.net. Check through all of our previous YouTube videos to make sure we haven't already tackled your favorite subject! While we were away last week, there was a sudden surge of people decided to subscribe to our YouTube videos and now we have well over 600 subscribers! WOW! Join in on the low-carb fun on YouTube and help us spread the positive message of livin' la vida low-carb to the masses!

What Is The Effect Of Hormone Therapy On Low-Carb Weight Loss?

I received an excellent e-mail recently from a reader who was interested in knowing what impact her hormone therapy would have on your low-carb weight loss. She was getting quite frustrated by the lack of success at losing the pounds and keeping them off despite being in ketosis from a very low-carb ketogenic (VLCK) diet.

Here's what she wrote:

Mr. Moore,

I read your book, which I really enjoyed, and I have a question:

I am eating fewer that 20 grams of carbs a day, turning the Ketostix dark purple, but am not losing at all. In fact, I keep regaining and losing the same two pounds. I am on Aygestin. Why do the hormones affect low-carb dieting so much?

I have looked online, and I can't find a specific answer. I know that you are very busy. If you have time to answer, it would be most appreciated. If not, I'll keep Googling. ;-)

As I noted in this recent blog post, the ketones that show up on the Ketostix may or may not give you the entire picture as it relates to what is happening in your body. Since she is obviously eating a low enough amount of carbohydrate in her diet (trusting that this information is accurate), I decided to contact my friend and expert in the Atkins diet having worked with Dr. Robert C. Atkins for three decades--Jackie Eberstein, R.N. She has dealt with virtually every circumstance over the years and offered this advice:

Hormones have numerous effects on the body that make weight loss more difficult. You also need to consider the reason why hormones were prescribed--many hormone imbalances by themselves make losing problematic. This can happen on any weight loss plan--not just low carb.

But remember that at least you're not gaining. You need to have more patience than in the past when losing because of the drug effect. Hormones can cause edema, insulin resistance and weight gain and even have negative effects on blood sugar. There can also be subtle thyroid effects.

It's a plus that you have ketones. Many women can't get into ketosis when their hormones are changing. One example is just before the menses; ketones can disappear and return in a few days without any change in diet.

Take measurements every 2 weeks rather than watch the scale. The up and down fluctuation is simply water balance changing each day. It is possible to lose fat (inch loss) while the scale is stuck. Do be sure to follow the plan carefully. When on hormones even slight deviations need to be avoided. Don't eat beyond satiety or skip meals.

Exercise is important because it decreases insulin resistance and over the long run is helpful. My personal experience is that I don't lose unless I exercise.

This is what comes to mind with the info given. Hope it helps.

Jacqueline Eberstein, R.N.
Controlled Carbohydrate Nutrition, LLC

So, if you are taking hormones and find yourself in a similar frustrating position with your weight loss routine, don't lose hope. Just keep doing what you're doing and measure your success in ways other than the scale. YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I'll be seeing Jackie Eberstein at an obesity conference taking place in Phoenix, Arizona in April. I hope to have the chance to sit down and interview her for my podcast show to talk about some of these kinds of issues. If there is anything you'd like for me to ask her for that interview, then please feel free to send your questions to me at livinlowcarbman@charter.net and I'll add them to my list. She's arguably the most knowledgeable Atkins diet expert in the world today.