Okay...I just wanted to let everyone know what Atkins told me when I called them on the phone. Before induction I was a little confused if I was only allowed to eat 3 cups of "salad veggies" or 2 cups of "salad veggies" and 1 cup of other veggies (higher in carb content) a day............OR...........if I was just supposed to count up to 20 grams per day period.

What they told me is that I can eat as many veggies as I want in a day.....to count each carb.....and add up to 20. In addition to counting the carbs in veggies, I need to count them in cheese, any type of marinades or dressings, sweeteners, creamers, and sour cream. Basically I need to count all carbs in EVERYTHING BUT meat and eggs. She said the eggs, because they have so much protein, aren't a concern and you can eat as much of them as you'de like.

So....there's a little tidbit for anyone who was unclear as I was.

Now...the second segment of this post.....I was hoping some veterans could look at my daily intake and critique it. I'm doing good...in ketosis....feeling good.....not stalling.....but would like some opinions anyway.

Here goes:

Tuesday:

(breakfast)
4 scrambled eggs with 1/2 oz. cheddar - .2 carbs
5 pc. bacon

TOTAL CARBS FOR BREAKFAST: .2


(lunch)
Salad (which consisted of: 2 c romaine, 1/2 c. raw spinach leaves, 1/2 oz. cheddar, 5 green olives, 5 cherry tomatoes, 1/4 c cucumber, 4 slices bacon, 2 TBS low-carb dressing (1 gram per 2 TBS) - total carbs: 10.2

TOTAL CARBS FOR LUNCH: 10.2

(dinner)
1 Pork Steak - 0 carbs
1/2 c frozen broccoli w/cheddar - 5.15 carbs
1 cup of salad (made previously) - 1.19 carbs
1 TBS low-carb dressing - 1 carb

TOTAL CARBS FOR DINNER: 6.84

(snack)
1 Indulge bar - 2 carbs

Drank water all day....about 10-12 8 oz. glasses

TOTAL CARBS FOR TUESDAY: 19.24 CARBS

Wednesday:

(breakfast)
4 scrambled eggs with 1/2 oz. cheddar - .2 carbs

TOTAL CARBS FOR BREAKFAST: .2

(lunch)
Pork Steak - 0 carbs
2 cups salad (made previously) - 2.38 carbs
2 TBS low-carb dressing - 1 carb

TOTAL CARBS FOR LUNCH: 3.38 carbs

(dinner)
Grilled chicken salad which consisted of: 1 c romaine, 2 c raw spinach leaves, 1/4 cup fresh mushrooms, 1 hard boiled egg, 1/4 c cucumber, 1/4 c. cheddar, 4 slices bacon, 1 chicken breast, 4 TBS low-carb dressing (2 grams). Total carbs for the salad: 7.4. Beverage - Diet Rite 0 carbs.

TOTAL CARBS FOR DINNER: 7.4

(snacks)
1 indluge bar - 2 carbs
3 pcs of low-carb candy - (.2 each) .6 carbs

and about 10 8 oz. glasses of water

TOTAL CARBS FOR WEDNESDAY: 13.58

As you can tell....I'm drinking plenty of water. Also....I have a huge sweet tooth so this has been a little difficult (which is why there are low-carb candies above). So far they have not stalled me. I'm trying to just limit them and ONLY eat them when I'm having uncontrollable urges. Today I've not eaten any.

Let me know what you guys think about how I've been eating. I'm curious to see if someone can find better ways for me to do this.

Thanks again!

Cris

Cris, it sounds like you're really trying to do this right. Congrats on making the commitment.

Your menu looks pretty good to me--lots of good vegetables and variety.

On induction though you really MUST try to ditch the snack candy, low-carb or not. One of the goals of induction/low-carb/Atkins is to eliminate sugar cravings--real sugar, fake sugar, any kind of sweet persuasion. If you don't learn to satisfy your appetite with wholesome foods, it will be so much more difficult to sustain low-carb eating for life.

No matter what "they" say (the people who want to sell you expensive low-carb products), substituting "regular" junk food with low-carb junk food perpetuates a habit that will continue to work against you.

Best wishes!

P. S. If you need a sweet, try sugar-free Jell-O with whipped cream (whipped at home with Splenda--not the squirt can kind). Also check the recipes section for dessert or snack foods you can prepare yourself with low carb counts--NOT using sugar alcohol sweeteners.

Barb L.
Started Atkins January 2003
162/141/130

Cris~

Except for the Endulge bars and candy, I think your menu looks great. I know some people feel they can eat the pre-fab "low-carb" products with no problems, but in my humble opinion, if you can break that sugar jones altogether, you'll be SO much better off in the long run. Do remember that it's best to stay as close as possible to 20 grams of carbs per day during induction...there's a reason the good doctor chose that number, and no advantage to a lower intake.

It will be fun to watch your progress because you are taking a "knowledge is power" approach. And I see from another post that you are already able to give good advice to others - cool!

Best wishes,

Sky
Atkins since 8/02
186/144/under 150

I think if you can continue to consider the sf candies a treat, and not turn them into a staple, you're doing fine. You have a lot of variety, good sized meals, and plenty of veggies.

If the candies aren't stalling you, and you're happy with the rate at which you're losing, go for it. Some people *can* eat the candies, and not have it derail them. If you start stalling, make those the first things to go, and see what happens.

(296/220/135) 04/01/03
The Downward Spiral Begins

Hi every one, thanks for the tip about water, I was somewhat depressed this AM because the I seemd to have gained 2lb. even though I have been 20carb or under,I have been so careful about counting carbs that I havent really whatched my water intake.
I look forward to all your advise.....

Cris:

I've always advocated counting every carb you ingest, as this quote from my post about Possible Help for Newbies:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>1. Write down the carb content of everything you put into your mouth.
And I do mean EVERYTHING. The sugar-free gum I chew has 2 grams of carbs per stick. It's bubblegum and I like to blow big bubbles, so I chew three sticks at a time. That's 6 carbs right there. If you're only allowed to have 20 per day, that's a large hunk just for something frivolous. It's wise to spend your carbs on natural foods. Please, please, please write down everything you put into your mouth. It's easy to just guess at the carbs you've had for the day, and most often you will be wrong. You will think you've only had 20 when really you've had nearly 50. You must count the sugar substitute you use, the cream you put in coffee, the mints you suck on, et cetera. If it goes into your mouth, you must count the carbs, no matter how small.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Also, in looking over your menu, it looks fine except for a few things:

Don't eat the tomatoes when you're starting out because they are a high glycemic food. After all, you're trying to control your insulin levels, right?

Don't eat any "low carb" bars. Not now, not ever. I did that once and found that they have way more carbs than they proclaim. About 18 or 22 per bar, if I recall. I can send to you a hidden carb calculator if you want one. Just punch in four numbers and you'll see what really lurks there behind that nutritional label.

Ix-nay on the low carb candy for the same reasons stated above. You will not lose optimally if you eat them. Trust me.

Also, limit yourself to 4 ounces of cheese per day. Never eat the processed cheeses. Just the natural aged ones.

Above all....eat foods from their purest forms. The weight will come off quickly and for good.

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

April
352 / 201 / 180
5'10", large frame, size 13 shoe
www.geocities.com/aprilreinhardt2