Reaching Ketosis Comes with Surprises

Atkins, ketogenic and low carb diets dramatically increase fat-burning potential through a special metabolic state called ketosis. Ketosis gives low carbers a metabolic advantage. But keto has other interesting effects that translate into real, rapid results.

• Low carb and keto FAQ
• Testing for ketosis
• The biggest benefits of keto

Starting a low carb diet changes your body’s metabolism. On Atkins, ketosis guarantees this weight loss is from fat-burning. Here are the facts about ketosis, how to get there and what to expect.

When will you reach ketosis? When we start Atkins, we limit net carbs. Soon, we rely almost entirely on fat and protein for energy.

Ketosis starts when carb levels are very low, usually when we eat 20 net carbs or less per day and an average (or less) amount of protein.

What Happens During Ketosis?

During low carb ketosis, healthy fats are the main source of calories and energy.

Even though most of your daily calories are coming from high fat foods, your body burns the fat instead of storing it.

What Does Ketosis Feel Like?

Ketosis improves energy and lightens mood. The amount of hours you usually sleep reduces with this new energy.

Some low carbers notice a sweet smell on their breath. If it becomes bothersome, try a slight increase in daily net carbs. This symptom is typically temporary.

How Long Does It Take to Get Into Ketosis?

The quickest way to reach ketosis is to limit net carbs: 5 to 20 grams per day – or less than 10% of your total daily calories.

Some low carbers eat very low amounts of carbs – less than 5%, to reach ketosis rapidly. Within a few days you should reach ketosis. If results are slow try one of these six ways to speed up ketosis.

Keto Testing

A measurable way to know if you’ve reached ketosis is ketone testing with strips. There are dozens of reliable brands. Check for the lowest prices: Keto Test Strips.

Keto test strips are an inexpensive way to know you’ve reached ketosis, but if the strip doesn’t register the presence of ketones, you can still be ketosis. Why is this?

• Sometimes urine samples are diluted from drinking lots of water.
• It’s also possible to burn away ketones during exercise.

Tip: Rely on eating the correct keto ratio of fat, protein and carbs, and use the keto testing strips as a “check-in.”

Use keto test strips to measure ketones, confirm ketosis and track your progress. Keto strips will help pinpoint the best range of net carbs to stay in fat-burning keto mode.

Big Benefits of Keto

Ketosis Sharpens Your Fat-Burning Ability

On Atkins, ketosis sharpens your ability to burn fat by lowering insulin levels. Low carb ketosis actually improves your body’s ability to burn fat more efficiently.

Insulin encourages fat to be stored when there are extra carbs around. Insulin has a lipolysis blocking effect, discouraging fat-burning. On Atkins, ketosis lowers insulin so your fat-burning ability increases.

Ketosis Burns Fat Rapidly

Keto diets have very few carbs around for energy. We adapt, entering ketosis. Now we are able to access stored fat for energy immediately.

Restrict net carbs to less than 5% of total daily calories to rapidly burn your stored fat.

Ketosis Amplifies Calorie-Burning

It takes more energy to burn fat than carbs. It takes 9 calories to burn 1 gram of fat, but only 4 calories to burn a carb.

While you’re using fat for energy in ketosis, you’re burning more calories with every bite.

Fluffy Stored Fat Vanishes During Ketosis

As long as you don’t eat very high amounts of calories, your body uses what it needs and depletes the rest (as ketones in the urine).

Ketosis Suppresses Appetite

During ketosis, the ketones produced tame hunger in most low carbers. Keto meals are fast and easy, incredibly savory, dense and very high in fat. Serving size is smaller but the meals keep you fuller, longer.

Ketosis Keeps More Muscle Around

During Atkins, ketosis has a ‘protein sparing’ effect. As long as adequate amounts of protein are also eaten, ketosis promotes muscle growth.

On typical low fat, high carb, calorie-restricted diets, some of the weight loss is from muscle tissue. Ketosis spares the muscle, and weight loss is from stored fat instead.

Ketosis Kicks in Super Motivation

On Atkins and during ketosis, low carbers lose fat and excess water weight quickly. Your body looks visibly thinner in a very short period of time.

Incredible results is a main reason low carbers stick to their diets. And seeing results right away is super motivating.

Almost Zero Carb Meal Plan

Three easy days, one aggressive technique and major fat loss.

The Almost Zero Carb Meal Plan is designed to break even the worst stall, burn large amounts of stored fat, and induce deep ketosis – in 3 days.

• The Technique
• 150 Recipes (100 under 1g net carb)
• Shopping List & Sample Menus
• Printable Meal Planner

If what you’re doing isn’t working, get your meal plan now.