Help!

**msanjelpie** · May 19, 2009, 11:12 PM

Re: Help!

Atkins Advantage Bars and Drinks are not allowed on induction and they are probably the reason you are not losing... As soon as you cut them out and eat only real food, you should start to see the scale move.

As long as your sodium intake is the same each day, it shouldn't effect your fat burning process at all. However, if you have a day with really high sodium, it can cause you to retain water, but again, fat is still being burned in the background...

**Georgiana** · May 19, 2009, 11:23 PM

Re: Help!

Also, if you're not eating fat, you're not doing Atkins. Atkins is a high fat diet, not a high protein one.

Take a look at the sticky threads in the "Atkins Diet 14-Day Induction" and "FAQ" forums.

**LLCS1206** · May 20, 2009, 07:38 AM

Re: Help!

Thank you to all for your kind advice. I have to say I'm very upset about the miscommunication regarding the bars and drinks. I feel like I was totally fooled. In the book it says dr can't vouch for anything that doesn't have his name on it and they do, they also say on the package that you can use this product in all phases of atkins. Supper annoying! Ok now that I just got my anger out I have another question. Do any of you use lunch meat? I found many lunch meats that i have been using.. salami, pepporoni, ham and they hall say 0 carbs. Is that ok? Because I know in the book it says lunch meats are iffy.

Thanks a ton!!

**msanjelpie** · May 20, 2009, 08:45 AM

Re: Help!

I eat salami, ham, bologna etc... but only in moderation because they do have a lot of sodium and I don't want to retain water...

**Georgiana** · May 20, 2009, 08:58 AM

Re: Help!

Look for "illegal" ingredients in them, like sugars (corn syrup, dextrose, etc.) and fillers (esp. in bologna).

**evervescent** · May 20, 2009, 09:12 AM

Re: Help!

Merely to offer up a different opinion/experience when using the Atkins bars/shakes. I have used them since the beginning and have been very successful. I don't know if I could have stayed on the plan without the shakes as I am not a breakfast person and they are the only things I can stomach in the morning. My D14 just started Atkins less than a week ago and I allow her one bar a day. She is down 6 lbs.

Everyone is different. Additionally the Dr. has us both on Metformin for insulin resistance. If you're losing with the goodies then fantastic. If you're not losing anything than cut the goodies out and see what happens.

**Georgiana** · May 20, 2009, 10:09 AM

Re: Help!

Dr. Atkins himself was not a proponent of the Atkins bars/shakes. If you read his biography, it says there that the creation of the Atkins bars was a "deal with the devil" and should be used only in emergencies. Even today, when the guys from Atkins Nutritionals were questioned about the stalling effect of bars on so many Atkinseers, their reply was that they do not recommend the use of bars/shakes more than twice a week. If you go on atkins.com and see Colette Heimowitz's replies to the questions posted in her blog, she almost never mentions Atkins bars. The point is, Dr. Atkins wanted his diet to be all about eating real, natural, minimally processed foods. And there's a reason for that.

When you are substituting meals with bars or shakes, even in the assumption that you are not stalled by them, you do not learn how to eat for life (unless you plan, for e.g., to keep drinking Atkins shakes for breakfast for the rest of your days). Furthermore, while you might lose weight and even improve your nutrition status, you are not improving your eating habits.

Do yourself a favor and do not choose frankenfoods for your meals and snacks. Fix a few things you can "stomach" or grab on the run (soup, quiche, muffins, crackers), things that are in accordance with the Rules of Induction (unlike the bars and most/all shakes) and that will teach you and your daughter lifelong healthy eating habits.

**evervescent** · May 20, 2009, 10:41 AM

Re: Help!

Wow, opinionated much.

**not2late** · May 20, 2009, 11:51 AM

Re: Help!

Also be aware that it is the collective experience of ADBB that the bars and shakes, etc. have a tendency to slow or stop weight loss in some folks.

So you may be able to eat the bars and shakes and lose weight, but are you losing at your true weight loss potential? You may lose "faster"/"easier" without the bars/shakes.

And as Georgianna noted, eating those bars/shakes to replace a meal---a meal of real food----doesn't really teach you about proper nutrition.

**liv** · May 20, 2009, 12:22 PM

Re: Help!

I suggest using fitday and perhaps keep an eye on your ratios. You want to have about 65% of your calories coming from fat. Like Georgiana I am thinking that you may have a bit trouble getting in enough fat as you are used to such a lean diet.

Here is another thing to think about: Even if products say 0% carb, it does not mean zero carb always. If it is under one carb in the serving size they list, they round it down to 0. So lunchmeat very often does have carb.
I do eat some sometimes but I am weary of the stuff. You can roast your own roast and cut it into roast beef slices. That is pretty good.

Good luck. And don't be too hard on yourself. Most of us started with a few screw-ups.

**evervescent** · May 20, 2009, 12:58 PM

Re: Help!

I do get your point, but you may also not stick with it if you're not given some leeway with your food choices. I myself do eat primarily whole, organic foods. (As I just finish off my daily Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar).

But if you tell 90% of the obese people out there that they have to switch over and stick with the regimen that was just advised, they simply would not do it. I have a difficult time telling people its not so bad and that I'm never hungry and I do allow myself a daily sweet. There is positively NO way my teenager would do this without a daily treat. No amount of discussion about her future health and happiness would make her do it.

I totally agree that everyone's metabolism is different. That's why I mentioned that you might partake of the "fake" sweets and if you're not losing anything then kick the sweets to the curb and see what happens.

As Dr Atkins did state, he did not want dieters to be puritans or they won't stick with it.

**liv** · May 20, 2009, 01:09 PM

Re: Help!

Originally posted by evervescent View Post

I do get your point, but you may also not stick with it if you're not given some leeway with your food choices. I myself do eat primarily whole, organic foods. (As I just finish off my daily Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar).

But if you tell 90% of the obese people out there that they have to switch over and stick with the regimen that was just advised, they simply would not do it. I have a difficult time telling people its not so bad and that I'm never hungry and I do allow myself a daily sweet. There is positively NO way my teenager would do this without a daily treat. No amount of discussion about her future health and happiness would make her do it.

I totally agree that everyone's metabolism is different. That's why I mentioned that you might partake of the "fake" sweets and if you're not losing anything then kick the sweets to the curb and see what happens.

As Dr Atkins did state, he did not want dieters to be puritans or they won't stick with it.

Hmm I think our definiton of what would constutie whole food differ a bit. To me a packaged bar like that which is full of chemicals does not qualify. But that is my way. If yours is different that is cool.
The main thing that I would say about those bars is that they should not be used by people on induction. Because
1: They contain illegal ingredients
2: they are sweetened with sugar alcohols and some of us actually absorb those sugars like we do normal sugar. So while the label says 2 carbs we are actually eating closer to twenty when we have one.

If it worked for you and if you want to continue them fine. But don't recommend them to new inductees without all kinds of warnings attached.

I do agree about your point about puritans though.

**evervescent** · May 20, 2009, 01:57 PM

Re: Help!

I would never make a recommendation, I am neither a doctor nor a nutritionist. This is only my opinion based upon my experience.

Neither am I a puritan. I eat mainly whole, organic foods. "Franken-foods" as you term them are merely a supplement to the healthy diet...a treat. Like a diet coke. Also not good for you. Potentially full of excitotoxins and caffeine. But if it gets you through the day and its not impacting the weight loss you need to be healthy than go with God as they say.

5% of people who lose weight can actually stick with it. Unless something is actually impeding an individuals progress than everyone is allowed to make their own choices. Try it. If it works great...if not working than change it up.

**LLCS1206** · May 20, 2009, 04:27 PM

Re: Help!

Thank you everyone for your advice I truly appreciate it.

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