I just started Atkins a couple days ago and am showing trace ketones in my urine. The only difference I notice is my mouth feels constantly dry.
My 1 year old is on a ketogenic diet for his seizures and he stays in a high level of ketosis permanently. He often has a strong chemical smell to his breath, kind of sweet. My mom thinks it smells like booze!
I rarely test him anymore bc I can already tell he's in ketosis from his breath. I believe people on the ketogenic diet sometimes stay in ketosis for a matter of years. I also read that researchers think our ancestor's aka cavemen spent most of their life in a state of ketosis.
I read the smell is actually acetone which is a biproduct of the ketogenic process. I'm also a nurse and am around alot of diabetics who come in with ketoacidosis (not good) and they have that same smell except usually much stronger.