Could I be out of ketosis?
 

I pee on the stick in the morning and I'm in trace or small color. In the evening, it's negative. But the next morning it's trace or small again.

According to the scale at chiropractor, I've lost 20 lbs, 10 is fat and 10 is lean muscle. I didn't think I was supposed to lose lean muscle. It also says I need to put on 2.5 lbs lean muscle and has since the very beginning. I know those machines aren't always accurate for measuring body fat etc, and I've had some weird readings eg. lost 2lbs fat, but body fat % went up. Time of the month reading is always weird. I do get my 8oz protein in evening and eat 3 packets a day. I'm currently on a long period (think hormones released from fat), so I'll add in an egg white omelet a day to give some more protein and energy.

I don't feel hungry unless I go too long between meals. I do eat my snack between lunch and dinner as I have to have lunch at 11.30am and find cooking dinner for the family (normal food) is too much unless I've had a snack. Maybe the lunch, snack, dinner is too close in timing and affects night ketostix reading?

I've also wondered why I eat same amount of food (no. packets, vegetables, protein) as my DH who is a much bigger person than am I. I'm 5' 2.5" and petite build.

I think I'm going to cut out stevia (only did 1 packet in rhubarb) and no milk in tea (limited it as instructed), no vanilla in crispy cereal pancakes and see if that helps.

Any advice? I will talk to my coach next week.

If you are drinking plenty of water, nothing will show up on the ketostix - it does NOT mean you aren't in ketosis! Those sticks are really not accurate in the context of this diet. If you show ANYTHING on the ketosticks first thing in the morning (when your urine is more concentrated), you are in ketosis. Period.

Regarding lean mass - you DO lose lean mass as you lose weight, 1lb for every 4lbs lost. Lean mass is NOT exclusively muscle - it is EVERYTHING in your body that isn't fat. Connective tissue and skin are reduced as we lose fat. And the scales are NOT accurate - the most accurate ways to measure body fat/lean mass are water displacement testing, a DEXA scan, or the calipers at your doctor's office. Don't get married to the numbers on the scale, they are just bells and whistles and not really accurate numbers.

Thanks for the reply. I'll ignore those readings and just keep doing what I'm doing.

My concern does come from appearance of my legs, they're really bad with cellulite and wondered if I am losing muscle. They've always been bad since I was a teenager, so more likely there's not much muscle there to start with. I was hoping I could wear shorts when get to goal. I'll keep working on IP to get to goal and work out an exercise plan for strength training, I'm going to need a lot of it!