WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
WomensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex & Love
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Weight Loss
  • Women In Sport
  • Podcasts
  • Video
This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

'Keto Crotch' Is A Thing You Should Probably Know About

'Keto Crotch' Is A Thing You Should Probably Know About

How Kourtney Kardashian Cheats On The Keto Diet Without Gaining Weight

How Kourtney Kardashian Cheats On The Keto Diet Without Gaining Weight

'The "Lazy Keto" Diet Helped Me Lose Nearly 68kgs'

'The "Lazy Keto" Diet Helped Me Lose Nearly 68kgs'

There's One Major Downside To The Keto Diet That No One Is Talking About

There's One Major Downside To The Keto Diet That No One Is Talking About

{headline}

{headline}

'I Blended Keto And Intermittent Fasting And Lost 33kg'

'I Blended Keto And Intermittent Fasting And Lost 33kg'

11 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight On The Keto Diet

11 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight On The Keto Diet

The Keto Diet Could Be Wreaking Havoc With Your Gut Health

The Keto Diet Could Be Wreaking Havoc With Your Gut Health

{headline}

{headline}

Halle Berry Says She's Really Into Intermittent Fasting On The Keto Diet

Halle Berry Says She's Really Into Intermittent Fasting On The Keto Diet

‘The Keto Helped Me Deal With Hypothyroidism—And Lose 12kg’

‘The Keto Helped Me Deal With Hypothyroidism—And Lose 12kg’

The Concerning Side Effect Of The Keto Diet No One Is Talking About

The Concerning Side Effect Of The Keto Diet No One Is Talking About

5 Common Mistakes People Make On The Ketogenic Diet

5 Common Mistakes People Make On The Ketogenic Diet

This One Food Can Boost Your Metabolism By Up To 15 Per Cent

This One Food Can Boost Your Metabolism By Up To 15 Per Cent

'The 30-Day Instagram Program That Helped Me Drop 55kg And Build Muscle'

'The 30-Day Instagram Program That Helped Me Drop 55kg And Build Muscle'

Honestly, The New Satiating Diet Might Be Even Better For Weight Loss Than Keto

Honestly, The New Satiating Diet Might Be Even Better For Weight Loss Than Keto

  1. Home
  2. Low Carb Diet

How Do You Know You're In Ketosis?

You may notice these signs before you start losing weight. - by Korin Miller
  • 06 Apr 2018
How Do You Know You're In Ketosis?
Getty

Ketosis kinda sounds like the medical term for bad breath, but it’s actually what the “keto” in keto diet stands for. And, if you follow the keto diet or are interested in it, getting your body into ketosis is what you’re going for.

In case you’re not familiar with keto, it’s a diet that is very high in fat and low in carbs. The goal is to get yourself into a state called ketosis, which requires eating less than 30 to 40 grams of carbs a day, explains Alissa Rumsey, R.D., C.S.C.S.

“When you only eat a very limited amount of carbs, your body breaks down fatty acids from your fat stores and forms ketones, which are released into the bloodstream by the liver,” Rumsey says. “Ketosis occurs when blood ketones are higher than normal.”

When this happens, your body also starts using fat for fuel—hence, the results that celebrities like Kourtney Kardashian and Vanessa Hudgens have raved about it.

Only one problem: How do you actually know if you're in ketosis? Experts say there are six big signs and symptoms you should look for—besides the weight loss you'll probably be super-tuned-into.

Mean Girls Bad Breath GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

1. You Have Bad Breath

Speaking of halitosis... It's unfortunate, but true: One of the major signs of ketosis is stinky breath. When you’re in this state, your body breaks down fat and proteins for energy, creating byproducts that have to be eliminated, says Scott Keatley, R.D., of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy. There are a few ways it does this, he says: through your poop, pee, sweat...and breath.

A byproduct of this breakdown of fat and protein into energy is a ketone body called acetone (the same stuff that’s in nail polish remover). “A little bit of acetone on the breath has a fruity smell, but a lot has a very distinct astringent smell that is quite unpleasant,” Keatley says. “This is a general sign that you're in ketosis and you're burning protein or fat as a source of energy.”

RELATED: 9 Keto Diet Snacks That Will Help You Lose Weight

2. You Feel Totally Wiped Out

When you first go into ketosis, your body gets confused by the fact that it doesn’t have the normal amount of carbs to burn for energy, says Peter LePort, M.D., a bariatric surgeon and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif. As a result, you feel completely exhausted.

Energizer Bunny 90S GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

3. …But Then You Super-Energized

Eventually, your body figures out that you can get by just fine by burning fat and protein for energy, and so you start to feel a little more energetic, LePort says. But that's likely a placebo effect more than anything, given that it's basically just an improvement from feeling super tired all the time, he says.

4. Your Appetite Decreases

This is a legit phenomenon that happens, but it's not totally clear why. There are some theories, though, Keatley says. It could be that the bacteria in your gut changes due to your new diet, he says. It could also be that the ketones affect the hypothalamus in your brain and cause a different release of hormones, making you less hungry in the process, LePort says. Whatever it is, it’s not uncommon to feel less hungry when you enter ketosis.

Cat Homer GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

5. You Spend Tons Of Time In The Restroom

When you go on keto, your start eating some serious fat, and your body just isn’t ready for it, Keatley says. “Your body doesn't digest it properly and the bacteria in your gut is not ready to break it down,” he explains. This can lead to diarrhoea or a temporary disorder called steatorrhea, which causes really smelly poop. “This should subside after a little bit but you can always ease into a keto diet rather than jump all in to avoid these issues,” Keatley says.

This article originally appeared on Women’s Health US.

RELATED: The Keto Diet Actually Has The Most Bizarrely Intriguing Backstory

  • Health
  • Food
  • Diet Plans
  • Diet
  • Low Carb Diet
  • Keto Diet

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack
Watch 0:23

This Simple, Effective Ab Workout Will Shred Your Six-Pack

{headline}

{headline}

'Keto Crotch' Is A Thing You Should Probably Know About

'Keto Crotch' Is A Thing You Should Probably Know About

How Kourtney Kardashian Cheats On The Keto Diet Without Gaining Weight

How Kourtney Kardashian Cheats On The Keto Diet Without Gaining Weight

'The "Lazy Keto" Diet Helped Me Lose Nearly 68kgs'

'The "Lazy Keto" Diet Helped Me Lose Nearly 68kgs'

There's One Major Downside To The Keto Diet That No One Is Talking About

There's One Major Downside To The Keto Diet That No One Is Talking About

{headline}

{headline}

'I Blended Keto And Intermittent Fasting And Lost 33kg'

'I Blended Keto And Intermittent Fasting And Lost 33kg'

11 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight On The Keto Diet

11 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight On The Keto Diet

The Keto Diet Could Be Wreaking Havoc With Your Gut Health

The Keto Diet Could Be Wreaking Havoc With Your Gut Health

{headline}

{headline}

Halle Berry Says She's Really Into Intermittent Fasting On The Keto Diet

Halle Berry Says She's Really Into Intermittent Fasting On The Keto Diet

‘The Keto Helped Me Deal With Hypothyroidism—And Lose 12kg’

‘The Keto Helped Me Deal With Hypothyroidism—And Lose 12kg’

The Concerning Side Effect Of The Keto Diet No One Is Talking About

The Concerning Side Effect Of The Keto Diet No One Is Talking About

5 Common Mistakes People Make On The Ketogenic Diet

5 Common Mistakes People Make On The Ketogenic Diet

This One Food Can Boost Your Metabolism By Up To 15 Per Cent

This One Food Can Boost Your Metabolism By Up To 15 Per Cent

'The 30-Day Instagram Program That Helped Me Drop 55kg And Build Muscle'

'The 30-Day Instagram Program That Helped Me Drop 55kg And Build Muscle'

Honestly, The New Satiating Diet Might Be Even Better For Weight Loss Than Keto

Honestly, The New Satiating Diet Might Be Even Better For Weight Loss Than Keto

WomensHealth
  • Contact Us
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Contact Us
  • About Paragon Media
  • Contact Paragon Media
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
  • Men’s Health
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now