Some questions please

[Want to be healthy]

Hi! Im new here, and maybe being here is a step in the right direction for me. Its possible posting here will be a great support system for me.

i am in my later 20's and have been looking for ways to lose weight for many years. I have been on many types of diets, and the only one that worked really well was Atkins.

Ill be honest, I have a medical background, and I know there are medical issues associated with this diet. However, I do believe this is still better than what I call the "Twinkie diet".

In addition in my personal case this diet actually is not great for me (because I am a stone former), thus after a docussion with my urologist, and my constant passing of stones (and the pain) I am back with the low carb crowd.


I have read the book in the past, and just ordered it online, however there were some things I am confused about.

When I used to go on atkins, I never really counted carbs, I basically syatyed away from carby type foods, and ate as many nuts, and chick pease, and even falafel balls I wanted. I still lost weight this way, but yes, it did slow down.

I think as I get older shortcuts like those will not cut it, and a need to do a true induction phase of the diet. Im on day 2, and I have the atkins "flu" at the moment.

all these questions apply to induction...

Question 1- I had salad last night with dinner including cucumbers and lettuce, what other veggies are ok?

Q2- Whats the deal with cheese? I love cheese, is it unlimited or is careful carb counting needed here as well? I have seen different things in different places.

Q3- How bad is cailiflour, how much would equal 20 carbs? I make this cauliflour popcorn which I really love, and I think would help me make a nice snack.

Ill ask more questions as they come to me, thanks!

P.S- Please dont think Im bashing this lifestyle, as I KNOW how difficult it is to lose weight and keep it off.

[AreYouGonnaEatThat]

Re: Some questions please

Actually all of your questions can be answered here: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...tion-faqs.html

Check out the induction acceptable foods list.

[Want to be healthy]

Re: Some questions please

Ah yes, thanks!

[Want to be healthy]

Re: Some questions please

Ok, I saw some answers to questions, and as any newbie Im sure I missed some stuff.

1) Basically Im paranoid that im overloading myself with fat and protien, but I was eating so much sugar and so many carbs that on my second day Im starving.

2) I was wondering about whipped cream. I saw that the reddi whip has 1 carb per serving, is there any spray can whip that makes it with splenda???

2a) Is whip cream like eating cheese where you need to count carbs or like meat where as long as it has no sugar, its unlimited?

Thanks again!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Some questions please

>> I know there are medical issues associated with this diet.>>

Such as?

>>was wondering about whipped cream. I saw that the reddi whip has 1 carb per serving, is there any spray can whip that makes it with splenda???>>

Reddi Whip isn't allowed on Atkins ... it has sugar in it.

Land o' Lakes makes a canned whipped cream that's sweetened with Splenda.

Here's a secret though ... you don't need to have sweetened whipped cream! It's wonderful without.

>>Is whip cream like eating cheese where you need to count carbs>>

You need to count the carbs in everything you eat. If it has carbs, then it has to be counted.

>>How bad is cailiflour, how much would equal 20 carbs?>>

A carb counter will tell you that.

Some suggestions:

FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal

https://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/

>>Whats the deal with cheese? I love cheese, is it unlimited or is careful carb counting needed here as well?>>

The limit of cheese is 3-4 ounces per day. And it has carbs, which must be counted. As you read in your copy of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (2002), an ounce of cheese is counted at 1 carb per.

>> chick pease, and even falafel balls I wanted.>>

Wow. Those are some carby items!

[2big4mysize]

Re: Some questions please

welcome to atkins. you are a uric acid or oxylic acid stone former? the high fat intake of the atkins plan should not effect your stones either way

either one be sure to drink the water required for the atkins plan to help flush your kidneys.

Since you have a medical background why not read the book DR ATKINS NEW DIET REVOLUTION 2002 EDITION and check out the studies sited in the book to help you learn that much of the medical concerns about the plan are not based on actual science studies of atkins eating.

glad you like cauliflower.

[Want to be healthy]

Re: Some questions please

welcome to atkins. you are a uric acid or oxylic acid stone former? the high fat intake of the atkins plan should not effect your stones either way

either one be sure to drink the water required for the atkins plan to help flush your kidneys.

Since you have a medical background why not read the book DR ATKINS NEW DIET REVOLUTION 2002 EDITION and check out the studies sited in the book to help you learn that much of the medical concerns about the plan are not based on actual science studies of atkins eating.

glad you like cauliflower.

Hi, I formed uric acid stones then calcium oxalate stones on top of that.


Im having a freak out moment!

I have been on the diet 4 days, and I am still in small to moderate ketosis. I have been super good,

however, I have been eating bamboo shoots on top of the salad, because the can says there are no sugars and zero carbs. I saw online that 1 can can have 9 carbs and 2 sugars in it, but i looked in the stores and none of the cans had that information... whom to trust.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Some questions please

>> have been on the diet 4 days, and I am still in small to moderate ketosis.>>

There is no small, medium or large ketosis. You either are or you aren't.

Relying on the sticks is futile ... they're not reliable.

>>I have been eating bamboo shoots on top of the salad, because the can says there are no sugars and zero carbs.<<

There's on the Induction food list, right? However, the nutritional label on the can is not reliable (at least in the US) for accurate information.

You could look them up on the USDA www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/ or at FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal. That would be reliable.

And the "sugar", unless sugar is in the list of ingredients, it's the naturally occurring carbohydrate (sugar) in the food.

Labels are allowed to round ... and they do.

If you ever see 0 ... look it up to make sure!

[Want to be healthy]

Re: Some questions please

I guess I shouldnt be too hard on myself, but I just want to lose, Im kinda frustrated now... I fried them up with some fish for tonight and tommorow. one can each, and I would also like salad... I guess it was too good to be true.

[Georgiana]

Re: Some questions please

I'd also be curious to know what "medical issues associated with this diet" you are referring to.

[Want to be healthy]

Re: Some questions please

I'd also be curious to know what "medical issues associated with this diet" you are referring to.

The conditions are for me personally as a stone former. High amounts of protien are not great for me, and the since i should try and stay away from salt, the diet itself is harder for me.

Also the brain, from what I understand, works best on carbs, and only will fall back on proteins and fats for fuel.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Some questions please

>> Also the brain, from what I understand, works best on carbs,>>

That's not true.

" The specious claim that the brain needs a minimum of 130 grams of carbs a day for normal function is at best based on research looking at carbs, fats and proteins in a high carb setting. Research focused on a controlled carb diet paints a very different picture and has long shown that every cell in the body, including the brain, is capable of using ketones as energy. In fact, in an interview Dr. Richard Veech, a retired N.I.H. researcher and one of the world's experts on ketones, claims that the heart and the brain run 25 percent more efficiently on ketones than on blood sugar."

>>High amounts of protien are not great for me,>>

Atkins isn't high amounts of protein, so you're in luck!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Some questions please

>>I just want to lose, Im kinda frustrated now... I fried them up with some fish for tonight and tommorow. one can each, and I would also like salad... I guess it was too good to be true.>>

What's too good to be true? That bamboo shoots aren't 0 carbs?

Or that you didn't lose all your weight in 4 days?

[mizski]

Re: Some questions please

The conditions are for me personally as a stone former. High amounts of protien are not great for me,

Atkins is not a high protein diet.

and the since i should try and stay away from salt, the diet itself is harder for me.

I'm confused. I rarely use salt at the table and minimal amounts in cooking (personal tastes). Why would this make Atkins harder?

Also the brain, from what I understand, works best on carbs, and only will fall back on proteins and fats for fuel.

I'm leaving this one for someone else to respond to.

I formed uric acid stones then calcium oxalate stones on top of that.

I'm curious as to why your urologist recommended a low carb diet. I think low carb is the way to go but did he/she talk to you about a low oxalate diet? And how much calcium you should have? And how high oxalate foods bind with calcium to form crystals/stones? This information is of KEY importance to you as oxalates are found in veggies and Atkins requires LOTS of veggies.

It can be done but you need more information to do it correctly. When I started Atkins I had to choose from mainly low oxalate veggies; now my body seems to be healing and I can have higher oxalate veggies in small amounts. And I have to watch my food combinations. Maybe you can review the Atkins foods with your urologist and get some guidelines?

[Georgiana]

Re: Some questions please

has long shown that every cell in the body, including the brain, is capable of using ketones as energy.

That's not completely true. There are cells in the body that do not contain mitochondria (for example, red blood cells) and therefore require glucose to function.

Also the brain, from what I understand, works best on carbs, and only will fall back on proteins and fats for fuel.

Some parts of the brain do require glucose. However, what they do NOT require is dietary carbohydrate, because on a low carbohydrate diet, glucose will be produced via gluconeogenesis.

since i should try and stay away from salt, the diet itself is harder for me.

If you cook and don't eat processed foods (which are not recommended anyway), then controlling the amount of sodium in your diet is easy. I cook all my food, I don't eat processed meats, dressings, sauces, etc., and my sodium intake before adding any salt in cooking is not more than 600-700 mg a day. The rest, usually up to about 1300-1500 mg, comes from salt I add to foods.