I always thought the whole point of eliminating carbs (well almost) on CD was to kick you into keto, and keep you there because it's the 'golden fat burn zone', I thought ketosis showed that your body was eating it's own fat stores
Well, yes and no. On this diet, yes, but keto itself doesn't mean you are losing fat. If you eat a ton of fat, the stix can show ketosis, but you wont be losing stored fat.
But on this diet, you aren't eating a ton of fat, so if the stix show pink, you are burning fat.
BUT...big but here. If the stix aren't pink, it doesn't mean you are NOT burning fat. Also doesn't mean you are NOT in ketosis, as the sticks aren't a test for ketosis. Also you don't have to be in ketosis to burn fat. Most other diets don't use ketosis, but people still lose fat.
If it's to just reduce hunger, which it's not in my case
, then why am I spending £40 a week on tetra's if I can just starve myself on my own vlcd of 400kcals and take multivits?
Hopefully you are doing it because it's a safe way to VLCD. DIY VLCDs aren't safe.
You cannot get the correct balance of macronutrients on 400kcals without a formula designed for it. The vits and minerals are important too but an A to Z of vits aren't going to give you everything you need.
Too short of protein? Kind of 'can kill'. Not too cool. As for the £40. I guess a poor diet with a multivitamin, though unsafe may be cheaper. Cambridge is similar in price to a healthy food basket.
What I've noticed is that when I've done low kcal diets in the past, I lose very little each week, but when I've done SS in the past I have lost more.
Because on SS you are getting the correct balance with a very low calorie day/s.
I'm just really confused now and disheartened
When I saw the pink, it boosted me up because I thought it was a sign of my body burning fat for energy.
Which it is. You'll burn fat on this diet.
My reply was because you weren't getting a pink stick. I never got a pink stick, but lost 8 stone. Kind of hoping that some was fat
So rejoice if you have a pink stick and doing this diet, because you are burning fat. But that doesn't mean if you are doing this diet and not getting a pink stick, you aren't losing fat.