All of these 'Atkins' and 'carb friendly' products..

[JustBelieve]

Maybe it's just me being silly, but I see all of these products jumping on the low carb wagon and then I read the labels and it spooks me.

They seem to be absolutely loaded with carbs, but then justify the claim by stating "oh you subtract this and that from those" etc.

I'm a bit wary of eating anything that has "32 carbs per serving.. but" on it.

Also, it seems that the Atkins label has put out a tremendous variety of products since Dr. Atkins passed, using the formula of "just so you subtract this and that" Is this truly the Atkins way or a money making market?

It just makes me think, I'm not knocking any of it. It just seems pretty soon we'll all be eating all the foods we learned to avoid in order to be healthy just because it's low carb if you do the math right. I mean a potato chip is still a potato chip, and bread is still bread right?

Your thoughts??

Just Believe.

[CarolynInTexas]

I'll pipe in here. Lets see som many questions. First you can deduct fiber from the carb count since fiber passes thru your system without much trouble. Some people do not deduct the sugars(sugar alchol) cause they can affect you like regular sugar/carb do.
Sometime i dont understand it either, but the people on this site will probably add more information. I try to stick to mostly natural products, don't like the flavors of Atkins baking products, somekind of back flavor I just rather not eat. I don't eat much of the bars, only once in a while will I buy them, and then I will only eat 1/3 at a time. Of course you might not have a problem eating these foods, some people have stalls eating these products, so...try if you want, if not don't worry about them.

http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak

carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03
327/290/150

[April]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>It just seems pretty soon we'll all be eating all the foods we learned to avoid in order to be healthy just because it's low carb if you do the math right.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thus the reason I've said from the beginning, eat foods from their natural state, cooked to your liking, nothing pre-packaged or processed, and you will not only lose weight, you will be healthier.
I've been dissed many times -- from acquaintences and even people on these boards -- for admonishing the "purest" way of eating. I've said it before and I'll say it again...why would anyone want to find a "replacement" for the kind of foods that got us fat in the first place? Why find a low carb version of potato chips or chocolate or candy? I understand trying to find low carb foodstuffs to use to replace something that we might eat for dinner, but the snack foods -- low carb or otherwise -- simply are not a healthy food choice, IMHO.

Then again, I could be wrong. Each to his own.

I just know that Dr. Atkins' vision for his healthy way of eating did not involve eating all of this crap loaded with chemicals.

My two cents.

April
352/209/180
Down 143 pounds
29 to go...
http://www.geocities.com/aprilwyatt/beforeandafter

[qtpye]

I have to agree with April--I'm trying to rid myself of the desire for the "junk" food and the breads and pastas. Why would I just try to find a replacement? Besides, if I simply cannot fight the craving for say, pancakes, I'm gonna have pancakes (and probably get sick!) and be done with it!

I also agree that I'm a bit suspect of all the processed products that have come out with the Atkins name on it since he passed away. I wonder who approves of the products now? I just won't buy the "substitutes" unless it truly is "low-carb".

Cherub
304/284/160
5'9"
Started Atkins 01/04/04

[annzp1996]

Absolutely April! I drool over the low carb ice creams and low carb bread but I won't buy it because I know what happens, I don't lose. And often times it leads me straight into a binge. Hey, who knows, 40 pounds from now I may choose Breyers Carb Smart over Breyers Regular Chocolate whatever but right now my choice is to KISS and stick with regular, unaltered, real foods. annie

[becca1969]

I agree with April. I subtract fiber only. It seems that the sugar alcohol claims could hid alot of carbs I wouldn't count just by trusting the product. I do indulge in the atkins chocolate bars - once every 2 or 3 weeks, but it is only 1/2 of 1 and my DH gets the other 1/2. To me, if I can't figure it simply, it is too complex for my way of life now.

To me, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, or cucumbers dipped sparingly into ranch or bleu cheese dressing is better by far than all of these "replacement" products.

My 2 cents.

Beckie



257/215/150

[April]

It ALL sounds appealing to me. All of it. Believe it. I could sit and eat that sugar free stuff ‘til the cows come home, but I know I can’t and still strive towards my goal of being healthy. There was a time not too long ago that I thought I could eat “some” no-sugar-added ice cream and be alright with it. Nope. “Some” turned into a whole bowl, then half a gallon in one sitting. I ate a half pound of sugar-free Jellie Bellies at the movies when the first “Rings” movie came out and I couldn’t find a bathroom soon enough, and then stayed there for 2 hours with intestinal discomfort like you wouldn’t believe.

This whole “low carb” craze is exciting to me, yet makes me very nervous. Of course, the companies making these low carb products are going to list the least amount of carbs allowed on the nutritional label, whether or not that number is correct, in order to make money off of this latest craze. Like all fads that come and go, those who stand to gain the most money from it will exploit it and turn it into nothing but a money maker for them. Those who make and tout the "low carb" products are turning something so pure and simple into a fad. Then, when the over-use of these products causes the general public to cry “foul!” when they don’t lose weight or worse, gain weight or have bad blood work numbers, all of the physicians will jump back on their band wagons and cry: “See?!! We TOLD you that low carb diets are bad and that the only way to lose weight is to count calories and cut back fat!” The backlash will be great, I’m afraid, as will the fallout.

Then, we will be back to just the few of us who have hung in there from the 70’s when Atkins wrote his first book, those of us who know the “proper” way to live a low carb lifestyle, without all of the fanfare.

I, for one, can do without all the hype and the low carb products.

Again….just my two cents.

April
352/209/180
Down 143 pounds
29 to go...
http://www.geocities.com/aprilwyatt/beforeandafter

[tsg358]

I totally agree with all of you. It is nice that low carbers are no longer ostracized, but we have to be careful.

I only subtract fiber and try to avoid foods with sugar alcohol. I know that I have to watch what I eat and that I need to keep my focus on foods that are natural. There are too many extra ingredients in most of the low carb treats for my liking.

If regular junk food helped make me overweight, I have a hard time beliveng that low carb junk food will make me thin. It is called junk food for a reason.

[reneed70]

I am just sticking with the basics and then have occasional sweet treat like SF jello whip or that LC Choc milk. I want to stay away from all the hype which I feel is a gimmick somewhat and expensive!
Good luck
Renee