Atkins 20

[lizabu]

Did you read the part about her being all puffy and barely able to get her rings on and off?

Yup..not unusual at first. The cure is to drink more water. In induction you have to drink crazy amounts of water.

 

[ronandannette]

That IS weird. Are you peeing normally? More? Less? You don't have any kind of kidney issues do you? A very high protein diet can be tough on the kidneys. I do not low carb so I can't say whether the puffiness is normal or not. When I puff up I can usually nail it down to high salt intake, more strenuous excercise than normal, the heat or all of the above. I cut back on salt, drink lots of water and get extra steps in to help move it out of my system. Usually takes a couple of days.

I'm going to go with maybe a little less, actually. And I don't think I've altered my fluid intake; I drink 6 cups of black coffee, 4 cups of herbal tea and 2 bottles of water every single week day (at work - I'm a very routine oriented person). Maybe just slightly less on weekends but not tons less. I've never been a juice or pop drinker and don't consume hardly any carbs or calories that way so I didn't have to make any modifications. I do confess to having basically sat around like a slug all week though .

 

[lizabu]

I'm going to go with maybe a little less, actually. And I don't think I've altered my fluid intake; I drink 6 cups of black coffee, 4 cups of herbal tea and 2 bottles of water every single week day (at work - I'm a very routine oriented person). Maybe just slightly less on weekends but not tons less. I've never been a juice or pop drinker and don't consume hardly any carbs or calories that way so I didn't have to make any modifications. I do confess to having basically sat around like a slug all week though .

https://www.atkins.ca/how-it-works/library/articles/how-to-do-atkins-right-10-mistakes-to-avoid

http://www.everythingatkins.net/water.html

 

[Klayfish]

I haven't had time to read the whole thread, so sorry if I missed something or it's already been discussed.

Don't feel like you have to rely on Atkins or other fad diets. They're a lot of money for things you can do yourself. There's not a ton of magic to proper nutrition. A good balance of proteins, carbs and fats. Proteins should be things like lean cuts of meat (chicken breast, low fat ground beef, etc...), fish, greek yogurt, nuts, egg whites, etc... Carbs can be oats, sweet potato, etc...but in moderation. Unless you're prepping for a body building competition, there's nothing wrong with eating fruits, eat as much as you want if you're hungry. People don't get overweight eating fruits (and veggies of course).

As for liquids, don't overthink it. Water, zero calorie drinks, etc...are fine. Stay hydrated, no need to go nuts "counting" it.

Be as active as you can be.

I know it can be hard, but nutrition is really a lot of basic common sense.

 

[ronandannette]

https://www.atkins.ca/how-it-works/library/articles/how-to-do-atkins-right-10-mistakes-to-avoid

http://www.everythingatkins.net/water.html

Helpful, thanks. It doesn't look like I'm messing anything up too badly except maybe being a little low on the protein. I'm also going to up the plain water and see what happens. Wouldn't you know it though - I've come down with something today, something sinus-y and cold-ish. I'm blaming it on a lack of vitamins last week so I've eaten an entire bell pepper today and taken a C supplement.

 

[Hrhpd]

You haven't stayed in Induction for years, have you? If that's what it takes I'll likely give up now. I the muffin idea - is it allowed on Induction? And can it be done in quantity and baked in the oven? I actually picked up some flax meal during my shop today and am definitely trying that recipe. Thanks! (Oh, and I'm on one shake a day as a grab-n-go breakfast or snack. I'm feeling pretty lost without convenience foods but it certainly has pointed out how many of them we were routinely eating.)

Gosh no, I couldn't stay on induction for a long time. I do induction for a week here and there to jump start.

I agree with the others that if you aren't losing, you aren't eating enough. It is counter intuitive to use olive oil generously or use mayo and butter. With Atkins, you use heavy whipping cream in your coffee because it has less carbs in it than milk. Atkins is really indulgent if you do it right. Make sure you are getting enough fats

The flaxseed muffin with just the cinnamon is ok for induction, but adding the blueberries and cream cheese is for the next stage. You can't really bake them in the oven, but it is only a minute in the microwave, so really no need to pre-bake. I usually put one together, throw it in the microwave and then go do my makeup. I come down and I have a nice warm muffin with butte added (no margarine)

What you can make ahead of time is Revolution Rolls. They are great as hamburger buns, "bread" for sandwiches, etc.

The below are from (http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=430644) but you can google Atkins Revolution Rolls or Oopsie Rolls to find many different versions. I like to add garlic and onion with a little cheese on the top.

ATKINS REVOLUTION ROLLS

3 eggs
1 pkg.Splenda(I use 2 tsp. of twin sugar)
dash of salt
3 T. cream cheese
pinch of cream of tartar

Preheat oven to 300. Separate the eggs and add Splenda, salt, and cream cheese to the yolks. Whisk this mixture together. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff. Using a spatula, gradually fold the yolk mixture into the white mixture, being careful not to break down the whites. Spray a cookie sheet with Pam and spoon the mixture onto the sheet, making 6 mounds. Flatten each just a little. Bake about 35 minutes.
Makes 6 @ .7 carbs, o fiber, 58 Calories, 4 fat, 3 protein

I do not flatten them at all. I read you can use them for hamburger rolls, and also if you toast them (careful, they burn easily), spread them with butter mixed with a little splenda.
Put the eggs in a bowl and run warm or hot water on and let set so that egg whites and yokes warm up a bit. Egg whites beat up better when at room temp. and also warm up the cream cheese as both the yokes and cream cheese will mix much better when warm or room temp. It`s just about impossible to mix the two cold things together otherwise.
You can use parchment paper and they will lift right off. No need to greese.
Or you can use a grocery bag cut to fit cookie sheet and use a spachula to take them off. No need to greese.
Cream of tartar is a natural fruit acid in the form of fine white powder made from pressed grapes. It is a leavener. When beating egg whites it makes them firmer and they tolerate oven heat better. When using cr. of tarter beat the whites a little longer. Cr. of tarter is found in the spice and herb section of your grocery store."

 

[leebee]

Thanks leebee - any recommendations on brands of mayo and dressings? I spent quite a few minutes browsing them at the store and left with nothing because every label had either sugar or dextrose listed. Every.Single.One. I'm trying to be fanatical about hidden sugar and carbs - I haven't has so much as a smidgen of wheat or cornflour since last Tuesday.

I'm definitely going to take the advice about eating the meat first. I've really been struggling to cram down 12g worth of greens. Now that I've gotten some provisions in the house I just need to find the time to put things together.

I just checked in the fridge. We use Marie's blue cheese dressing (no sugar, no carbs) and store brand mayonnaise (for me that means Hannaford). Turns out there IS sugar in the mayo, but for a 1T serving it's low enough that the nutrition label says 0g carb, 0g sugar.

I like the original, "older" version of Atkins better than the newer ones. Basically, you could have all the meat, fish, cheese (hard or soft, but maybe no cottage cheese), and fat (butter, mayo,real dressings, never low or no fat) you wanted, which is easy to remember. No milk, nothing with sugar or flour, no bread, pasta, rice, corn, peas, winter squashes, potato, tomato, carrot, onion, no fruit, no fruit juice, no nuts, no peanut butter (or now probably no other nut butter either). I always lost weight successfully on Atkins. The problem is, I'd get lazy, stop cooking, stop having the easy-to-grab foods available, and the next thing you know, I'd be back on pizza and bagels w/cream cheese... and would gain weight, because you can't keep weight off if you stop following an eating plan- ANY eating plan!

 

[Hrhpd]

I just checked in the fridge. We use Marie's blue cheese dressing (no sugar, no carbs) and store brand mayonnaise (for me that means Hannaford). Turns out there IS sugar in the mayo, but for a 1T serving it's low enough that the nutrition label says 0g carb, 0g sugar.

I like the original, "older" version of Atkins better than the newer ones. Basically, you could have all the meat, fish, cheese (hard or soft, but maybe no cottage cheese), and fat (butter, mayo,real dressings, never low or no fat) you wanted, which is easy to remember. No milk, nothing with sugar or flour, no bread, pasta, rice, corn, peas, winter squashes, potato, tomato, carrot, onion, no fruit, no fruit juice, no nuts, no peanut butter (or now probably no other nut butter either). I always lost weight successfully on Atkins. The problem is, I'd get lazy, stop cooking, stop having the easy-to-grab foods available, and the next thing you know, I'd be back on pizza and bagels w/cream cheese... and would gain weight, because you can't keep weight off if you stop following an eating plan- ANY eating plan!

I prefer Atkins '72 also. So much easier than all the new versions.

Ronandannette, if you want to try the original, you can usually find the old book Atkins Revolution on ebay.

 

[ronandannette]

...I like the original, "older" version of Atkins better than the newer ones. Basically, you could have all the meat, fish, cheese (hard or soft, but maybe no cottage cheese), and fat (butter, mayo,real dressings, never low or no fat) you wanted, which is easy to remember. No milk, nothing with sugar or flour, no bread, pasta, rice, corn, peas, winter squashes, potato, tomato, carrot, onion, no fruit, no fruit juice, no nuts, no peanut butter (or now probably no other nut butter either). I always lost weight successfully on Atkins. The problem is, I'd get lazy, stop cooking, stop having the easy-to-grab foods available, and the next thing you know, I'd be back on pizza and bagels w/cream cheese... and would gain weight, because you can't keep weight off if you stop following an eating plan- ANY eating plan!

I prefer Atkins '72 also. So much easier than all the new versions.

Ronandannette, if you want to try the original, you can usually find the old book Atkins Revolution on ebay.

Oh, sweet mother of pearl - I truly think I'd rather be heavy. I simply cannot see living like that for any extended period of time.

 

[Hrhpd]

Oh, sweet mother of pearl - I truly think I'd rather be heavy. I simply cannot see living like that for any extended period of time.

Induction is only for a week or two. Then you start adding berries and other good fruits. I always love a bowl of raspberries with whip cream for dessert.

That is one reason Atkins gets such a bad rap, people think it is only induction and that you never get fruits or other foods. You do. Once you get out of induction, it is a balanced diet.

 

[ronandannette]

Induction is only for a week or two. Then you start adding berries and other good fruits. I always love a bowl of raspberries with whip cream for dessert.

That is one reason Atkins gets such a bad rap, people think it is only induction and that you never get fruits or other foods. You do. Once you get out of induction, it is a balanced diet.

Yeah, thanks - I've looked at the whole program and am now actually dreaming at night of cantalope chunks. Question: I've got this irrational fear that since this Induction isn't going so well, maybe I'm messing up my metabolism. Will moving to Phase 2 and adding fruits and nuts in (still staying at 20 net carbs) actually cause me to gain weight?

 

[lizabu]

Yeah, thanks - I've looked at the whole program and am now actually dreaming at night of cantalope chunks. Question: I've got this irrational fear that since this Induction isn't going so well, maybe I'm messing up my metabolism. Will moving to Phase 2 and adding fruits and nuts in (still staying at 20 net carbs) actually cause me to gain weight?

It's different for everyone. What the program is meant to do is start you out in induction and slowly add things back in until you discover your personal threshold for things you can eat and still continue to lose. Its recommended only add one thing back at a time. If your weight loss stalls you will more easily be able to identify the culprit.

 

[MataHari22]

I just wanted to wish you good luck on losing the weight, and hope it works for you. My step mom always had good luck on low carb. For me, it just wasn't good. I felt absolutely miserable and couldn't function on it.

The way I lost the weight I needed to (about 15 pounds) was counting calories. I'm a very cravings based eater, and as soon as I was not allowed to have something, that's all I wanted. But, I am good with being able to only eat a little of something, and i realize that not everyone can do that.

 

[ronandannette]

I just wanted to wish you good luck on losing the weight, and hope it works for you. My step mom always had good luck on low carb. For me, it just wasn't good. I felt absolutely miserable and couldn't function on it.

The way I lost the weight I needed to (about 15 pounds) was counting calories. I'm a very cravings based eater, and as soon as I was not allowed to have something, that's all I wanted. But, I am good with being able to only eat a little of something, and i realize that not everyone can do that.

Hard to imagine you ever needing to lose. Part of my desire to reduce is to get reacquainted with my collar bone and jawline...your's is sculptured and lovely!

 

[MataHari22]

Hard to imagine you ever needing to lose. Part of my desire to reduce is to get reacquainted with my collar bone and jawline...your's is sculptured and lovely!

Well, I was a totally different person pre cancer. Now, with my dysphagia, I'm too thin! I am only about 98 lbs. My normal weight, and what I felt best at, was 120 lbs. I am 5'2". Also, my jawline and neck, look tighter because of my neck dissection, I had 30+ lymph nodes removed, so it's not a realistic comparison. At my heaviest, I was about 135 or so, and I really didn't feel well.

 

[ronandannette]

Well, I was a totally different person pre cancer. Now, with my dysphagia, I'm too thin! I am only about 98 lbs. My normal weight, and what I felt best at, was 120 lbs. I am 5'2". Also, my jawline and neck, look tighter because of my neck dissection, I had 30+ lymph nodes removed, so it's not a realistic comparison. At my heaviest, I was about 135 or so, and I really didn't feel well.

Bless you!

 

[Klayfish]

I like the original, "older" version of Atkins better than the newer ones. Basically, you could have all the meat, fish, cheese (hard or soft, but maybe no cottage cheese), and fat (butter, mayo,real dressings, never low or no fat) you wanted, which is easy to remember. No milk, nothing with sugar or flour, no bread, pasta, rice, corn, peas, winter squashes, potato, tomato, carrot, onion, no fruit, no fruit juice, no nuts, no peanut butter (or now probably no other nut butter either). I always lost weight successfully on Atkins. The problem is, I'd get lazy, stop cooking, stop having the easy-to-grab foods available, and the next thing you know, I'd be back on pizza and bagels w/cream cheese... and would gain weight, because you can't keep weight off if you stop following an eating plan- ANY eating plan!

See, that just doesn't make sense to me, and for health, it's just not right. I'm cool with the "all the meat, fish" part, presuming it's cuts of lean meat. Cheese is OK, in moderation. All the fat you wanted? Including things like full fat mayo, butter and salad dressings? No peanut butter, no fruits, no nuts, some veggies are out? That's not only poor nutrition, that can be bad for your health. Things like regular mayo and salad dressing are full of saturated fats and are really bad for you. Peanut butter, especially the natural variety, are a staple food for bodybuilders/weightlifters, and are full of good nutrition. Fruit is a natural sugar, but is still plenty healthy to eat. Nuts are a very healthy source of good fats and proteins.

I'm sorry, but I just don't understand these fad diets. They rarely work for extended periods, and using some of these techniques you may lose numbers on the scale, but you'll be far from "healthy". I applaud the desire and effort to lose weight, but I don't think these things are really the way to go. It's really all about a well balanced nutrition plan. Unless you have a medical condition, there's no reason it can't include all kinds of different things in moderation. Best advice I can give is to ditch the Atkins or any other trendy "diet", grab a few nutrition books or good articles online to read and make the changes in your daily nutrition habits. The hardest part is getting started. Once you've got it down to a routine, it becomes easy.

 

[Hikergirl]

I don't really consider Atkins, or any low carb diet a fad, its just a different way of eating. You don't magically keep the weight off after "the diet", you do need to continue eating that way, that is why its not really a fad diet, its changing the way you eat.
Also, what is very unhealthy for one person isn't necessarily way unhealthy for another.
I don't do Atkins, but I changed the way I eat over a year ago to low carb. I lost 20lbs but I have gained some back due to the fact that I was irresponsible with my eating choices this summer, and my trip to F&W last week LOL.
Back on track for me does mean more fats, and no more carbs. I drink more water, don't use any artificial sweetener and I exercise more (to burn that fat) so I am actually much healthier than I was 5 years ago.

OP, if you are struggling with what to eat, check pinterest. I get so many great low-carb recipes there.

 

[Hrhpd]

See, that just doesn't make sense to me, and for health, it's just not right. I'm cool with the "all the meat, fish" part, presuming it's cuts of lean meat. Cheese is OK, in moderation. All the fat you wanted? Including things like full fat mayo, butter and salad dressings? No peanut butter, no fruits, no nuts, some veggies are out? That's not only poor nutrition, that can be bad for your health. Things like regular mayo and salad dressing are full of saturated fats and are really bad for you. Peanut butter, especially the natural variety, are a staple food for bodybuilders/weightlifters, and are full of good nutrition. Fruit is a natural sugar, but is still plenty healthy to eat. Nuts are a very healthy source of good fats and proteins.

I'm sorry, but I just don't understand these fad diets. They rarely work for extended periods, and using some of these techniques you may lose numbers on the scale, but you'll be far from "healthy". I applaud the desire and effort to lose weight, but I don't think these things are really the way to go. It's really all about a well balanced nutrition plan. Unless you have a medical condition, there's no reason it can't include all kinds of different things in moderation. Best advice I can give is to ditch the Atkins or any other trendy "diet", grab a few nutrition books or good articles online to read and make the changes in your daily nutrition habits. The hardest part is getting started. Once you've got it down to a routine, it becomes easy.

Once again, that part is only for a week or two. Dr. Atkins professed it was to jar a heavy set person's body out of insulin resistance. And what was posted was from the 1972 book The Atkins Revolution. Many changes have been made over the years to follow research and make it healthier. Some of us just prefer the old ONE WEEK induction period because it is tastier, easier to follow and one or two weeks is not going to ruin our bodies.

On Atkins and other low carb diets, once you have done the "fad" part, nuts are encouraged, fruits are allowed and all veggies and meats (lean is encouraged are allowed. You are encouraged to become familiar with the glycemic index so you can balance your carbs. Want to eat a high carb veggie? Pick a lower carb fruit to go with it. Basically all low carb diets are doing is to teach you to stay away from processed carbs like flour, refined sugar and such. Once you pass induction, you are also encouraged to use healthy fats like olive oil, although butter and mayo is allowed. In the newest versions, even some whole wheat is allowed, but in moderation. Peanut butter is allowed, but not Skippy or Jiff or other commercial butters as it has an over abundance of processed sugar. You are encouraged to either make your own in a food processor or buy the just nuts peanut butters.

Researchers and Dietary organizations have praised the low carb diet and some have even been said to say it is the best way to eat. The current food pyramid, as it is, is not healthy and there have been articles by prominent researchers to take carbs off the bottom and put it at the top. The Mediterranean people are the healthiest in cardiovascular disease and they eat a diet high in healthy fats and low carbs.

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/low-carbohydrate-diets/

This is from the Atkins site itself. You can see it emphasizes healthy fats, encourages nuts, veggies and lean protein.

https://www.atkins.com/how-it-works...ts-low-carb-over-low-fat-diet-for-weight-loss

 

[leebee]

See, that just doesn't make sense to me, and for health, it's just not right. I'm cool with the "all the meat, fish" part, presuming it's cuts of lean meat. Cheese is OK, in moderation. All the fat you wanted? Including things like full fat mayo, butter and salad dressings? No peanut butter, no fruits, no nuts, some veggies are out? That's not only poor nutrition, that can be bad for your health. Things like regular mayo and salad dressing are full of saturated fats and are really bad for you. Peanut butter, especially the natural variety, are a staple food for bodybuilders/weightlifters, and are full of good nutrition. Fruit is a natural sugar, but is still plenty healthy to eat. Nuts are a very healthy source of good fats and proteins.

This is the induction diet, designed to help you break your carb habit and lose weight. It is also designed to only last 2-4 weeks, after which you start adding in more fibre-based foods: whole grains, legumes, etc., to determine at what level these foods are tolerated by your body without triggering weight gain. However, it's a pretty safe bet that anything made with white flour or containing sugar will be out, because of how many people's bodies process these foods. It's all based on the glycemic index, which is an indication of how your body perceives the food you eat. A glycemic index based diet is a very effective diet for weight loss, and is the recommended diet for type 2 diabetics and those with metabolic syndrome. While many people still believe weight control is as simple as calories in vs. calories expended, nutritional biochemists have found that there are far more things that control body weight than this simple equation portrays.

Most fruits are recognized by your body as sugar, with very little fibre coming from many of them. Might as well eat something sugar-sweetened if you are going to eat fruit or drink fruit juice, because your body "see" sugar. Peanuts are calorie dense; a half-cup contains 16g of carb, 17g of protein, 36g of fat (over half the daily requirement for adults), and 430 calories. Not a diet food! Veggies that are out on induction are either high in sugar (carrots, onions, tomatoes) or are very high in carbohydrate that is recognized as sugar (potatoes, peas, corn, winter squashes). Regarding fat, you're right, you shouldn't eat it by the cupful! However, according to the Mayo Clinic, if you're on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, 400 to 700 calories can come from dietary fat (44-78). Most fats we add to food (i.e., mayonnaise, butter, oils, etc.) check in at about 100 calories per tablespoon. Now, I love mayo on my sandwiches and like to fry my eggs in butter, and even I cannot imagine eating 4-7 TABLESPOONS of fat a day! While the saturated fat issue is one that should be considered, I cannot justify consuming the reduced calorie versions of a lot of foods. Low-cal dressings and mayo contain thickeners, starches, sugars, gums, etc., to attain the consistency of the more natural products. I would rather stick to the more "whole" versions of anything than the manipulated, constructed "low-fat" products.