I often have people email me who want to know how they can tell if they’ve reached ketosis. Because one of the goals of Medifast is to consume enough carbs and calories and enough protein to make your body burn fat instead of carbs. Most people want to get into this position as soon as possible because this is when you start seeing results. So how can you tell you’ve reached these levels? Well, you can watch your physical symptoms, you can get yourself tested, or you can do both. I will discuss this more in the following article.
The physical symptoms you may see with ketosis once you’ve been on Medifast for longer than 3 – 4 days are: Firstly, if you follow very well and you are careful with your lean and green diet, you will be able to get into ketosis within the first week. Many people see this happen around 3 – 5 days. But, sometimes, it can take a little longer if you’ve been exercising a lot.
The first thing you may notice is that you’re having an easier time dieting. Cravings may subside and you may find that you are not as hungry. You may also find that you have a little more energy. I’ve also heard people say that they noticed a change in their breath. They have said that their breath had an almost fruity, sweet smell and/or taste.
Using strips to check if you are in ketosis: If you suspect these symptoms or just want to make sure you’ve finally reached the condition, you can use small strips that test for ketones in your urine. These are often sold under names such as ketosticks or ketone strips. Basically, you pee on the end of the stick and then wait the amount of time stated in the directions. (This is usually anywhere from 15 -30 seconds. It doesn’t take long to get results.) Usually you are looking for the strips to change color. The strips come with directions that will show you what color you are looking for. But with many people, you want the strip to turn from purple to deep pink to indicate you’re in ketosis. You can get the strips at most pharmacies and grocery stores. They are often in the diabetes section. You don’t need a prescription for them, but they are sometimes kept behind the counter, depending on the store.
What if you don’t see a change in color? Well, there are some possibilities. The first would be that you are not showing ketones in your urine yet. You can try checking again in a few days. Sometimes, if you exercise a lot, your muscles will need ketones as fuel and therefore will not be in your urine. You may also be drinking so much water that your urine has become too diluted to change color.
I understand that ketosis is really where you want to be on Medifast and I know we all want validation that we are there. But the stripes are really a guide. If you’re seeing some symptoms and the weight is coming off as it should be, there’s really no reason to put that much importance on the test results or let them stress you out. What’s really important is to get the results on a scale, not in strips, although they can help give you some reassurance if you need it.
Source by Lindsey Price
