HELP...it's all gone a bit wrong.

[me4ls]

As i live in Korea, shopping is a bit tricky, so yesterday i went shopping and managed to buy what the shop assistant told me was sweetner and not sugar. Having looked at it closely myself i saw that carbs were much lower than sugar and on the front the only other thing i could understand was that it had a low GI. I made myself a mock danish with cinnamon glaze today. I was quite suprised it was so nice. However next came my problem....

I was nothing short of pretty horified when a friend of mine who speaks more korean came by my place and told me that this actually said it was fruit sugar. I dont know what that means or just how bad it is, i just know its not a sweetner, but im upset because i have done everything by the book for 5 days now and dont want to be putting on lbs or not losing even as a result.

Can anyone tell me what fruit sugars are?

What the effects of having had about 3 to 4 teaspoons worth are?

And what i should do now with regards getting back on track as best as possible without adding to the problem and maybe gaining lbs?

I just wanted to be able to eat something slightly sweet as its just been meat, eggs, cheese and the small amount of veggies since monday. Now i feel like crying, i know thats a bit pathetic but i'm so pissed off.

Please someone help!!

[me4ls]

Re: HELP...it's all gone a bit wrong.

okay now i know what fruit sugar is, i looked it up and have seen a basic explanation. It seems it doesnt go straight into your blood stream but needs to be converted first and actually only enters your blood after about 2 hours.

Does anyone think ill avoid any problem if i head to the gym right now as its about 2 hours ago i ate it....? And try just burn my way through it. Guess excercise can't hurt.

[sallyseachange]

Re: HELP...it's all gone a bit wrong.

Could it be fructose?
If so, I hate to tell you it's a no-no on Atkins.
If you can find either Splenda or saccharin you'll be ok. Maybe you could get Stevia there too (natural sweetner) which is also fine. Otherwise, I guess you'll have to order some online.

Remember that your sweetner allowance both during induction and the later phases of the programme is limited to three servings daily.

Take heart... by a "forced" elimination of any sweets at all... you'll kill the cravings that much sooner! Hang in there... you can do it.

[Evermind]

Re: HELP...it's all gone a bit wrong.

Fruit sugar is sugar. It's not allowed. It is a baddie.

HOWEVER, and this is important: Dr. Atkins does not say that people who make mistakes about what is legal are bad people, or that they are failures. He does not say that if you blow it by accident, you should just give up, or that you will necessarily go out of ketosis. You are doing awesome work just trying to figure out what is acceptable in korean!!!!!!

Load up on fatty foods, exercise, and drink a ton of water. You'll be FINE!!!!!!!!!!!

[grovemonkey]

Re: HELP...it's all gone a bit wrong.

I'd love to find some low-carb kimchee.

[conqueso]

Re: HELP...it's all gone a bit wrong.

That sucks that you bought that! But don't let that one bump in the road make you all upset! Things will get better!
Can I ask where you are in Korea? I grew up in Osan next to the air force base there. I think doing low carb in korea is pretty easy! I live in the states now and rarely ever eat anything but Korean food! I eat all different kinds of kimchi's! The ones I think are safe while you are doing induction are : regular cabbage kimchi, spinach, radish (kaktooki), cucumber, and dried radish. I wish I could take you to the stores there or even the open-air markets. I could point them out to you. Stay away from any dried fish, lilac root, dried squid or octopus kimchi's! They look like they have been mixed in a thick red pepper paste. In that mixture is sugar, a lot of sugar!
As for regular Korean food, by all means eat the soups there! Try the oxtail soup (just natural beef broth, garlic, green onions, sea salt, and oxtails)! Kimchi chigae, kimchi soup, hot and spicy beef soup, etc. Some soups come with "glass" noodles in them. Eat around that! I wouldn't recommend bulgogi right now because it does have sugar/honey in the marinade. You could always make it yourself without sugar. Pretty much tastes the same. And go and get some fresh fish in the markets! They have soooo many different kinds! Just fry up a fish and eat with a side of kimchi!
Just so you know, don't go eating too much kimchi! They are still vegetables and have some carbs. (I'm hoping you like korean food, if not all this is a waste!)

But I could probably help you out if I knew where you were in Korea. They do have sugar substitutes. Just have to know where to look! Good luck! If you need any help, just post!