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Yes, but it is not recommended that women who are pregnant or nursing restrict their carb intake to the point of ketosis. There have not been sufficient studies done to prove that is completely safe for the baby. It is generally advised that you reduce your consumption of sugar and white flour, as well as [...]
Category Archives: FAQ
Have I done something wrong if my weight loss seems to have stopped?
Most likely not. Of course you should take a good look at what sort of things you have decided to add to your menu following induction. It is very common, however to have several “plateaus” (stalls) along the way. It is almost as if your body is going through an adjustment to each new weight [...]
Is alcohol permitted in low carb eating programs?
Alcohol, in and of itself, does not raise blood sugar. Light consumption of distilled spirits (but not sugary liqueurs), dry wines and low carb beers, is generally permissible during the later phases of most programs. There are, however, a number of caveats that come with use of alcohol. First, and foremost, alcohol presents your body [...]
My ketostix are purple, so how come I’m no longer losing weight?
Dr. Atkins recommends testing for ketosis (actually benign dietary lipolysis) by testing one’s urine for the presence of ketone bodies. Most people use one or another variation on ketostix, a small strip of plastic with an area of reagent on the tip which, when exposed to urine containing ketone bodies, will turn anywhere from pink [...]
Is it normal to feel terrible during induction?
It is not unusual for followers of the Atkins Nutritional Approach to feel pretty badly during the first few days of induction. There a number of reasons for this. First of all, you are making a significant change in your day to day eating habits, which can be psychologically taxing. Secondly, you are inducing a [...]
Can I low carb diet if I’m diabetic or pre-diabetic?
A low carb nutritional program is ideal for type2 diabetics. (Type1 diabetics should investigate Dr. Bernstein’s site, and consult with their health care providers.) The more restricted carbohydrate intake is, the lower one’s blood glucose levels will be. Dr. Atkins did, and Dr. Bernstein still does, treat diabetic patients with very restricted carbohydrate intake being [...]
I’ve had a cholecystectomy. Can I still low carb?
Many people who have had their gall bladders removed are advised to limit their fat intake, at least initially. Bile is needed to digest fats and the gall bladder’s job is to store and concentrate bile, delivering it (via the common bile duct) to the digestive system when fats are detected in the contents. Most [...]
Is it true that low carb diets can cause gall bladder problems?
There have always been anecdotal reports of people starting to experience gall bladder problems after adopting a low carb (and, usually higher fat) way of eating. The research now shows that this is most common in people who are switching over from long periods of severely restricting fat intake. The gall bladder stores and concentrates [...]
Will low carb help my high blood pressure?
It is very common for people to see a reduction in blood pressure proportional to the amount of weight lost, but some folks still need some medical assistance in this area. Work with your health care professional to address hypertension, as it is an important risk factor.
Won’t all that fat raise my cholesterol?
A good amount of research has proven the opposite, but only when carbohydrate is very restricted. Some people experience a reduction in the total cholesterol, but almost all experience a significant, and positive change in their lipid profile. In general, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL – widely recognized as the “bad” cholesterol) decreases, High Density Lipoprotein [...]
So, is it true that low-carb diets are high in fat?
Most current researchers agree that it’s not fat that makes us fat. Moreover, it is the fat content of a meal that gives a sustained feeling of being satisfied. There’s pretty much universal agreement that trans-fats (hydrogenated fats) are to be avoided. Beyond that, there are differences in low carb programs. For instance, both the [...]
Can I start or continue low carbing if I’m pregnant or nursing?
Yes, but it is not recommended that women who are pregnant or nursing restrict their carb intake to the point of ketosis. There have not been sufficient studies done to prove that is completely safe for the baby. It is generally advised that you reduce your consumption of sugar and white flour, as well as [...]
Can I be a vegetarian and still low carb?
Following the Atkins program as a vegetarian is pretty well impossible. However, with some other approaches to low carbing, I understand that doing it as vegetarian is challenging, but not impossible.
What can I do about leg cramps?
Sometimes, on any weight loss program, some people find that they may have (or may have more frequent) leg cramps. Often it’s because you’re a bit low on some minerals or electrolytes. Various people have found that a calcium (or calcium with magnesium) supplement helps. Other folks have reported that a bit of potassium works [...]
What’s the deal on water?
There is little disagreement that eight full glasses of water (64 ounces) per day are required for good health. There is some disagreement about whether some part of that might come from other clear liquids. Many people find that they lose best when taking in up to half their weight number in ounces of water [...]
Do I need special vitamins?
It certainly can’t hurt to at least take a daily multi-vitamin – no matter what sort of nutritional plan you are following. This is a way to “cover your bases” and be sure you’re getting a minimum allotment of most recognized micro-nutrients. Beyond that, different programs have different recommendations about taking other nutritional supplements.
Do salty foods make you gain weight?
Yes, but they do not add fat. Pickles, processed meats, and some cheeses have a high salt content. The weight gain following a day on plan, but with many high sodium foods is from water retention, not fat deposition. The simple cure is to cut back on the salt and make sure that you are [...]
I’ve been following my plan and exercising, so why is the scale stuck?
When you start an exercise program at the same time that you adopt a low carb (or any other weight loss) program, you’ll often find that there’s no big change on the scale in the beginning stages. If you’ve been sedentary and start a vigorous exercise program, you’ll be building muscle. Muscle, square inch for [...]
How often should I weigh?
Every day, once a week or once a month can be reasonable intervals for your weigh-ins. What is important is the trend of weight loss – over weeks and months, not day to day. This is because there are too many factors that can cause weight to fluctuate by pounds from day to day – [...]
How much weight can I expect to lose?
That depends. Everyone loses at a different rate. Age, hormonal status, distance from a normal weight, sodium intake, exercise level and other factors will determine the rate of loss. If you are losing, in the big picture, you are doing it right. Those of us who are ex-”yo-yo’s” – gaining and losing weight with various [...]
How much weight can I expect to lose?
That depends. Everyone loses at a different rate. Age, hormonal status, distance from a normal weight, sodium intake, exercise level and other factors will determine the rate of loss. If you are losing, in the big picture, you are doing it right. Those of us who are ex-”yo-yo’s” – gaining and losing weight with various [...]
What are net carbs?
Net carbs are sometimes called “effective carbs” or “usable carbs,” and will usually be the figure you’re using for carb counts. The safest way to figure net carbs is by deducting ONLY fiber from the total carbohydrates in any given food. It’s fairly well documented that deducting anything else from the total carb count – [...]
Do I have to count calories, too?
Yes and no. Certainly the initial answer is “No.” At the earliest stages of most low carb plans, you’re switching your metabolism to a fat burning (as opposed to a carb burning) one. Don’t bother with calories. As the stages progress, some attention to calories might be necessary. Many of us are “ex-yo-yo’s”. We’ve spent [...]
How many carbs should I be eating?
If you are asking that question, you have not yet chosen a plan. Each low carb nutritional program gives you information on the allowed number of carbs (or types and amounts of foods) for a given stage. At LCE, we urge you to look at the various low carb programs, choose one that makes sense [...]