Are keto strips useful?

hi all,

Building on my last question about macro vs calories, do many you try to stay in ketosis post op? I plan to follow the protein first, then veg for my intake, and keeping it in the 600-800 calorie range. Is ketosis a given following that regime? some seem to make an emphasis on staying in ketosis. 

I'll be checking this with my Bariatric team, but I really appreciate the feedback from folks who have actually experienced WLS.

Excellent question!  I would like to know as well.

Using strips lets me know that my body is burning fat. If I'm not in ketosis .... I will not lose. This may be different for others. When I first started out it took me a while to figure out how many carbs would knock me out of ketosis . It depends on how many carbs your body can take and still lose. Mine is very carb sensitive and can't lose on even 50 carbs per day, which is one factor that I believe has caused me to be a lot slower at losing. I have to get below 25 carbs per day if I want to stay in ketosis and see the scale move. Just remember not to count on the strips, you can be in ketosis and still be eating to many calories to lose lbs... Also , people will give you all kinds of advice on ketosis... My dr for example tells me NOT to be in ketosis Bc its starvation mode ... So following his instruction, I was not losing . Then I began to follow real life rnyers that have had success and the scale bag an to move 

There is a lot of mixed messages on this point.

I have been told by some to keep carbs really low to loose weight, and others say carbs do not matter.

I and many others that are overweight are insulin resistant and carb sensitive, so if I keep carbs up and worry about not reaching ketosis, then I will not lose properly.

I currently keep daily calories at 1000, Carbs at 20 grams or less and Protein at 100 grams.  Maybe I need to rethink it, since my weight loss is slowed down to a creep?

Those numbers look great. It's expected to see weight loss slow down but I guess when you stop losing anything at all then you need to drop calories down . I've heard that if you don't lose for a couple months then you are living in maintenance mode 

Thanks! That makes sense. I will pick some up, to see how i'm doing. I think I am also one of those who need to keep their carbs on the lower end to lose. I spent many years listening to people say a calorie is a calorie. But the reality for me seems to be: a calorie is a calorie, except when it isnt hahaha.

Keto strips are the only way to know whether your body is in ketosis.  I have to stay between 18 and 28 carbs per day to keep turning the strips purple. 

The bloid test  meters give more accurate readings but the test strips cost 1 dollar each

I get mine at Walmart 50 for under $7.00

I get mine at costco.  You can also cut them in half length wise and double the number.