I have a question concerning the amount of cheese you can eat or rather how to abtain the measurement. When allowed 2 oz of cheese a day, do you weigh it on a scale (which I love since it seems I get a lot of cheese) or do I measure in a cup? Also, because of my love of ice cream, I found a lovely low-carb chocolate fudge almond with 3 net carbs per cup which satisfies my love of chocolate. Would this hender my weight loss or is it ok as long as I don't go beyond my 20 grams? Thanks in advance for any help I get.

Welcome, Lynn.

When it comes to non-liquid items like cheese, if the amount is given in ounces it means weight.

As for the ice cream, it may or may not cause you a problem. Chances are it contains items like sugar alcohols (maltitol, etc), glycerine or polydextrose. Most manufacturers don't count them when the calculate the "net carbs" that they advertise on the front of the label. However, many of us have found that these items DO impact our blood sugar levels and many people tend to stall when using products that contain them.

If you're feeling fine and losing at a reasonable rate, then - for you - it's fine. If things aren't moving along as they were for you, then the frankenfoods ("low carb" sweets, etc.) should be one of the first things you look to as suspect items.

HTH.

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hiya i always weigh my cheese on a scale and count 1 ounce / 28grams as 1 net carb, like it says on the atkins site!!

i was also thinking of buying 2 net carb cookies, but then i thought 'why bother?' ive come this far and havent had any (4 days) i might get some 0carbs boiled sweets, incase i want to have a big binge, but have to control and stop myself.......... sorry for going on & taking over your post! !!! :jumpgreen

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Start Weight: 18st 13lb / 253.82lb
Start Date: 24th April 2007
Mini First Goal to Lose: 28lb
Week 1: Lost: 8lb
Main Goal to Lose: 112lb
Height: 5ft8 Frame: Medium

Hi IWBS! Never apologize for asking questions and using the post. This is how the rest of us learn stuff!! If it weren't for other Newbie questions and the answers and input from others, there would be nothing to learn and read, right! So keep it up, every day I look for new threads so I can continue to learn. Thanks!!

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"Of all the things I've lost in life... I miss my mind the most!"

Winterholiday - I notice that you started the Atkins plan on 04-22-07. It's been my experience that using low-carb foods such as ice cream and bars hindered my weight loss efforts -- are during Induction, they are counterproductive. To satify my chocolate cravings, I used natural ingredients, rather than the prepackaged frankenfoods Maggie alluded to. Sometimes I take a tablespoon of all-natural peanut butter and mix it with a little unsweetened cocoa and Splenda for a chocolate "fix". Also, keep in mind that the more you wean yourself from sweets, the less your body will crave them.

My two cents............

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Thank you all for the advice. Especially the peanut butter/unsweetened cocoa/splenda deal. I will be trying that one.

I thought nuts and peanut butter weren't allowed on Induction. They are on the 3rd rung of OWL.

You are correct, lisa.

Nuts and nut butters are generally added in OWL and tree nuts are more favored than legumes, like peanuts. As a confirmed chocoholic, I did use some cocoa during induction, although it's not specifically listed as an induction food. It's so low in carbs that I couldn't see why it wouldn't be. (chocoholic rationalization, no doubt, LOL!) When I got jonesing for chocolate, I'd allow myself a "dessert" after dinner. I'd mix a teaspoon of cocoa (less than a gram of carbs) with a couple of TB of sour cream, whipped cream, or cream cheese softened with a little cream, add a drop of vanilla and some splenda, and enjoy it as a mousse.

Once you get to OWL, there's no reason why you couldn't make some trade-offs to use nut butter (peanut or otherwise), in controlled amounts - and April's choco-peanut snack is VERY controlled.

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I also love cheese yum! but will have to start weighing it I think cos I guess I have probably been having too much.. I am back on induction only day two and tonight I really felt like something sweet after dinner so i just had a cup of hot black tea with a tsp of splenda. it did the trick. I don't usually have sweetner in my drinks nor did I have sugar previously but the splenda I added seemed to take away the craving and I think a better option for me than starting me on desserts. At least for a few weeks..

If you eat sliced cheese, then generally a slice is an ounce. I read somewhere that a 1 inch cube is equal to an ounce.

Cheeses differ in carb content, too. The Atkins carb counter for cheese shows a wide range in carb counts. http://www.atkins.com/carb-counter/?category=Cheeses

For cheese lovers, it would be easy to overdo, bringing the carb count up considerably. When you are aware of what an ounce of cheese looks like, then it's easier to judge what your portion should look like.

Here's a weird thing: I looked at the carb counter at Low Carb Friends, and they show a large raw egg having .6 carbs, but 1 large scrambled egg having 1.3. So, what happened to that egg when it was scrambled to double the carb count?????

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Nita

Wow! I just tried that. I didn't have peanut butter at work so I used the Soynut Butter (1Carb) instead. It was Awesome. When I get home I'm gonna try it with the real peanut butter. I expect it to be creamier. This brought back memories of eating the Chocolate Icing after doing a cake. Mmmmm.

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