Hello all! I've been doing the IP program for 9 days now and am still not in Ketosis. I've tested to see if I am using the Ketostix from the RX store and the strips show a trace amount - the color is almost "clear" on the sticks. I've tested several different times throughout the day and several different ways (i.e. dipping it in sample, placing directly in stream, etc.) and they all show "trace" for the results.
Shouldn't I be in Ketosis already?
My weight loss for the first week was over 14 pounds, but so far this week, no weight change.
I know that Ketosis is a key figure in the success of this program.
Any ideas from you all out there??
Thank you so much!

Hi!

I have news for ya. If you lost 14 pounds the first week, your in Ketosis!
If you stay on plan and not cheat you will stay in ketosis. Don't worry about strips, trust the plan, you must have faith in it.

Even if it's a trace, that means Ketosis. Dont worry about the color of the strip because if your dehydrated, it will show up darker. Keep drinking all your water and getting all your veggies and salad in. You'll be just fine

Don't sweat the ketostix. If you are getting the proper amount of water in, you should only show a trace amount or even none. If they ever get purple, you are def not getting your water in. Follow the plan and no more then 1 restricted a day, you will be in ketosis!

If you are properly hydrated you should only show trace....more could be a sign of dehydration. You are fine

Ok - thank you everyone! I drink 3-4 liters (yes LITERS!) of water per day, get my 4 cups of veggies, plus lettuce, all my vitamins plus some more and only have 1 restricted pak a day if that. I've been very excited to be on the IP program, but a little discouraged that my weight hasn't gone anywhere this week so far.
Could it be possible that even though I may be in Ketosis that my weight could stall out this week?
Sorry for all the questions - I just want to make sure I'm on the right track!
Thanks again!

Ketosis or not makes no difference. A caloric deficit is what determines fat loss. Don't bother with ketosis sticks.

Don't overthink it.

I found that in a given week, my weight would be EXACTLY the same for 5 straight days - and then one day I'd drop two pounds, and then the next day, I'd drop another pound. And then it would stay EXACTLY the same for another five days....

Give it time, don't make yourself crazy. It will work. :-)

When I first got my ketoskix I tried all different times to use them, If you test when you get up your morning PP lol shows trace, if you get up like at 3 am you might show nothing because your drinking the right amount of water. Plus if you exercise you also loose some of the keytones that way too. I have never showed more then trace, but from reading from the experienced girls here, heavy traces means you need more water, your dehydrated.

Aweighigo!!! I love that name! I have been on the diet for 4 and 1/2 months and have NEVER checked my ketosis. I'm still losing, don't worry!!

Love---Your SIS!!!

You might want to research how much water you should be drinking. 4 liters sounds like a lot. My dr told me that it is possible to have too much, messes up electrolytes or something (I used to drink lots too). Just a thought... Or, you could wait to hear from johnp, he seems to know thing that even most scientists will admit we are still learning

I did the atkins and found myself to be in ketosis much faster than with the IP diet and I think the other girls are right.... there is such an emphasis on water intake while on IP and not necessarily so on the other diets that the ketostix are getting a watered down version of PP..lol... So, it's a good thing that you only have trace amounts

LOL
Ketosis is like pregnancy. You either ARE or you AREN'T. There isn't MORE or LESS ketosis. If you've been on the program this long with no carb cheats & have lost weight that fast, you're ON.
If you show even a trace of color on a ketostick, you're in ketosis

And a ketogenic diet DOES make a huge difference in fat loss for those of us with metabolic resistance so I'm not sure what the naysayer meant about that.

Now, throw those things in the trash & just do the plan.
Ketostix are highly inaccurate & not worth the $$$ (or the soap to wash your hands after)

Well stated! All of it!!!

I agree, as long as you're showing a trace of ketosis, you're in it. If the color is darker, it just means you're less hydrated.

One way of checking would be peeing in a cup first thing in the morning, then dipping the strip for a second, i always get the first pee to have trace amounts.