Sorry, but I'm still confused...

[Julie in CA]

On induction, the carbs should come from vegetables, cheese, or eggs, right? (or wrong?)
I'm eating my salad and veggies, I'm eating a several eggs every day, and I'm eating my limit of cheese, but I'm still quite far under 20g of carbs per day. Very far, in fact. Is there a lower limit on carbs? And, how are people getting close to 20 on induction if they're following the cheese/veg limits? Just more eggs?
For instance, here's what I think I'll eat today:
4 eggs cooked in 1 tablespoon butter
1 oz. cheddar cheese

2 cups romaine lettuce
1 teaspoon of very finely minced scallions
1 oz. cheddar cheese

1 cup raw cauliflower

large burger patty--maybe 7 oz?
1 slice of cheese

According to Sparkpeople, I'll be eating around 1400 calories today, 7g net carbs, and that's fairly typical for me. I'm not losing anything. Some days the calories are higher, more in the 1700-1800 range, though I'm not really trying to limit calories. I'm drinking all my water, have absolutely no artificial (or natural, for that matter) sweeteners, and have been more active than I usually am. The strips have been purple continuously, and I'm 3 1/2 weeks into this WOE. I lost 5 lbs the first week, and then nothing since. Are my carbs too low? If that's the problem, how do I eat more carbs within induction guidelines?

Sorry for the rambling, and thanks for the input/support!

[barrnone]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

you need to add a lot more veggies. Snacking on fresh veggies during the day, some veggies in your eggs, other veggies in your salad, another with your dinner...you need to get 12-15 net carbs from your veggies!

[Georgiana]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

You do not have to eat 20 net carbs, despite what atkins dot com says. All we are told in DANDR is to eat not more than 20 g, which can just as well mean 15 g.

Romaine lettuce is one the lowest carb vegetables you can eat. Mixing your veggies and choosing nutritious vegetables will give your body the nutrients it needs to keep burning fat. Are you taking a multivitamin? Any other nutritional supplements?

I see you started Atkins three weeks ago and you did lose some weight. It's normal to have weeks when we lose little or nothing. But even in those weeks you are getting healthier and that's a big deal! Don't forget to take body measurements too --- they are a better indicator of body fat loss.

Is your fat intake high? Like around 65%? And protein at ~30%? I can't figure this out from the menu you posted...

[Georgiana]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

you need to add a lot more veggies. Snacking on fresh veggies during the day, some veggies in your eggs, other veggies in your salad, another with your dinner...you need to get 12-15 net carbs from your veggies!

The 12-15 net carbs rule was also added by Atkins Nutritionals after Dr. Atkins' death and does not appear in DANDR. During Induction, one needs to eat 3 cups of vegetables (3 of salad, or 2 of salad and 1 of "other veggies"), and it's okay if these 3 cups don't add up to 12-15 net carbs as long as over half of the net carbs consumed come from vegetables.

[Julie in CA]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

you need to add a lot more veggies. Snacking on fresh veggies during the day, some veggies in your eggs, other veggies in your salad, another with your dinner...you need to get 12-15 net carbs from your veggies!

But I thought it was supposed to be 2 cups salad + 1 cup other veggies...see my confusion? I could for sure add more carbs with veggies, but not with keeping it with 3 cups...?

[Georgiana]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

I moved this thread to the "Atkins Diet (Extended) Induction" forum.

[barrnone]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

I do apologize, I didn't see your 1 cup raw cauliflower. When I first looked at it - it just didn't look like enough veggies.

[liv]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

On induction, the carbs should come from vegetables, cheese, or eggs, right? (or wrong?)

Right - tea, sugar substitutes, fibre supplements also have some carbs that are allowed

I'm eating my salad and veggies, I'm eating a several eggs every day, and I'm eating my limit of cheese, but I'm still quite far under 20g of carbs per day. Very far, in fact. Is there a lower limit on carbs? And, how are people getting close to 20 on induction if they're following the cheese/veg limits? Just more eggs?

The rule is that you should eat 3 cups of veggies and that you should not eat more than 20 carbs. But you do not have to eat 20 carbs. I never do on induction. If you want more carbs you can choose veggies that are denser and will provide more carb. From the salad list instead of eating romaine (which has virtually no carb per cup) You could choose, jicama, radishes, mushrooms and peppers. From the other list if you ate tomato, onion, spaghetti squash or pumpkin you could easily make it up there.
Don't stress about the carbs eat the cups and eat vegetables you like. Perhaps try some new ones too.

AND because you are past your fourteen days of induction you can move to OWL and add loads of extra veggies (well if you continue to lose that is) No reason to stay in induction if you want more veggies.

For instance, here's what I think I'll eat today:
4 eggs cooked in 1 tablespoon butter
1 oz. cheddar cheese

2 cups romaine lettuce
1 teaspoon of very finely minced scallions
1 oz. cheddar cheese

1 cup raw cauliflower

large burger patty--maybe 7 oz?
1 slice of cheese

You did not eat a proper Atkins lunch. Try to get a non dairy protein source in. Can you eat a bit smaller breakfast and a bit bigger lunch.
If you are seeing difficulties I would go lower on the cheese. Perhaps try to cut in all out to see how you do.

Remember we follow the book here. Not whatever the Atkins site has decided. So that explains our recommendations

I think you are eating pretty well. I think losses will come (but lighter on the cheese)

[MelTin]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

Your main problem is that you stayed in induction. Move on to OWL and start eating more vegatables. You will still lose weight.

[Julie in CA]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

Your main problem is that you stayed in induction. Move on to OWL and start eating more vegatables. You will still lose weight.

I stayed in induction because I have almost 100 lbs to lose, and because I haven't lost anything since the first week. Since I haven't lost weight at all since then, I thought it was not the right time to move on. (?)

[Julie in CA]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

I moved this thread to the "Atkins Diet (Extended) Induction" forum.

Thanks! I realized after I posted that it should have probably gone there.

[bellajgw]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

Julie, I agree with many in that you should reduce the cheese and increase the protein. Drink tons of water. Then let your body figure out the rest. You could have a very stubborn system that is in shock and needs time to adjust to your new eating habits. Everyone's body is different! EVERYONE'S!!!!! If you focus on everyone else's weight loss track record you're bound to get bummed!

For myself my body loses and gains and loses and gains and it ticks me off. One day I'll have lost 2 pounds and a day later I've gained 4 and it will take me a week to get down just 2 pounds! It happens but that is the way my body works. Perhaps your body is just holding on until it just can't anymore and one morning you'll wake up and have a huge loss.

[Iza]

Re: Sorry, but I'm still confused...

As others have said, everyone's body is different. I have about 65 lbs left to lose (this is my 2nd go around with Atkins, lost 135 lbs the first time and went completely off the diet and started back over actually 3rd go around cause I was off for about a month and started over again)

I was completely frustrated with the diet this time. I got stuck and couldn't get it to budge last time. I learned something though. Induction works great for me for about the first 10 days, after that I slow down or completely stop losing weight. I HAVE to move up to OWL rung 1 and add in more veggies. I still don't eat above the 20 carb limit generally (MAYBE get to 25 every once and awhile) but I eat probably several cups of salad veggies a day, and probably 1 cup of non-salad veggies. I lose weight better with the extra induction allowed veggies.

I'm not telling you that will work for you, but what I am saying is, take it a week at a time, and try out some alternative things with your diet that others or myself have mentioned. Mix you veggies up, and see what happens.

Also as a side note here, I get burned out if I eat the same things everyday for more then a couple weeks, so it helps me from getting just sick of eating. I also with my salads have learned to experiment with different salad veggies to make the salads so they are totally different all that time and found out I liked a lot of veggies I never even knew about.