Question:
How much carbs does it take to bring you out of ketosis?

Anyone know how many carbs it will take to kick us out of ketosis? Will a bag of popcorn do it? Will it take several meals of carbs? Once out how long does it take to go back into Ketosis. My dietician told me it all takes place in a matter of an hour or so after eating and that we constantly go in and out of ketosis. Is this true? Please illuminate us on this topic!    — John T. (posted on April 8, 2003)

April 8, 2003
Hi I was on the Dr Atkins diet for a long time. And it took me about 2-3 days to get into ketos. All it took to boot me out of ketos was a a piece of candy or even a cracker. Not much at all. Then when I was out it took me 3-4 days to get back in. My advice to you would be to try your best to stay in ketos. And YES a bag of popcorn would put you out. Good luck! :)
   — Christy M.

April 8, 2003
John, Great Question! I don't have any exact answer but I can tell very clearly if I am in ketosis just by how awful my mouth tastes and lately it's been bad. I try my best to eat as close to zero carbs as possible and never exceed 10 in a day and most days is under 5. I'm getting in approx. 40 grams of protein and I'm 9-1/2 weeks PO. My surgeon's post op plan uses ketosis to the max and therefore it is not as critical to hit that 60 grams of protein for quite a few months. By keeping our bodies in ketosis it forces our bodies to use the fat for energy and not the protein in our bodies or the protein we eat, or at least very minimally. I have never checked my urine for the ketones. My mouth is just as reliable. <p>I can technically have veggies and fruit now. A few weeks ago when I was getting in some of these items I noticed that I was not staying in ketosis to the same degree. I imagine the carbs in the fruit especially was affecting it. I drained the pear juice and washed the fruit but there still is a lot of carbs in fruit. It tasted good but I try to limit it to no more than 1-2 times a week. The same with veggies. I love both of them but right now I am looking for maximum fat loss so I will survive right now. I would be willing to bet your dietician is right. Since the process of ketosis is based on what we eat I would imagine it would react quickly, just as a diabetic responds to foods they eat very quickly. Chris
   — zoedogcbr

April 9, 2003
I had wondered the same thing so I went out and bought some ketostix and have since "experimented" with salads (with cheese, nuts, dressing and either tomatoe, apple or mandarin orange), 6 wheat thin crackers w/ cheese, a baked mozzerella stick and jalepeno popper (I know...poor choice), and a 1/4 of a garlic breadstick and have checked in the few hours to day after and have not been able to knock myself out of ketosis even when I've tried...in fact, the lowest I've gone is to the second pink level on the ketostix container. Of course, I exercise regularly, drink 100+ ounces of water a day, get in 60+ grams of protein, and usually don't eat more than 1/4 cup at a time....an am only 10 weeks out. So, maybe it's different for everyone...if you really gotta know I would suggest going and buying some ketostix...I got mine at Target for $10.99/50.
   — eaamc