Any keto experts around?

[ATTA45]

I have a keto question - been low carbing for just over a week, showed traces of ketones day 3 which I was very excited about, but despite being pretty strict with the carbs (aiming for 20g a day) I have stayed traces only and not got any better a result in the 5 days since. Am I being impatient, or are 'traces' enough for weight loss anyway, or am I eating too many carbs still? Im still very much learning about it all so any tips etc would be very much appreciated!

Just popping on to say repost this in the weight loss section - there is a specific board for low carbing / Keto.

So you should get some knowledgable answers there!

Are you using keto stix urine test, those aren't accurate. I would go by how you feel to be honest. Stick to 20g carb and you will be fine. If you really want a test one way to test is a cheap breathalyser sold to check if you are safe to drive, that will detect acetone on your breath that will tell you if you are in ketosis or not but not how much ketones you have. For the most accurate results that will give you the amount of ketones you will need a blood test of the sort sold for diabetics.

I don't have much knowledge but about 4 weeks ago started a keto diet but not super strict. Cut out alot of carbs. Not eaten a sandwich for a month.

We don't have scales at home but I feel.really strongly that I've lost weight. My tops feel looser and I put on the next size down trousers and they fit comfortably.

The key thing is that I don't feel.like I'm missing anything really. I don't feel like I'm on a diet at all. My appetite has naturally diminished and I can easily go for 2 meals a day instead of 3. My stomach is rumbling (hasn't done that for years) so I listen to my body more and eat when it rumbles and stop when I feel full. I would never have been able to leave food on the plate before!

Cutting out refined sugar to go completely cold turkey for 3 weeks has made a huge difference to me. I used to HAVE to eat cake, chocolate, sweets etc every day for years. It was my way of coping with day to day life. Cutting it out has made me feel so much better.

Thanks for all the replies, my results are darker today so all good now!

KetoPenguin Ketosis can give you a positive breathalyser test? Yikes. That's something to be aware of!

Rentacar I'm only day 8 but feel exactly how you describe. Belly is already way flatter, lost half a stone, no sugar cravings, not hungry all the time like I used to be...it's great! I think I may have finally found a sustainable diet for losing and then keeping off the weight. I've never felt so motivated after a week on a diet!

The police breathalysers are more sensitive and can tell the difference between acetone and real alcohol so don't worry about that. It's the cheap home use one's you want for this as they don't distinguish the two.

2 things.

1. What time of the day are you testing?

The thing with the pee sticks is that they are designed for people with diabetes (even though they are advertised for people on the keto diet), so they tell you to test in the morning when your ketones will be lowest. You'll get a different reading in the afternoon just before dinner.

2. There is no scientific evidence to back that higher levels of ketones mean faster fat loss. Some "keto-diet" experts will say the sweet spot is between 1.5 and 3, but that's based on analogy, not research. As long as you're in ketosis you will be losing weight.