I am so confused... please help!

[bun3kin]

I am pretty confised and hope someone can help me. I plan to start induction on Sunday, and want to make sure I do it right.

I have read the book, and the way I understand it, I am allowed to eat anything on the allowed foods list, limiting my vegetable intake to either 3 loosly packed cups of dalad vegetables or 2 cups of salad vegetables plus 2/3 cup cooked vegetables (from the list). So does that mean that if I eat - for example - cheese, I have to eat less vegetables to allow for the carbs in the cheese?

For a "sweet" I am allowed sugar free jello, even though it is not on the list, right?

Sheesh! I don't want to mess this up, so I think I am making it much harder than it needs to be.

Thanks for the help!

[SwissMiss]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

Hiya At least 12 – 15 grams of carbs must come in the form of salad greens and other acceptable vegetables.

Many Atkineers here use www.fitday.com to track and monitor what we eat and have full control of the carbs. Check it out - it's free and an awesome tool.

Hmmm - not sure on the sugar free jello - but I'm sure someone else has an answer.

[mitzimarie]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

I have read the book, and the way I understand it, I am allowed to eat anything on the allowed foods list, limiting my vegetable intake to either 3 loosly packed cups of dalad vegetables or 2 cups of salad vegetables plus 2/3 cup cooked vegetables (from the list). So does that mean that if I eat - for example - cheese, I have to eat less vegetables to allow for the carbs in the cheese?

On Induction, you are allowed a total of 20 net carbs. Net carbs = total carbs minus fiber. For example, if a food as 5g carbs and 2g fiber, it has 3g net carbs. 5 - 2 = 3. You are to count the net carbs from all of the food you eat, and the total should not go over 20. You should never cut back on the required 3 cups of veggies, just so you can have more carbs from other sources. On any given phase of Atkins, most of your net carbs should be in the form of veggies. For Induction, it is recommended that you get in between 12 and 15 net veggie carbs.

For a "sweet" I am allowed sugar free jello, even though it is not on the list, right?

Nope - it's not on the list. After the 2 weeks is up, you can try adding sugar free jello. HOWEVER, most SF jello is made with aspartame, and Dr. A advised against ever using it. Some of the board members make their own unflavored gelatin and sweeten it with Splenda. And some just go ahead and have it with the aspartame. Keep in mind, though, that aspartame is a known staller. So, if you want to have it, you need to wait until after Induction and try it to see what happens. Aspartame is one of those "your mileage may vary" things... some people can have it, and some people can't.

[bun3kin]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

Thanks for the replies!

This is why I am so confused. I didn't see sugar free jello on the list at all, but on page 75 of my book (under "How to fashion a diet from the above list") Dr. A says: "And for dessert, assorted cheeses or diet Jell-O with whipped heavy cream."

I have Googled "Atkins Induction Diet Menu" and many of the things that popped up had foods that weren't on the list, so I am sure that didn't help with my confusion.

So, I am to eat the majority of my carbs from veggies and eat other carbs from the list (like cheese) only if my total falls under the 20 carbs a day?

I am sorry if I sound dense. I really am not. For some reason, I just can't wrap my brain around this.

Thanks again!

[not2late]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

I am pretty confised and hope someone can help me. I plan to start induction on Sunday, and want to make sure I do it right.

I have read the book, and the way I understand it, I am allowed to eat anything on the allowed foods list, limiting my vegetable intake to either 3 loosly packed cups of dalad vegetables or 2 cups of salad vegetables plus 2/3 cup cooked vegetables (from the list). So does that mean that if I eat - for example - cheese, I have to eat less vegetables to allow for the carbs in the cheese?

For a "sweet" I am allowed sugar free jello, even though it is not on the list, right?

Sheesh! I don't want to mess this up, so I think I am making it much harder than it needs to be.

Thanks for the help!

You must be reading the books from 1992-2000. In the 2002 edition, the veggie limits are 3 cups of the salad list veggies OR 2 cups of the salad list veggies and 1 cup of the other list veggies.

Anyhow, your daily carb limit during Induction is 20 net carbs. You figure out net carbs by subtracting fiber grams from the total carb amount.

According to the book, the majority of your daily carbs is to be from the veggies. That means if you eat 11 net carbs on one day, at least 6 of those carbs have to be from vegetables, the remainder can be from cheese carbs, egg carbs, heavy cream carbs and artificial sweetener carbs.

The sugar free gelatin dessert mentioned in the book is not Jello Brand gelatin. Jello Brand gelatin is sweetened with aspartame, which Dr. Atkins tells us to avoid due to potential weight loss stalling problems. However a gelatin dessert sweetened with Splenda, saccharin or ace-K is fine.

[bun3kin]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

Thanks for the clarification. The book I have is the older version. I have ordered the new one, but I am not sure if I bought the right one. This is the one I bought.


Thanks again,

[lasst10]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

...
The sugar free gelatin dessert mentioned in the book is not Jello Brand gelatin. Jello Brand gelatin is sweetened with aspartame, which Dr. Atkins tells us to avoid due to potential weight loss stalling problems. However a gelatin dessert sweetened with Splenda, saccharin or ace-K is fine.

Definitely be careful of the aspertame! I made Crystal Light, and drank about 4+ quarts over the course of last weekend. Not only did it kick me out of ketosis, but it stalled me & I gained a pound! (I'm back on plain water)




Lynn

[Porcelain]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

You see, you have to be careful with that "sugar free" and "zero carb" items. It can have up to 0.9 of a carb in a serving but they get to claim that the count is zero. I have even heard of some items having reduced serving sizes so they can claim zero.

[bun3kin]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

Thanks guys! I am starting induction today. I will let you know how it goes.

Thanks again!

[Elizellen]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

Wishing you a good first day, Krista!

[hrgillespie]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

Good Luck getting started!!!!! Sounds like you are determined to do it right so thats a wonderful thing ....... you mention wanting to get some of yuor carbs from cheese which is fine but also remember to limit your cheese intake to 3-4 ounces a day. I'll be looking for future posts to see how your doing! DOn't ever be afraid to ask questions as you can see there is always someone to lend you a hand!


Welcome!

Heidi

[bun3kin]

Re: I am so confused... please help!

Thanks! I think everything went ok. I wasn't hungry at all (which is always a good thing!) but I wonder if I am eating enough.

I will start another post with my menu to see if I am doing this right.