New Member - need help

[charbennett]

Hi Everyone,
Im actually posting this for my husband. He is 6"2 and 300 lbs and just started the atkins diet a couple of weeks ago. He has lost 10 lbs, but we have been using the ketosis strips that you urinate on to check and see if he is in ketosis and they all come up negative. We are wondering if any of the prescription drugs he is taking (Prozac & Nexium) would have any negative effects on the diet. I have searched the internet all over and can't find anything that tells us what he shouldnt take when on the diet.
If anyone can help, please letme know.
Thanks!
Char

[MissMel]

Hmm...if he is losing weight and following the diet as it is dictated then I would say he is in Ketosis. Medications CAN affect WL good and bad depending on the person. I would think that maybe his meds are affecting the keto strips more than WL...especially if he is losing. Also remember to do body measurements as a way to measure total wl.

I was on Lexopro and Wellbutrin the first time around on this diet and lost well over 50 lbs...for me it worked out well but I have read from others that they swear that they have gained. I don't think you can base it on others. If he is losing and following the diet as called for then don't worry about the keto strips they are just a tool but for some people they lose and the strips never go into the purple for a strong measure of Ketosis.

[Jace]

Let the loss and the way he feels be his guide. I never once got those infernal strips to turn color and I reached goal...they are as insidious as the scale can be.

Best of luck!

~Far la bella figura!

[charbennett]

Thanks! We appreciate the encouragement and he does feel good about the weight he is losing, but is still concerned about the medication. If you know of a list somewhere that we can look up that tells you which medications might inhibit the diet, that would be great.
Thank you so much!
~Char & Dan

[JMarsa202]

Char:

I was researching ketosis/ketoacidosis so that I would have the information to defend myself and WOE, and came across some information that made me think about your post. It supports everything that the previous posters have already told you.

This is from http://www.lowcarb.ca/tips/tips011.html:



Ketones will spill into the urine ONLY when there is more in the blood than is being used as fuel by the body at that particular moment.

You may have exercised or worked a few hours previously, so your muscles would have used up the ketones as fuel, thus there will be no excess. You may have had a lot of liquids to drink, so the urine is more diluted. Perhaps the strips are not fresh, or the lid was not on tight and some moisture from the atmosphere got in. Some low carbers NEVER show above trace or negative even ... yet they burn fat and lose weight just fine. If you're losing weight, and your clothes are getting looser, you're feeling well and not hungry all the time .. then you are successfully in ketosis. Don't get hung up on the strips; they're just a guide, nothing more.

[sallyseachange]

Hiya Charbennett and husband. Welcome to ADBB. Glad you found us here.

Re the stix... don't fret if they don't change colour... there are many factors that can affect whether they turn or not and your husband could very easily be losing without the stix changing colour.

Here are some links you might find handy:

Ketostix color
(Questions about ketostix color)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard....read.php?t=6725

When to test ketones
(When is the best time to test with ketostix?)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard....read.php?t=6726

Physical signs of ketosis/lipolysis
(What are the physical signs of being in ketosis?)http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6762



Happy Atkineering to your husband and you!

[charbennett]

Thanks everyone so much! He feels so much better after reading this! You guys ROCK!

[Scooterjam]

Good Morning Charbennett,

Welcome to the board, I see you have already gotten some excellent assistance for your husband. Congrats to him for starting this way of life (WOL).

Here are some recipes that might assist and make things easier for him:

http://www.genaw.com/lowcarb/index.html

That is one awesome site! Let him check out some of those pictures.

Anyway, just wanted to welcome you both!

[sillygirl]

Hi Charbennett! Welcome to the board. If your hub is taking medications, there must be a reason for it. I certainly wouldn't go off prescribed meds just to lose weight. Follow the program and his weight will certainly fall off in time!

[dreamof145]

Also, have you and husband taken measurements? The meas tape never lies. I'm sure if you follow the program, exercise regularly -- you'll definitely see results. I've been on/off medications that have effected my progress - the secret is just don't give up. We're all here for you!

EDIT

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