OK so it takes about 2 days to get into ketosis..

[Princess]

And thats on average, provided you only consume a minimum of 2Og carbs a day.

So how long does it take to get OUT of ketosis? Lets assume my daily limit of carb I can consume per day is 100g per day, before I am no longer is ketosis. If one day I consume say, 150g, does that mean it will take me another 2 days after that of consuming less than 100g of carbs to get back to ketosis? Is that how it works?

[Terry]

Each time you lose your ketosis it will still take the same amount of time to get it back, depending on how far over your limit you go and for how long and I believe (someone correct me here if I am wrong) at around 50 carbs you lose ketosis but can still lose weight.

[Brook]

It generally takes 2-4 days for most people to get back into ketosis once they've bumped themselves out. And yep, Terry! - somewhere around 50 grams a day most people bump out of ketosis (or so I've read). But ketosis isn't necessary for weight loss. You can gain weight while in ketosis just like you can lose weight without being in ketosis; but it's certainly a FANTASTIC tool.

~Brook

[Princess]

Oh. So are you saying that ketosis is not necessary for weight loss (ie burning fat). Then why is the purpose of the Induction phase to get us into ketosis?. I am in the advanced stages of Atkins - I eat fruit occassionally and I eat bread (rearely) - but I was always under the impression I wont lose any weight unless I am in ketosis - which I have to admit is very limiting as far as portion sizes are concerned.

[Brook]

A constant state of ketosis isn't necessary for weight loss. Weight Watchers being a case in point. WW followers aren't in ketosis and are successful in weight loss endeavors when they follow the program.

In a nutshell, ketosis switches us from a primarily glucose burning machine into a fat burning machine. Aside from the advantages ketosis provides in that manner, it provides us with big-time natural appetite suppression and a lot of people experience more energy.

You can be in ketosis without limiting portion sizes. Some inductees start off by eating in excess of 3000 calories a day. Ketosis occurs because there isn't a readily available supply of glucose to burn. If you're having to limit your portion sizes (of carbs - not fat or protein) to stay in ketosis, it's because you're eating enough carbs to make it difficult.

Clear as mud?

~Brook

[Finelly]

I'm no scientist, but here's what I have experienced.

On any diet in which you consume fewer calories than you use, you will lose pounds. This is why weight watchers, etc. are successful.

On a low carb diet, you lose weight differently. First, you are not hungry and once you get your fat and protein intake correct, you don't have a lot of cravings for the forbidden stuff. Second, you have an amazing amount of energy once you get firmly into ketosis. On a low fat diet, I find that I get very draggy and irritable. Not here. Third, burning fat for energy, as in ketosis, makes the fat melt off without losing muscle. You are preserving the good stuff in the body and getting rid of the fatty fat fat.

[not2late]

Originally Posted by Princess

Oh. So are you saying that ketosis is not necessary for weight loss (ie burning fat). Then why is the purpose of the Induction phase to get us into ketosis?. I am in the advanced stages of Atkins - I eat fruit occassionally and I eat bread (rearely) - but I was always under the impression I wont lose any weight unless I am in ketosis - which I have to admit is very limiting as far as portion sizes are concerned.

Then why are you posting in the Extended Induction Forum????? You really ought to post this either in the Main Forum or in the OWL/Pre-Maintenance Forum so as not to confuse the EIers.....

By the way, ketosis simply means the production of ketone bodies. Ketone bodies are produced when fat is broken down. So, in a way if a low cal dieter is metabolising (breaking down) their excess body fat, they too are producing ketone bodies.

[tickletussler]

Originally Posted by Terry

Each time you lose your ketosis it will still take the same amount of time to get it back, depending on how far over your limit you go and for how long and I believe (someone correct me here if I am wrong) at around 50 carbs you lose ketosis but can still lose weight.

Ketostix stops changing colour when you are eating 50g or more carbs a day, but you can still be ketosis after that. Why not? If your CCLL is 100g, and you eat less than that and you are active, then after you've burned off what you have eaten, what else are you going to burn off? Either body fat or muscle (that is if you don't eat enough protein), so the only logical step from that would be you go into ketosis.

I am wondering why you need to know how long it takes to get out of ketosis? It takes your body at least 48 hours to get rid of any remaining glucose in your system so can we not assume that ketosis does not start till after all the glucose has been gotten rid of? And likewise ketosis ends when there is too much glucose in your system?