I'm a bit confused about the induction instructions!

[moosh]

Hey all, this is my first post and my second day into induction

My husband and I are doing this together, and today he was getting very antsy about having something small and sweet to eat. According to the book (page 87, under Convenience Foods), he says that though it's not preferable, it's ok to eat Atkins bars or other low-carb products ("...more and more companies are creating healthy food products that can be eaten during the Induction phase of Atkins..."), at least occasionally.

So what is the general concensus? Bad idea or an ok occasional indulgence during induction? I see conflicting information on this forum (many people say that these things are absolutely not allowed during induction), may that be because people have experience regarding this hindering weight loss?

Thanks!

Maryam

[Laurenfra]

Re: I'm a bit confused about the induction instructions!

Hello and welcome to ADBB Mary. I hope your stay here is a long one.
There are many reasons to NOT eat them.
1. Most are made with Sugar Alcohols which in addition to a very upset tummy the cause many to stall.
2. Most are made with non-induction foods such as nuts and nut butters.
3. They do not help you to break the sugar-cravings you are trying to get over.

For some a high fat food like por rinds or a boiled egg will help.
There are other sugar free sweet snacks
Hope this helps.

[2big4mysize]

Re: I'm a bit confused about the induction instructions!

tell him now is the time to assert his control of his sweet tooth that helped get him needing to lose weight in the first place.

his ansyness is actually carbohydrate withdrawl. just as a drug addict in withdrawl thinks they need a fix and feel ill so too do our bodies as they make the cahnge from high carb to low carb. tell him to hang in ther and sticjk with the acceptable foods lists. if you read further on the part you quoted it says to follow the rules too and rule 5 says eat nothing not on the acceptable foods lists.

if he absolutly thinks he needs a sweet give him something sour like pickles. Distract him with a walk exercise makes some lovely chemicals that soothe the brain.

happy low carbing

[Desertthorn]

Re: I'm a bit confused about the induction instructions!

I also do the pickle trick. It really works. Your tongue really doesn't know the difference. Just remember they are limited though

[not2late]

Re: I'm a bit confused about the induction instructions!

Just to add to what everyone else has said....We, at ADBB, don't encourage the use of the "convenience foods" like the bars and shakes because they have a tendency to stall or slow down weight loss in some folks. The first 14 days of Induction are very important, so it's best to maximize your weight loss potential and avoid pitfalls as much as possible.

[Peytonn]

Re: I'm a bit confused about the induction instructions!

I used to be one to 'stick up ' more for the bars etc... but after indulging myself... it didn't take long for me to realize they DO stop me from losing.... the taste grows old REALLY fast....

I'd rather just have real food stuff......

induction won't last forever.... then there's some atkins friendly desserts that are GOOD (I've finally discovered real whipping creme and it's many uses)

oh.. and WELCOME!

[Moochiecat]

Re: I'm a bit confused about the induction instructions!

Add me to the 'Ditch the frankenfoods!" list!

Think in terms of nutrition.

We all know that an egg, or meat and cheese, veggies and dip, are good fresh natural food sources. We know for sure our bodies know what to do with them when we ingest them.
I'm not sure how monopolywhateveritis will benefit my body, and I know for sure it's not on the Acceptable Foods list.

I went through a mourning period in the first month or two (or three!) of Atkins when I realized I couldn't indulge my sweet tooth in the manner that I was used to...it took some adjusting. I found real foods that I could have if I was determined to have something, but the whole sweet addiction thing is a thing of the past, and I'm so happy about that!

Here's an article showing Dr. Atkins opinion on frankenfoods:

Bars/shakes

Quote:The patients who stayed, however, were extremely loyal to both atkins and his low-carb diet. But they had one major complaint: In a fast-paced world where everything was low in fat or high in carbohydrates or both, it was difficult to find something that they could eat on the run while still remaining on the low-carb program. They had no time to prepare their own snacks. Perhaps something like the low-fat energy bars sold in convenience stores would be great, only low-carb instead.

Atkins hesistated, and for a good reason. One of the things he constantly stressed with his patients was that they should eat foods that were as close to their natural state as possible, and for him, any kind of energy bar was as good as poison since it was clearly a processed food...

But his patients continued to beg him for something---"you sell the vitamins and other supplements, why not energy bars?" they reasoned--and so, with great reluctance, he gave in and developed not only an energy bar but also a low-carb shake that would make it easier for patients to keep to their Atkins programs.

"As long as you only use it for emergencies," he reminded them.

****

The energy bars and shakes were a necessary evil, there only because he thought his patients were too lazy to prepare the real kind of unprocessed foods that were the mainstay of his diet.

---Excerpted from:
Dr. Robert Atkins: The True Story of The Man Behind the War on Carbohydrates Lisa Rogak. Chamberlian Bros. 2005. Ch. 6

[moosh]

Re: I'm a bit confused about the induction instructions!

Thanks everyone! We've set aside the bars we have and are instead making induction-friendly "desserts" (in moderation!)

maryam

[Moochiecat]

Re: I'm a bit confused about the induction instructions!

Awesome! Good for the both of you....and stay dedicated to that 'moderation' with the induction sweets.
Having that sweet treat demon off my back is the best gift I ever gave to myself!