Day 10 ...vegetarian having some carb issues

[FancyOne]

So, my problem right now, I am really hungry lately.

Reason for the hunger:
Because I've had all this energy so I've included daily hikes in the morning. I am still weight training an hour a day with my personal trainer (Mon-Fri), and jogging with my dog (everyday 2 miles).

Problem with the hunger:
I'm a vegetarian and read in one of the forums soy products should be treated just like cheese...3-4oz a day. I am fine with 3 cups of salad everyday, but I'm looking for fillers. I also am drinking 3 liters of water daily.

Solution: If anyone has an idea of snack items I can eat besides the 3 cups of lettuce and the 3-4 oz of soy/cheese, I would be very grateful for the suggestions.

[Georgiana]

Re: Day 10 ...vegetarian having some carb issues

Back in 2003, Dr. Atkins was advising vegetarians following Atkins to use soy products and TVP for their protein sources. So you can add some vegetable protein to your menus, but you'll need to count the carbs.

Why are you only eating lettuce? There are 50-something vegetables on the acceptable foods list, so there is no reason to stick to lettuce. In fact, varying your veggies should help your weight loss, as you need a variety of minerals and vitamins, not only those found in lettuce.

Snacks.

You can make vegetable chips/fries (from celery root or pumpkin):

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/food-cooking-chat/6886-pumpkin-chips.html

http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/76038-post1.html

You can also roast veggies and have them as snacks.

Or make cheese crisps: Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes

Or flax wafers (remember the limit is 1 tbsp of fiber supplement per day unless you are constipated): http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...al-wafers.html

Or beat some egg whites with a bit of sweetener and vanilla and make meringues (sweeteners are limited to 3 servings/packets per day): Linda's Low Carb Menus & Recipes

[liv]

Re: Day 10 ...vegetarian having some carb issues

Do you eat eggs? fish? dairy products?

Do you get a lot of fat in?

This may not be the right diet to do if you can not have any animal proteins.

Eating salads and tofu is not going to be Atkins no matter how you turn it.

[FancyOne]

Re: Day 10 ...vegetarian having some carb issues

Thank you for your advice Georgiana. I will use some vegetable protein and count them as carbs. I was only eating lettuce because during induction I found lettuce to be quick. I have had 2 cups lettuce & 1 cup celery or 2 cups lettuce & 1 cup broccoli. My main concern was protein which did not impact the 3-4 oz of cheese.

Hi Liz,
I do eat egg whites and dairy products. I know Atkins can be done on a vegetarian diet. I am trying my best to stay within the Induction guide lines.

Basically, what I've learned is even though I'm on day 11 now of Induction...I need to move on to Rung 1 because my exercise level is too high and I need more veggie protein and to count the carbs from these veggie proteins.

Thank you!

[liv]

Re: Day 10 ...vegetarian having some carb issues

I think it can be done too - if it is a question of avoiding meats but allowing other proteins.
Veggie proteins (as in beans?) do not really come in on OWL one- it is just more salad veggies.
Are you getting 65% or your calories from fat, 30 from protien, 5 from carbs at this point?

[Georgiana]

Re: Day 10 ...vegetarian having some carb issues

Thank you for your advice Georgiana. I will use some vegetable protein and count them as carbs. I was only eating lettuce because during induction I found lettuce to be quick. I have had 2 cups lettuce & 1 cup celery or 2 cups lettuce & 1 cup broccoli. My main concern was protein which did not impact the 3-4 oz of cheese.

Most people find they have more energy when they choose more nutritious veggies. OWL will definitely be easier for you.

Basically, what I've learned is even though I'm on day 11 now of Induction...I need to move on to Rung 1 because my exercise level is too high and I need more veggie protein and to count the carbs from these veggie proteins.

Just a note here. When you move to OWL Rung 1, what you should be adding are more veggies, not vegetable protein. So you keep your Induction menu and add another 5 net carbs of vegetables (from the Induction acceptable foods list) to it.

In OWL Rung 2 you can add more tofu and from that point you should have no more problems. In OWL Rung 2, remember to count every oz of tofu or cheese as 1 net carb, even if it only has 0.something per oz. So you can only add 5 oz of cheese/tofu (assuming the carbs are below 1 g), not, say, 10 just because it only has 0.5 g per oz.

[Georgiana]

Re: Day 10 ...vegetarian having some carb issues

One more thing. When I said vegetable protein, I was referring to textured vegetable protein, not to protein coming from beans.

[FancyOne]

Re: Day 10 ...vegetarian having some carb issues

Thank you Georgiana and Liv. I'll do OWL rung 1 for a week and then move on to rung 2. On a long hike all my stomach is saying is "feed me." So I think the extra veggies will really work. Liv I'm on point with protein, fat, and carbs (give or take 3% with protein/fat). I get where you were going...I thought at first my portions percentages were not correct which is why I was hungry. But really, it's because chicken (or any other meat) is not an option so my snack choices were limited. I think with OWL, the weight will come off slower, but as long as a feel like this is a lifestyle choice, and not that I'm starving all the time because I don't eat meat, I'll be good. Thank you two for all your input. It's great knowing people like you two take the time to help people like me make a drastic lifestyle change.

To health, love, and happiness!

[wannabesize10]

vegetarian atkins induction

Hi there

I am vegetarian two trying to do atkins diet for weight loss. Today is my day three on induction. I cheated a little bit and few nuts :-( thats because I was craving to munch on something. I eat eggs and all dairy.

I have got some flaxmeal.. is it ok to use on induction??

thanks

wannabe

[Georgiana]

Re: vegetarian atkins induction

I have got some flaxmeal.. is it ok to use on induction??

Yep. But unless you it because you're constipated, fiber supplements are limited to 1 tbsp per day.

[Georgiana]

Re: Day 10 ...vegetarian having some carb issues

Fancy, what about eating some avocado? You can have 1/2 of one per day.

For both of you....

Increase your calories from fat, even if your fat percentage becomes higher than 65%. The studies using these percentages did not have vegetarian subjects. Eat more fat and try to get more short- and medium-chain fatty acids from foods (spread throughout the day), as they are a faster source of fuel then from long-chain FA. Some people say they have better energy levels when taking coconut oil and are less hungry, so you might want to try that (look for virgin coconut oil - non-hydrogenated - and start with small quantities).

You are probably taking a multivitamin (you should). In addition to that, look for a vitamin B supplement. A B complex (or B12 supplement) will help you have more energy. Non-vegetarians get most of their vitamin B12 from meat, but since you are not eating meat your intake from food and the multivitamin could be too low.

[Georgiana]

Re: Day 10 ...vegetarian having some carb issues

Kent's latest episode on YouTube talks about Atkins for vegetarians: YouTube - Atkins Diet: Is it possible for vegetarians?