Hello, all!

I'm planning to start Induction on Monday, but I think I may have trouble losing weight if I eat dairy. What might a typical day of the induction phase look like sans dairy products?

I'm not sure what your question is specifically...but here's what the book says regarding cheese on induction:

You can consume 3-4 ounces daily of full-fat, firm, soft, and semi-soft aged cheeses including:

Cheddar, Cream Cheese, Mozzarella, Sheep and Goat Cheese, Gouda, Swiss, and Roquefort & other Blue Cheeses.

I've been in induction 3 days and have no problem losing weight OR going #2 (LOL). However, I've only eaten (in the past 2 days) a total of 2 ounces each day.

Wow! Thanks for the quick response! To clarify a bit, I didn't lose a single oz. on a popular dairy-based meal replacement diet, and ended up with an ear infection, to boot. I can't eat ice cream, yogurt or drink milk, etc., without getting symptoms similar to an ear infection in my left ear (weird, I know). When I tried the induction phase of Atkins (earlier in the year) I didn't lose weight, and read in the book that for some, cheese might be a problem. So, I'm hoping to to hear from others who had to give up cheese, and get a few ideas from them about meal planning when something as yummy as cheese has to be temporarily eliminated. Thanks!

People with milk allergies tend to get very "mucousy" when they have anything with dairy products in them. You know that feeling that you get after you drink a glass of milk? Your throat is coated and feels slick...well, that's a prime example of what can happen. In someone with an allergy, the mucous can continue right up into your nasal cavity, and if your eustacian tubes are not angled downward enough, as the mucous builds up in you, it spills over into the eustacian tubes causing first fluid in the ears, which if left to sit, will grow bacteria and become an infection. Have you ever been tested for dairy allergies?

No, but if there's an effective remedy, I'm more than willing to go for testing--thanks!

I can't lose weight eating the cheeses. I also had to eliminate the cream. For breakfast I usually eat 2 eggs, either fried or scrambled in butter, and 2 slices of bacon. Lunch consists of 1 cup salad with either bleu cheese dressing or flavored olive oil, 1/2 cup induction veggie, such as broccoli, cauliflower, or brussel sprouts and of course some meat, poultry, or fish. Dinner pretty much consists of just 1 cup of salad with the bleu cheese dressing. I don't snack during the day. I eat less calories because I only have a little to lose and "my body" does better with less calories.

To Get What You've Never Had
You Have To Do What You've Never Done

I had to cut back on the dairy in order to speed weight loss. But I do have about 2 ounces of cheese a day and use half and half sparingly.
I don't know why this is but it's a sure ticket to no weight loss when I overdo dairy especially cream cheese. Even when my calories were low.
But you can do this without dairy. Olives, H.B. Eggs, celery and deli meats are nice snack choices and can be added to salad to make a filling lunch. Add mushrooms to your breakfast omelet and add bacon. There's more and more choices after you are off induction and into the 35 carb gram range and above. Induction is the hardest part and that is over quickly.
Good luck and come back here often!
Rob

Yeah, I can tell a difference in the way I feel, the way my clothes fit, and just general "ick" feelings when I have too much cheese. It helps a great deal to limit it, for me. I think it's different for everyone... try and see. It would be a good thing to cut back on, if you're stalled, just to see if it causes a whooooosh!

Good luck!

Bon
210/181/165
Atkins since 12/15/02

I feel less apprehensive now, seeing that I really have a lot of delicious options to cheese. Thanks to all for the helpful ideas and encouraging words.