smelling ketosis?

  • At my WI today, the coach who was measuring me said, "Oh, I can tell you are still in ketosis, I can smell it" - um....huh?? Do I smell bad? I didn't think I had bad breath - I had just brushed my teeth - anyone else heard of this?
  • There is a smell that you emit when you are in ketosis. In your breath, your sweat, etc. It is noticeable to those who are sensitive to it. I don't follow a high protein low carb diet now, but when I did atkins and the beginning phases of some other low carb plans I couldn't stand myself, as I am sensitive to the smell. It is the smell of acetone produced by fatty acid utilization. Acetone is one of the ketone bodies your body uses for fuel instead of glucose when the glycogen has been depleted, as fatty acids themselves cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, and your brain has to have fuel. Hope this helped, and didn't confuse you more...
  • I can smell it in my urine.
  • Thanks! That was a huge help!
  • drakegirl...I would have responded. "You smell too, what's your excuse!" hehehe....
  • Ketosis
    Besides the smell of your breath, what are some other signs that one is in Ketosis?
  • One way to know for certain is using urine sticks/Ketostix. Purple=disco.