Ketone levels tend to be moderate, though I have taken the approach that the depth of color has more to do with the overall intake of liquids. I don’t tend to drink a lot of liquids before my testing, so it’s darker than when I chug down a liter of seltzer beforehand. I assume: you’re either in ketosis or not.

As to eating, I have been living on a vegetable ‘stew’ of my own concoction that has about a 1/4 lb. of organic ground beef per serving along with eggplant, onions, tomatoes, peppers, squash – the ingredients vary, but the base is always eggplant. I have lots of cream in the huge amount of coffee I drink, and also enjoy butter. I also like cheese and lettuce, mayo and low carb bread. The low carb bread I try to keep under 2 slices a day. There’s other stuff, to be sure, but this is the majority.

I also have an Atkins shake for breakfast with my vitamins, fiber therapy in the evening, and I might even have a piece of Lindt 70% chocolate – the lowest carb ‘non-diet-chocolate’ there is.

As to the nicotine, I’d say it works for me at least 80% of the time – when used correctly. My problem is being stuck in the kitchen feeding somebody else and ‘grazing’ until I’ve seriously overeaten. If I eat a reasonable meal then take a lozenge, it seems to curb some very powerful urges to continue eating. A lozenge (not the gum) lasts me about 1.5-2 hrs. Side effects can be an upset stomach (if I take it on an empty stomach). It causes a tingling in the mouth, and taking too much can make one jittery in a manner somewhat similar to coffee. I usually take no more than 4 a day, which is way less than the maximum of 20 on the product label.

Regards,
LCC

How is the nicotine gum working? Besides appetite suppression, are there any other side effects?

They say that “practice makes perfect”. You’ll catch that train.