My Ketonix has arrived (updated)

Last updated on April 14th, 2017

Unboxing of my Ketonix 2015

I opened the mailbox today to find that my Ketonix 2015 Blue had arrived from Sweden. The arrival of a new gadget is always a cause for celebration. In this case, I was also relieved. I ordered the Ketonix via the company’s website on April 23, selecting the regular “letter” type shipping, so I figured it would take a while to get here. But as the days, and then the weeks, went by, I started to wonder. It’s a long way from Sweden to Michigan (as my great great grandparents discovered). Anything could happen to a little box.

But the Ketonix 2015 got here in one piece and in working order.  Yes, I took a chance ordering it to be shipped by regular mail, as Anita casually pointed out a couple of times, but it all worked out.

Just call me Lucky Jim!

I have no commercial interest in the company, nor any affiliate relationship, and paid the full retail price, which is $149 for the Ketonix 2015 model. The regular (lowest cost) shipping was another $10. The Ketonix is more expensive than a blood ketone monitor, but unlike the blood monitors, you can use the Ketonix repeatedly without the need for pricey test strips. Also, you don’t have to keep pricking a finger to draw blood.

Initial Impression

The Ketonix measures acetone in your breath. A high acetone level is an indicator that your body is using ketones for fuel, which means it is, or could be, burning body fat.

Set up is easy. You download a small program to your computer, create a simple profile, plug the Ketonix into a USB port, give it a few minutes to initialize, click “start,” and then blow (exhale) into the unit.

My first blow indicated a high acetone level (color-code red), which correlates with a state of ketosis. Anita tried it, and blew a medium (yellow) level, also indicating ketosis. The unit also gives numeric readings. Mine was 63, and hers was 54. These results made sense to us. We’re both eating LCHF, and ought to be in ketosis, but I’ve been a little more extreme about it. (After all, I’m the one writing the blog about eating a ketogenic diet.) Beyond that, I have no way to tell how accurate the Ketonix 2015 is. I’ll take readings with it twice a day for the next month or so, look for patterns and correlations.  My first impression is positive.

Update

Having used the Ketonix 2015 for many weeks, I continue to have a positive view of it. The device seems to work as advertised. When I have been strictly following a very low-carb “keto” diet, my Ketonix 2015 indicates a high degree of ketosis.

And after a day or three when I have indulged in too many carbs, the Ketonix indicates that situation, too.

Here are a few posts in which I discuss my experience with the device:

My LCHF week in review: May 17 – May 23

A new plateau? Not if I can help it!

Busting the stall

A small reversal

Calories up, fat up — weight down

But perhaps the real question is, do you need this device, or any ketone monitoring device, to lose weight on a low-carb, high-fat diet? I have to say no. After all, I did lose a great deal of weight without ever testing my level of ketosis by any means. I suppose if you think you are eating a very low-carb diet, but you really aren’t, then the Ketonix could warn you that you aren’t achieving ketosis — and therefore show why you aren’t losing pounds. And if you are in ketosis, then you might get a morale boost from seeing the Ketonix tip glow red.

Ultimately, though, the real morale boost comes from losing weight and inches around your middle. Nothing can replace that.