Questions about Atkins

[Sunshines]

I am a newbie to the whole Atkins diet and the forum, so sorry if I posted this in the wrong place. I started four days ago first time ever noticing carbs and had very little ketosis symptoms and I do not think I have lost any weight. I thought it could be that I was still drinking diet coke, so I gave that up today. I am staying at the right percentages of carbs, fat and protein according to fitday.com.

But here is my real question and concern. I am not very educated on low carb foods quite yet. I have been learning as I go. I let my guard down today when someone offered me lemonade (actually with limes tho) and was not thinking. I was so thirsty and half way through the glass when I realized "wait this probably has a ton of sugar". I asked the people who made it and sure enough it has a ton of sugar. I am honestly kicking myself for that, I feel really dumb. My question is what now? Do I have to start all over again? Can I make up for it by eating less carbs tomorrow? Can I exercise a lot to get rid of the carbs?

My ketosis symptoms are so light that I feel like I have just set myself back to day one.

[momtomany1]

Re: Questions about Atkins

In the early days it is so important to learn the 'legal' foods or to keep a list handy at all times until they become second nature. In your situation I think I would call those first 4 days 'practice' and start counting your induction days tomorrow. You'll get that excess sugar out of your system fairly quickly if you eat 'clean' from here on out. Don't eat less carbs tomorrow, just follow induction rules to the letter from here on out.

It is tough at first, no doubt, but surprisingly you will get to know 'the list' like the back of your hand and it will really get so much easier. Wishing you much success.

[Sunshines]

Re: Questions about Atkins

Thank you so much for replying! Grrr I am so frustrated with myself, but its a learning process : )

[Sunshines]

Re: Questions about Atkins

I have another question if you do not mind. I am a carb junkie. I would usually have over 200 a day in carbs. I thought I would go into severe ketosis by cutting back so much. The last four days I cut back to an average about of about 15 carbs a day, but no ketosis. Is there something I am missing. I know its hard without seeing what I am eating, but it is basically eggs, sausage and bacon with some cheese and some lettuce. Does it maybe take longer for individuals that carb load frequently to burn through their glucose? Also, I do not have much to lose about 15 pounds. Could that be influencing it?

[momtomany1]

Re: Questions about Atkins

Eggs sausage bacon cheese and lettuce.

First of all.. .pretty much we are all carb junkies. It generally takes 3-4 days to get into ketosis...3 - 4 days with minimal carbs and definitely no sugar at all. You might not have quite reached your threshold level.. maybe you were close before the lemonade but it set you back a day or two. MOST LIKELY if you are diligent, two days from now you will be enjoying the glory of ketosis breath!

However.. problem. If you are eating bacon, sausage, and cheese every day you are likely getting too much salt. Doesn't interfere with ketosis, but causes fluid retention. If lettuce is your only vegetable.. you need to work on this. You are severely short changing your body. We eat 3 cups of vegetables a day.. yes, it can all be lettuce, but it would be better to have some things with more nutrients.

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6782-what-rules-induction.html

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/6781-what-foods-can-eaten-induction.html

make sure that every day you either eat three cups off this list...

alfalfa sprouts
daikon
mushrooms
arugula
endive
parsley
bok choy
escarole
peppers
celery
fennel
radicchio
chicory
jicama
radishes
chives
lettuce
romaine lettuce
cucumber
moche
sorrel
These salad vegetables are high in phytonutrients and provide a good source of fiber.

or two cups of the above and one cup of the following

artichoke
celery root
pumpkin
artichoke hearts
rhubarb
asparagus
chard
sauerkraut
bamboo shoots
collard greens
scallions
dandelion
snow peas
bean sprouts
dandelion greens
spaghetti squash
beet greens
eggplant
spinach
broccoli
hearts of palm
string or wax beans
broccoli rabe
kale
summer squash
brussels
kohlrabi
tomato
bean sprouts
leeks
turnips
cabbage
okra
water chestnuts
cauliflower
onion
zucchini

The veggies are not optional. They are an intrinsic part of the program.

Everyone should be able to get into ketosis with high fat /low carb ratios, even if you only have 15 pounds to lose.

[neslundcori]

Re: Questions about Atkins

I agree with momtomany1, just don't lose hope! It's ok, don't obsess and you'll be fine. We all have hard times once in a while.

[Sunshines]

Re: Questions about Atkins

Thanks guys! Makes me feel a lot better. I went and got some ketosticks and I am in the moderate range, so that makes me feel a little bit better too. I know they are not definitive, but it did get my spirits up. I am so excited for a changed life style and not letting my cravings control me life!!!

What was funny is after I had all that sugar, for the first time in since I have been on this diet I got some wicked cravings to binge. Just knowing that the is a result of an influx of sugar mentally helped me through it. So far this diet is the best!

[Sunshines]

Re: Questions about Atkins

I am having a really weird experience with Atkins. I am actually gaining weight. My ketosticks say that I am in moderate ketosis. What is really weird is I have kept perfect track of my carbs and my calories. I have been keeping track of my calories for about 10 years religiously. I can take in between 2000 to 2500 calories a day and not gain weight. That is normally what I take in daily and sometimes up to 3000 and even with that amount it takes me a bit to gain weight. I am not that overweight, but I have been going to the beach a lot and so I decided I should be a little more trim if I am going to be in a bathing suit all the time. So, I decided to lose about 10 pounds.

Currently I have been taking in 1500-1600 calories and around 15 carbs a day, mostly from vegetables. I am not having anything with hidden sugar (dextrose ext) and I have not been drinking diet cokes or anything with nutrasweet.

On Wednesday, I accidentally had some lemondade with sugar. My carbs were still below 20 for the day and it did not knock me out of ketosis and my calories were still lower that day then what I normally take in. I am confused as to why 1) the low carb does not seem to have any affect on my body and 2) with such low calories I am not losing weight regardless of the low carb eating. I read somewhere that certain blood types do not do low carb as well. Have any of you guys heard anything like that?

Just today I tried on a pair of pants that I wore about a week ago and I could not even zip them up. That is quite a weight gain!

I find the diet very easy to do. I do not have cravings, I feel satisfied all the time and the food is good, but I am wondering if the diet is not made for my body type. I am going to give it one more week, but I definitely do not want to gain!

[Georgiana]

Re: Questions about Atkins

Could you post a few menus in the "Review my Menu" forum? Like what you had yesterday and today for example. Otherwise it's difficult to figure out what's going on.

[Sunshines]

Re: Questions about Atkins

I snacked on cheese and celery throughout the day, so that can be added into any day.

Day One
scrambled eggs with one sausage patty
Side salad with Ranch dressing
Some broccoli and cheese
bacon
chicken breast

Day two
4 slices of bacon
4 eggs scrambled with butter
Salad no dressing
celery
4 sausage links
6 slices of cheese

Day three
Omelette with cheese and ham
4 Sausages
5 slices of cheese
Hotdog wrapped in cheese
5 slices of salami

Day four
Scrambed eggs
Half a cup of broccoli
3 sausages
chicken
5 slices of cheese

Day five
4 Scrambled eggs
Salad with no dressing
Celery
Chicken breast
Sausage
Omelette with ham and cheese

I know salami is processed so it could have hidden carbs, but the package said it did not and I did not have a lot. My carbs are around 15 for the day anyway. I also know Atkins recommended not having hot dogs, but could this be causing me to gain weight? My mom cut her carbs to 20-40 per meal and lost a ton of weight. So, I would think even if I was a little higher than 20 due to hidden carbs, I wouldn't gain weight. Its not around that time of month either.

I am confused. Anything you guys could tell me would be great. Thanks!!

[Georgiana]

Re: Questions about Atkins

Well. I have a good news and a bad news.

The bad news is that you have pretty much wasted five days.

The good news is that you can solve the problem and start losing weight.

Here's what's wrong. During Induction, you must eat 3 cups of vegetables per day -- maximum 1 cup from the "Other Vegetables" list and the rest (for a total of 3 cups) from the "Salad Vegetables" list. Cheese is limited to 3-4 oz per day. Processed meats (salami, ham, hot dogs) usually have sugar or other non-Atkins ingredients (e.g. wheat) added, so check the list of ingredients, not only the carbohydrate content. I'm not sure what kind of bacon you're eating, but check that one for sugar too. Processed foods are also very high in sodium, which may cause you water retention.

Did you check the ingredients in the ranch dressing? There could be sugar there as well.

I think that's about it. Read the book, it will help you tremendously. For the moment, here are the rules of Induction: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...induction.html

[seraphine7]

Re: Questions about Atkins

Hello,

I am in no way an expert on this diet because I am going through an extended version of the induction phase myself, but I will tell you what works for me. I an an absolute cheese freak. I noticed that you also like cheese. If I go over 4 oz. of cheese in a day, for some reason, I don't lose any weight. I don't know why, but that's the way it is for me. When I read the Atkins book, I specifically looked for the cheese instructions because I could eat it all day, and as I understand it, we should include cheese into the phase but only about 4 oz, which is like 4 grams of carbs, of our 20 grams of carbs a day, should be towards cheese.

I also noticed that you cut down your calories from what you used to eat, why? Maybe you should try not counting calories and just eat until your satisfied, all things in moderation, and maybe your body will come out of the funk its in. Sometimes when we drop calories in our diet our body tends to hold on to the weight instead of letting it go. I hope this helps. TTYS

[GHB]

Re: Questions about Atkins

As the others have said your menu doesn't include enough veges and you're only eating processed meats and chicken. I've been varying my protein and fat daily and I'm consistently losing weight at a rate that borders on scary.

Ditch the sausages, salami, ham and hot dogs and replace them with homemade burgers, steaks, chops etc, and eat your allocated veges! Also all the non-frankfurter style sausages I've found contain a heap of starch in the form of flour or cereal for binders, so all the more reason to stick with unprocessed meats.

If you read the book and follow the instructions I'm sure you will experience amazing results :3 Best of luck!

[Sunshines]

Re: Questions about Atkins

Thanks guys I really appreciate it. I have read parts of the book. I need to get through all of it because I really misunderstood some things. I didn't realize that those things would make such a difference.

I naturally cut my caloric intake down because I am just not as hungry. I kept it down because I thought even if the Atkins diet doesn't work for me, I will still lose weight at this calorie range. Its just strange because I have read places that even taking in around 40 carbs you will still lose weight. A doctor told my mom if she could limit it 60-80 a day she would lose weight. So even if I am taking in these hidden carbs, I should still be very low on carbs. But I guess everyone is different. I still don't get why I am gaining. But now I see why I am not losing. Thank you guys!

[Sunshines]

Re: Questions about Atkins

Oh and Seraphine I went to a personal trainer some months ago to get on a weight lifting plan. She asked me about my diet and said I should get a ton of protein and calcium. At the time I actually did not eat meat (ha ha funny right!) and I exclaimed "Oh I get a lot of calcium, I eat a ton of ice cream!" Sadly, I was being serious and she started laughing so hard and she said that ice cream doesn't count. Okay the point of my story is that she said that women do not process dairy well, which is something I did not know and even though a lot of research indicates that it can be really beneficial for weight loss, she said some women are very sensitive to it and it can cause bloating, weight gain and some other negative effects. People always say differnt things, but I thought I would tell you that anyway.

BTW my terrible eating habits are another reason I am doing Atkins. I was living for the next meal.