Nut Rung questions

[Aways2Go]

I am about to move on from OWL 1 to 3 (skipping dairy for now, will go back and pick that up) and wondered a couple of things...

One, do most people include peanuts in their testing of OWL 3 or leave it out until legumes come into play? Do many people identify problems with plain peanuts or is it mostly just with peanut butter? (in regards to either slowing/stalling weight loss or with cravings issues)

Two, does anyone have any comments or thoughts about trying out almond milk on this rung? I've used it in the past in place of coffee creamer from time to time... much more watery, but I tolerated it. Since it is basically almonds and water and not much of anything else (nothing else if I make it at home, which I have done before), I didn't see any reason not to try it on rung 3, but haven't noticed any comments about it from anyone either. The unsweetened commercial varieties, which is what I am mainly asking about, does take some getting used to in regards to taste in my opinion, which may be why I haven't heard anyone talking about it, LOL! However, it is only 1 carb per cup, which is a plus.

Any other comments about this rung would be appreciated. I have no particular thing for peanut butter, but a little here and there would be nice (I have only eaten natural peanut butter with no sugar added since '06 anyway, and not in huge quantities ever). I would likely be just as interested in other unsweetened nut butters also. Mostly I am interested in testing plain, unsalted nuts and seeds - almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc.

Favorite items from the nuts rung or special recipes?

I have been pretty steady lately at @ 2 lbs loss per week on 25ish carbs daily on OWL 1, and plan not to go over 30 while I experiment with rungs 2, 3, and 4 (one at a time). That will make it easier to identify if it is a carb level problem or individual foods. I will deal with finding my CCLL and testing the higher rungs after getting a little closer to my goal weight. I have lots of time in OWL to get all these things figured out, with nearly 100 pounds still to go.

[Georgiana]

Re: Nut Rung questions

One, do most people include peanuts in their testing of OWL 3 or leave it out until legumes come into play? Do many people identify problems with plain peanuts or is it mostly just with peanut butter? (in regards to either slowing/stalling weight loss or with cravings issues)

Peanuts were considered nuts by Dr. Atkins. I added them before I got to OWL Rung 6, but discovered I have an allergy to them.

A common problem with nuts in general is portion control. I know people who go crazy with peanuts and eat a whole jar of peanut butter. You'll need to discover how you handle it, but from what you are saying, you don't seem like someone with a PB addiction.

When I started OWL Rung 3, I had some portion control issues with nuts (any nuts) and had to use them mostly in cooking (as flours). These days I can use them as a snack just fine. So things can also change in time.

Two, does anyone have any comments or thoughts about trying out almond milk on this rung? I've used it in the past in place of coffee creamer from time to time... much more watery, but I tolerated it. Since it is basically almonds and water and not much of anything else (nothing else if I make it at home, which I have done before), I didn't see any reason not to try it on rung 3, but haven't noticed any comments about it from anyone either. The unsweetened commercial varieties, which is what I am mainly asking about, does take some getting used to in regards to taste in my opinion, which may be why I haven't heard anyone talking about it, LOL! However, it is only 1 carb per cup, which is a plus.

Almond milk is allowed on OWL Rung 3. There was a recent thread in the OWL forum, I believe, about homemade almond milk. You could do a search for it.

[rosie321]

Re: Nut Rung questions

Portion control is so so hard with nuts because they are little gems of deliciousness! As soon as I open a container, I immediately portion them out into little plastic baggies. I'm such a "picker" that if I just leave them in a larger container I find myself reaching for just a nut or two throughout the day and before I know it, I've eaten an entire serving. With Halloween right around the corner, I'm so excited to roast my own pumpkin seeds!

[chinadoll]

Re: Nut Rung questions

I have found almonds the only nuts I can eat without a portion problem. And I count 22 out into baggies so I don't just keep picking at them. It is definitely a life saver to have them when traveling and between meals so still worth it. am one of the peanut addicts. Can't use them or PB unless it is in a recipe or I have a to go overboard.

[Aways2Go]

Re: Nut Rung questions

No portion control issues thus far, but I do get them out, pour out a small amount in a bowl and put the rest back up in the cabinet... when they are gone, they are gone. So far I have tried walnuts and almond milk. I don't care that much about peanuts anyway, so I think I will leave them off for now.

So far no weight loss stall, in fact lost a couple more, no cravings, nothing. I will test a while longer, maybe another week, but this seems like a non-issue for nuts.

On to berries shortly - wahoo! I sure do miss me some fruit - I really will have to portion these carefully, as I would be much more likely to vastly overeat fruit than anything else on the carb ladder, I am thinking. If it were allowed, I'm sure I could eat 8 or 10 servings of fruit a day without blinking.

[chinadoll]

Re: Nut Rung questions

Yup, a half cup of blueberries isn't very many. I find I absolutely have to measure my berries because I always tend to be too generous when I just "eyeball" the serving size. But they ARE so good!

[PeteinVA]

Re: Nut Rung questions

I'm on nut rung (skipped dairy) and haven't had any problem with them I don't think. I've had some almonds and pumpkin seeds (these don't do much for me).

I'm wondering what I should be looking for when I read people talking about "watch how you react to these foods" What do you mean, like the scale? Or just cravings?
I'll tell you the nuts aren't doing much for me in general I'm ready to move on !

I'm not doing so great on OWL but I'm getting there. The scale has been just fine this week (my normal down down up down) so I think it's okay.

Y'all recommend a week per rung or what?

Thanks for putting up with my questions!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Nut Rung questions

>>I'm wondering what I should be looking for when I read people talking about "watch how you react to these foods" What do you mean, like the scale? Or just cravings?>>

Yes, to both.

Also ... can you limit yourself to a serving (one ounce) of nuts? Do you want to eat the whole supply? That's a red flag.

>> I'm not doing so great on OWL >>

What's wrong?

>> I'll tell you the nuts aren't doing much for me in general I'm ready to move on >>

Then move on.

>> Y'all recommend a week per rung or what?>>

There's no time frame to a rung. Some people say on the vegetable rung of OWL for an extended time. Some stay on certain rungs for a shorter time.

The aim is to keep moving forward.

[PeteinVA]

Re: Nut Rung questions

Thanks atkinsgal, that's very helpful (especiaally the keep moving forward part!)

I just feel I'm not doing that well as I'm adding new foods like every other day but the quanity is so small it seems like I'm not really changing much. I feel like I'm not embracing the concept or something.

I'm also confused about the carbs part I'm still really way low on carbs. Should I be adding 5 per rung? If so I really should be up to 35 or so I'd say. I'm only at 20 to 25 the most really....

Thanks for your help!

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Nut Rung questions

You're welcome!

>>I'm adding new foods like every other day>>

You should only add any new food 3 times per week. If you add more than one new food, you won't know which one causes "the problem" ... if you have a problem.

>>Should I be adding 5 per rung?>>

Yes.

>>I'm only at 20 to 25 the most really.>>

20 is Induction level ... 25 is the first rung of OWL.

The goal isn't to eat as few carbs as possible!

So ... try adding only one new food at a time ... probably adding some more Induction vegetables wouldn't hurt and could help you get your net carbs up.

[PeteinVA]

Re: Nut Rung questions

One day I had almonds, then two days later I had pumpkin seeds. It's not much more than that sort of thing.

Next week I'm going to do the berry thing. I took your advice and had a bigger salad with dinner last night. I need to get my carbs up but believe it or not I'm a little obsessed with calorie-couunting hhah I don't want to go above 1500 a day.

Thanks again for your input and support I appreciate it!

[Georgiana]

Re: Nut Rung questions

If your "no more than 20 grams of carbohydrate" during Induction were less than 20 g (which is a debate for another thread), then it is normal not to eat 25 g in OWL Rung 1, 30 g in OWL Rung 2 and so on.

In OWL, add no more than 5 net carbs per week, but when you add nuts, add them in 1 oz amounts (and 1/2 oz for cashews), not 5 net carbs. There are also some rungs where you might not want to add 5 net carbs. For example, I didn't add 5 net carbs of wine since I only use wine in cooking. It was my choice and does not go against the Rules of OWL.

I'm not one to push food down someone's neck, but why are you trying to restrict your calories to 1500? Some days you might be hungry for 2200 calories, while other days you might want only 1300. If you go by hunger, your body should know how much it needs. Not eating enough can interfere with your weight loss just like overeating can.

[liv]

Re: Nut Rung questions

One day I had almonds, then two days later I had pumpkin seeds. It's not much more than that sort of thing.

Next week I'm going to do the berry thing. I took your advice and had a bigger salad with dinner last night. I need to get my carbs up but believe it or not I'm a little obsessed with calorie-couunting hhah I don't want to go above 1500 a day.

Thanks again for your input and support I appreciate it!

Don't be obsessed with calori counting. Though keeping an eye on it is OK, we should be obsessed with what we eat.
When I try out a new food - I try it three times before moving to the next new food. So on the nut rung I would have done almonds one week, then pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sun flower seeds, cashews, walnuts, [or at least some of them - sesame seeds are very health] Yes remember that there are special rules for amounts of nuts but not seeds.
Have you tried the flax muffin? Or perhaps some baking with almond and flax? This is one of the most important and cool rungs in my opinion

[Elizellen]

Re: Nut Rung questions

I'm wondering what I should be looking for when I read people talking about "watch how you react to these foods" What do you mean, like the scale? Or just cravings?

Take a look at the 'Blood Sugar symptoms' chart in Chapter 12 of DANDR (page 150 in my copy). Seeing any of these occur after adding a new food would be an alarm bell.

[not2late]

Re: Nut Rung questions

I agree with Elizellen. Taking the Blood Sugar Symptom Test is probably more reliable and is definitely a faster way to tell if a food "gives you problems".

If you are having difficulties with portion control (since nuts/seeds are the one food that doesn't follow the 5 net carb rule of OWL), use nuts as ingredients in your foods. For example, if you make a stirfry add cashews or almonds to it. Use finely chopped or ground nuts, like pecans or almonds as "breading" for meats. Use nutbutters as thickeners for sauces or thin them out for sauces.