<p>You guys are impressive!!</p>
<p>I lost another .5 lbs but of course I seem to yo-yo. I can only lose if I eat 900-1200 calories :(</p>
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<p>Hardest thing to exercise, I’ve found…</p>
<p>So what is this ketostix thing? They measure ketones, I presume. So if the stick is purple, that means you’re burning fat? Do you buy them at any drug store?</p>
<p>Yes, LMNOP.
You can buy them at any drug store, OTC.
You are right about how it works. Burning fat makes the Keto-stick get darker and there is a color key on the bottle. Very motivating to me to skip the carbs. I do it every AM.
More important to me to burn fat than lose pounds. I do not want to lose muscle, if at all possible, too. Water can make the pounds go up and down a lot.</p>
<p>Being in ketosis for a long time is not a good thing. It may make you lose weight, but its like being an uncontrolled diabetic. Spilling ketones into your urine is, in diabetes, a sign that things are out of whack. And Diabetes btw is the highest risk factor for the onset of dementia. So I’ll stick to a healthy, low cal, not low carb weight loss. My memory is already bad enough!</p>
<p>** edit:
Was reading about a ketogenic diet. Interestingly, ketones do cross the blood/brain barrier so may “feed” the brain. WHat still doesnt makes sense then is why, since diabetics have a 65 percent increased risk of also being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the glucose metabolism causing ketone spillage might not then be of benefit to the glucose starved brain. Just musing…</p>
<p>I eat low carb, not radically so, but generally so, and it just plain makes me feel better. Lean protein, vegetables, some whole grains, some fruit. And wine, but not too much. And chocolate, but not too much.</p>
<p>If I don’t get a lot of protein, I find I get into a weird constant hunger thing and I snack wildly.</p>
<p>jym- You are thinking of “ketoacidosis” in diabetics- very serious. VERY different from this type of fat-burning ketosis. But a common confusion and misconception.
Runners and exercisers burn fat (are in ketosis) when they are running most efficiently, for instance, and do not need glucose or glycogen.</p>
<p>performersmom,
Just curious, is your low carb like the Atkins diet? I did Atkins, oh my, about 10 years ago. Had great success, but all the weight came back on again : ( I don’t eat red meat and I don’t care for most cheeses, so it was really restrictive for me.</p>
<p>It sound like I am striving for the same type of food intake as Alumother. I Track my calories on livestrong, I am always way over the daily intake total on protein and under on the carbs. Do you count grams of card per day? How many grams do you aim for?</p>
<p>performersmom-
Thanks for the note. I do know the difference between the 2, but was under the impression that having ketones spilling into one’s urine wasnt a good thing for any prolonged peroid, either way. But it seems that ketosis isnt an issue in that regard, whereas ketoacidosis is. Thanks.</p>
<p>This explains my concerns better than I did. Again thanks for pointing out the distinction:
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<p>Gibson - I don’t count anything, but I will have one piece of toast for breakfast, and then for example if I have a sandwich I won’t have rice or bread for dinner. Not to say I don’t then have chocolate and wine:). But for me a microwaved whole wheat tortilla is the equivalent of a large piece of cake, emotionally.</p>
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<p>I’m at the point where I’ve lost inches everywhere, but the last place to go is that fat roll around my middle. I wonder if reducing carbs would be useful to remove that fat. I have operated on reducing calories eaten and increasing calories exercised. If my diet has been low carb, it is strictly by happenstance, not by plan.</p>
<p>Wondering if paying attention to the amount of carbs I eat would pay off…</p>
<p>How many grams of carbs a day makes sense? Anyone know? Or is it a number that everyone has to determine for themselves (with ketostix)?</p>
<p>And again, we’re back to the issue of that stubborn fat roll around the waist! Lol. If we could figure out how to get rid of that we would all be millionaires!</p>
<p>Has anyone had any success?</p>
<p>I have lost 40 Lbs in the last 9 months, most noticably around my middle. I have ELIMINATED bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, grains and most sweeteners. I do get plenty of carbs through vegetables, mostly spinach, broccoli and romaine which I have every day. For the first 30# I also eliminated alcohol, mostly wine. Reintroducing even moderate amounts of wine back into my diet had slowed things down considerably. But for now, it is a price I am willing to pay!</p>
<p>I am naturally slim, but if I do put on a few pounds, it’s always around my middle. (Yes, never anywhere flattering.) And it seems to come from carbs (sweet tooth). If I stay away from sugar and bread, I have no problem losing the pounds and keeping them off.</p>
<p>laketime–my DH likes his Scotch or other drink after work to “unwind.” But what gets me is he will even have one on the weekends, or late at night when he could just go to bed to relax! I don’t begrudge a man his drink, but sometimes it’s just extra calories one could easily do without. Or maybe not…</p>
<p>I maintain that the very last 5 pounds I lose will be from my tummy. Glad we got away from the scientific-type stuff because I’ve only concentrated on “just portion control and drinking a lot of water” (per Jenna on the live 30 Rock from last week). I haven’t counted anything but am very cognizant of portion size and carb content. I am in awe of all of you with health issues that still are able to find a way to exercise.</p>
<p>My weight loss has slowed down considerably from the first six months - lost 35 pounds June-December and 10 pounds since. But I know it’s because I’ve been less careful on how much I’m eating, particularly snacks and sweets. It’s easy to slip and hard to get back on track. After bouncing around the same couple of pounds for weeks I’ve finally gone just below my previous low. At the moment I’m trying to pre-lose before visiting DS next weekend because I know I’ll have to post-lose. We already have plans for one dinner, one breakfast, and one brunch out, all of which will have tons of tempting delights that I will be unable to resist.</p>
<p>I suppose that is what plastic surgeons are for–taking off that last little roll around the middle.</p>
<p>Well I finally fell off the plateau I’ve been on for the past 2 weeks. Thank goodness! I was starting to worry that I was going to have to start to pay rent there…</p>
<p>I’m now FIVE pounds from my target weight…and starting to think about maintenance strategies. But maybe I shouldn’t jump the gun–those last 5 pounds could turn out to be a bear!</p>
<p>Marilyn and ellemenope - This is just so exciting. I remember when this thread was just starting up. Maintenance is its own thing, but also a real notch on the belt of accomplishment:). Go you guys.</p>
<p>Yes, it’s encouraging to hear how well people are doing! I had a doctor’s appointment, and my weight from last year, as well as today’s, was listed on the receipt. I’m three pounds lighter now than one year ago, so that’s good! My weight from two years was also listed. From May 2010 to May 2011 I gained 22 pounds - argh! So now I’m working on that 22 pounds.</p>
<p>About the roll of fat…I have been doing PT since i injured my back and my PT gave me a bunch of exercises to do, of course. One of them really seems to target those oblique muscles on the sides of my waist. It is a side plank. You lie on your side and lift up so that you are planked between your ankles and your elbow. So the front of your body is facing the wall. Boy, do you feel it!</p>
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<p>:eek: Why don’t they put your bra size on there too, LOL!</p>
<p>I’ll have to put those side planks on my daily menu…</p>
<p>I have done the lo-carb thing any ways, and you can do it whatever way works for you.
Atkins is great, but so is South Beach Diet. Everyone has a different tolerance for carbs.
And the key is NET CARBS- fibrous carbs (raw, unprocessed) cancel out the sugar and processed carbs and starches. Check out these two regimens for recommendations on carbs, protein and fat (yes, you DO need it!) requirements and maximums. It takes a stricter induction phase for a week or two (no fruit, few carbs) to trigger ketosis. Then everybody is different after that- how lo carb do they NEED to go to get the results they want, and CAN they go and still feel comfortable?</p>
<p>Coincidence: H gives up wine and sweets for Lent every year. This year he lost 5-8 lb, all around the middle. Today he told me that in three weeks of having a little wine and some desserts again, he has gained 5 lbs! And it is all around his belly! FYI he is at an ideal weight and exercises every day (cross-trains, including one 5 mile run in the hills a week). His BP is normal and his cholesterol is super-low, yet all this sugar and refined carb stuff applies to him, TOO.</p>