Atkins Help Please!

[Mom2Princesses]

Just started Atkins yesterday and I am not sure whether hot dogs are allowed for Induction or not? Figured I better find out before the barbecues begin...

Also, I bought urine test strips today and they turned out medium in color, does that sound okay for being on Atkins for 2 days? It kind of scares me, the information included with them makes it sound like it is bad to have the ketones, but I feel okay.

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

 

[dizneegirl]

Hot dogs are allowed, but you really don't want to eat too many of them... most of them contain corn syrup - nasty stuff! There are also many with waaaaaay too many carbs. Oscar Meyer beef franks are about the lowest I've seen, with 1 gram each.

As far as the keto strips... they're actually made for diabetics, not for low-carbers. If you're a diabetic, you have to watch that you don't develop ketoacidosis... which is what they're checking for when they use the keto sticks.

Here's a FAQ from atkins.com on the difference.

Isn't ketosis a dangerous state for your body to be in?
The body uses two fuels for energy: fat and glucose (blood sugar). Carbohydrates break down in the body as glucose. So when you cut back on carbs, you effectively take away most of one of the body's fuels and the body turns to fat burning, the metabolic process called lipolysis and the secondary process of ketosis. So long as you have extra body fat, ketosis is safe and natural—and it’s the secret weapon of weight loss. A person in ketosis is getting energy from burning ketones, which are carbon fragments that are created by the burning of the body's fat stores.

There is nothing harmful, abnormal or dangerous about ketosis. Some of the confusion comes from the word ketoacidosis, which is completely different from ketosis. Ketoacidosis is a potentially dangerous condition seen in Type I diabetics—people who cannot produce insulin, when their blood sugar levels are out of control—alcoholics and people in a severe state of starvation. Research shows that ketosis does not cause adverse effects to the heart, kidneys, liver or blood cell functions. Nor is bone health compromised.

As far as ketones and low-carbing, ANY color change on the sticks means you're spilling ketones (which is more than likely because you're burning fat, but could also be too much dietary fat). You don't need to strive to turn it a darker color... darker doesn't mean better or faster.

You also should watch out for co-dependence on the sticks... some people lose just fine and never register, others register pink everyday, and don't lose... just don't let it become an obsession!

 

[Mom2Princesses]

Thank you, Dizneegirl, that information makes me feel better! I kind of got the feeling it was directed at Diabetics, but it was a bit scary to read.

Hot dogs are not my first chooice, but I will probably be stuck with them at one point over the weekend. Maybe I will buy my own, at least that way I can control which ones I am eating!