Atkins bars

[TwinsMom]

Is it okay to eat more than one Atkins breakfast bars/day during induction? I have limited myself to one/day when I need a snack, but think they'd make a nice dessert when I crave sweets after dinner.

Thanks.

[pammie]

Re: Atkins bars

Personally, I would say stay away from all atkins bars while on induction. One of the points of induction is to get you to eat whole natural foods and not processed, boxed stuff. Even if it has the Atkins stamp of approval it does not necessarily mean that Dr. Atkins himself would approve. Of course, we cannot know for sure, but it is my belief that he would say no to the bars during induction.

Also, as for wanting them as a dessert. Again, during induction you really want to kill your sweet tooth, not feed it. I would suggest instead trying to eat something very high in fat as your dessert, instead. Say for example, a piece of cream cheese or brie. I think you will feel better if you can get past your sweets cravings.
And if you just have to have those sweets, remember it is an occasional thing...once maybe twice a week, not everyday. Check out the recipes for some great induction friendly desserts (if you must) that are real, whole foods.

[allierw26]

Re: Atkins bars

Pammie is right, definitely try whole foods such as raw veggies, cheese sticks, or even pepperoni for your snack instead of the Atkins bars! They are not recommended at all for the first 2 weeks of induction, and most don't recommend them at all, though it's a personal choice.

[Moochiecat]

Re: Atkins bars

Pammie says it all perfectly right there!
I think its especially important to face your sweet tooth and deal with it right from day 1. A lot of us are very emotionally dependent on our sweet treats, and breaking that dependance is very liberating.
If you are craving something sweet...feed that craving..but feed it a protein/fat combo like an egg...or a piece of deli meat wrapped around cheese. Teach your body that if it truly is hungry, it will get fed but the sugar demon will be ignored.
Here's a little reading on how Dr. Atkins himself felt about frankenfoods like bars or shakes. The last paragraph I think says volumes about his attitude towards things like this.

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

[Desertthorn]

Re: Atkins bars

I have been on the board since it started almost and if I had a nickel for every person who complained that the bars and shakes stalled their weight loss, I would have enough money to blow in Las Vegas.
Toss they on the highest shelf you have and stay away until your in control
Great question TwinsMom.

[TwinsMom]

Re: Atkins bars

Thanks so much, everyone!! Part of me hates to hear this, but I know you're all right. No more bars starting tomorrow. Thanks and good luck to all reaching your goals.

[Rick]

Re: Atkins bars

Good for you TwinsMom!!!!! I think you'll find, like I have, that at a certain part of induction that you'll just lose all cravings for anything like that. My weak spot was potato chips... The first couple of days I wanted them like mad, they were a staple in my health problems. But now, working on day 10, I don't even think about them except to be glad that I'm not wanting them, or anything else really... I mean, if I didn't know that I needed food, I'm not sure I'd eat it, if that makes any sense. I guess it's the Ketosis, but I'm not really hungry (but am eating) and don't have any cravings at all. Keep to the plan!!!! It just gets better...

Rick

[plsparties]

Re: Atkins bars

I have been on the board since it started almost and if I had a nickel for every person who complained that the bars and shakes stalled their weight loss, I would have enough money to blow in Las Vegas.
Toss they on the highest shelf you have and stay away until your in control
Great question TwinsMom.

I've experienced this first hand recently!! They are really packed with carbs! And correct me if I'm wrong, but Sugar Alcohols (what makes a bar 3 net carbs, instead of 30!) aren't reliable carb eliminators.

[LC_Dave]

Re: Atkins bars

If do eat these bars, definately no more than one a day. That has been my experience - no more than one.

Also do not have the 'endulge' ones, only the advantage bars.

[Moochiecat]

Re: Atkins bars

If the ingredients aren't on the Acceptable Foods list...don't eat it.

[yemenitegreen]

Re: Atkins bars

If the ingredients aren't on the Acceptable Foods list...don't eat it.

Well said. I think we should stick to eating real, unprocessed foods - in particular when inducting. There are not Atkins bars overe here, but similar products - even reading the label gives me the creeps

yemenitegreen

[LC_Dave]

Re: Atkins bars

But our cavemen ancestors survived because of the nutrients in those bars! When they harvested the Atkins Bar tree!


LOL


Yeah you guys make a good case!

[lowcarbing4ever]

Re: Atkins bars

I must say, Moochie, you are looking smoking hot! Good job on your losses! woo hoo!