The_Old_Guy
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I'm on day 18 of a Ketogenic Cut using a NovaMax Blood Ketone Meter. Realizing groups of people react differently, I'll say this:
If you are thinking of Keto to lose fat, you *really* need to get this meter (there are others, but this was the best deal, but shop around - Freedom, and PrecisionXtra make them too). While my Ketostix were showing "Trace" and "Small" Acetoacetate after 3 days, I had ZERO Beta-hydroxybutyrate in the blood until today.
Phinney and Volek recommend 0.5 - 3mmol of BhB as a good range, and the best time to check is after waking up (long fast). Today I clocked in at 0.4mmol - so I still have some work to do.
Now here's the kicker that will cause coronaries in the Protein Police: That 0.4 was only obtained until I dropped total protein to 90g/Day, with Fat at about 200g/Day. Today I dropped another 10g of P, to 80g and upped the fat to 210g to hopefully hit 0.5mmol or higher. This tracks with what Jimmy Moore had to do - basically 85% Fat, 15% Combined Protein/Carb. Gluconeogenesis is a bjtch.
Nope, not worried about "losing muscle", and even if I do, it'll come back quick when I resume the recovery diet after the cut.
But bottom line PSA: Don't buy Ketostix - Do buy a Blood Ketone Meter if you want to maximize a Ketogenic Cut (You will obviously still lose fat due to just the deficit - but if I'm going to go through the hassle, I want true Keto occurring).
If you are thinking of Keto to lose fat, you *really* need to get this meter (there are others, but this was the best deal, but shop around - Freedom, and PrecisionXtra make them too). While my Ketostix were showing "Trace" and "Small" Acetoacetate after 3 days, I had ZERO Beta-hydroxybutyrate in the blood until today.
Phinney and Volek recommend 0.5 - 3mmol of BhB as a good range, and the best time to check is after waking up (long fast). Today I clocked in at 0.4mmol - so I still have some work to do.
Now here's the kicker that will cause coronaries in the Protein Police: That 0.4 was only obtained until I dropped total protein to 90g/Day, with Fat at about 200g/Day. Today I dropped another 10g of P, to 80g and upped the fat to 210g to hopefully hit 0.5mmol or higher. This tracks with what Jimmy Moore had to do - basically 85% Fat, 15% Combined Protein/Carb. Gluconeogenesis is a bjtch.
Nope, not worried about "losing muscle", and even if I do, it'll come back quick when I resume the recovery diet after the cut.
But bottom line PSA: Don't buy Ketostix - Do buy a Blood Ketone Meter if you want to maximize a Ketogenic Cut (You will obviously still lose fat due to just the deficit - but if I'm going to go through the hassle, I want true Keto occurring).
