for anyone who knows stuff about ketosis and ketostix: So I've been on this Atkins diet thing for a about 2-3 days. I don't really need to lose weight but I just want to see if it works. I only weigh about 150lbs (pretty normal for a 5'10" guy I think). And I bought those ketostix too. I tested my urine and it turned light purple. It's not the dark purple (the highest level of ketone) but it's the one just before that. So what does this mean? Does it mean that my body is actually burning fat? Would there be any other factors, besides ketone presence, that would cause the strip to change color? Or is the presence of ketone the only thing that can make those strips change color?
The presence of ketones is the only thing that would make the strips turn color. It really doesn't matter which shade of pink/purple it is. So what it means is that yes, your body is using fat for an energy source rather than sugar. Technically speaking, you are in a state of lipolysis/ketosis instead of glucosis. It's interesting that you are trying Atkins. Were you just curious? I think there would be some health benefits in removing sugar and empty carbs in your diet and replacing them with high-nutrient carbs. Sane, I think people would normally recommend going off of the Xenadrine if you want to go on Atkins. Was it prescribed by a doctor? Looking at everybody I have talked to on Atkins (including some friends), I don't think you would really need the pill if you did go on Atkins. It just works. (Personally I would be afraid of metabolife style pills after the phen-phen thing.) Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
I'm doing it partly out of curiosity I guess. I always saw those Atkins infomercials on TV and I've always thought of it as a scheme to sell food. But now that I see a bunch of people saying it works, I became curious. Plus, my brother's fiance's side of the family has a whole bunch of people who are doctors...and they all say that the only way to lose weight is by taking in less calories and exercising. It'd be cool if I could prove them wrong Although I do put an insane amount of time into exercising so I don't know if they'll actually believe it was atkins which lost the weight for me or my exercising. It's fun though.
I've hit a financial crunch (job sucks) so I can't renew my gym membership (it's about to expire). So, diet and very moderate exercise (not that I was ever Arnold) is the key. With regards to diet. As long as calories in is less than calories out, you're gonna lose weight, right?
I'd say you'd be fine as long as you don't do the high-carbs, low-fat thing. I suspect the ideal for each person lies somewhere between the Atkins induction stage and the zone diet. The problem I had with the zone diet is trying to balance the proportions for each meal is just a nightmare. I don't have to worry about that on Atkins.
The zone diet is definitely the healthiest but it is impossible to stay on it. It is the diet that all the elite swimmers and short distance runners use now. But it is just not very convenient. I do the zone thing when I can, but when I have to cheat I lean towards the high protein stuff like the atkins. Carbs are the enemy unless you are an endurance athlete.
Does anyone know of a place in houston that carries the atkins brand products specifically? Not walmart or eckerds, but a real, bonified health food store that has a BIG assortment of atkins stuff. I'm tired of driving to Basic Foods in beaumont for my atkins fix.
Here's an Atkins fix for ya: Jay's Cream Cheese Whip 2 oz Philly Cream Cheese Calories 200 Fat 20 g Sat 12 g Carbs 2 g Sugar 2 g Fiber 0 g Protein 4g 1 cup heavy cream Calories 750 Fat 75g Saturated 53 g Carbs 0g Protein 0g 2 tablespoons Splenda Carbs 2g Add lemon juice or other to taste Total Calories 950 Fat 95 g Sat 65g Carbs 4g Sugar 4g Protein 4g Per serving (split into 4) Calories 238 Fat 24g Sat 4g Carbs 1g Sugar 1g Protein 1g It's probably better for you than the Atkins bars, etc, and I KNOW it tastes better. Check it out!
