Ingredient Question

[bognerje]

I understand the 'allowable foods' etc. but what does it matter what ingredients are in foods etc..

if there is 1g of carbs in a product, what does it matter whats in it? How is that going to affect losing weight?

[Elizellen]

Re: Ingredient Question

Yes, in my opinion it does matter.

If you are supposed to be avoiding (for example) nuts then eating something made with nuts in it would be undermining your efforts.

To my mind induction is a good way of starting out as it means not eating many of the ingredients that lots of people have intolerances to - like milk, nuts, strawberries and other fruits, alcohol, soy products and wheat etc - so that your body has the best chance of settling down before you start adding those sort of foods back in.

On OWL we are supposed to reintroduce foods one at a time and see how they affect us so we can learn which ones our body can handle and which it has problems with.

[mizski]

Re: Ingredient Question

One of the reasons I chose to try Atkins after trying other low carb plans is that Atkins (if done correctly) allows you to find those foods that can inhibit weight loss. It also helps you find foods that you have other sensitivities to like Elizellen explained.

During my pre-Atkins attempts I would reach a point and my weight loss would just slow to a crawl. I knew it was some of the foods I ate, but which ones? I couldn't tell if it was too much artificial sweetener or nuts or dairy or fruits or what.

Now I'm learning what foods will allow me to continue to lose weight and what foods do not satiate me or make me ravenous shortly after. For me, nuts are a big bomb so I now know to avoid nut ingredients or use them very sparingly. Seeds are OK for me though. Had I not followed directions I never would have known that.

[neutronnorman]

Re: Ingredient Question

Yup. I don't lose fat if I eat or drink anything with heavy whipping cream. It's 0 carb but it stalls me, go figure. Also, if I eat bacon and eggs in the same meal, it stalls me also. Yet, if I space the latter about 4 hours apart, I'm O.K.

I do not know why. The answer could be a myriad of things. I also tend to lose body fat faster on the upper end of caloric intake. I do well at about 2300 cal but if I go lower, it seems my body holds on to fat and it starts cannibalizing lean muscle mass.

According to calculations I've done, my calorie deficit is about 400 cal per day lower than my BMR.

[JulieB]

Re: Ingredient Question

Yup. I don't lose fat if I eat or drink anything with heavy whipping cream. It's 0 carb but it stalls me, go figure.

Ummm...Norman, whipping cream has carbs

I do agree about learning what foods make you crave, or make you stop losing, etc

[neutronnorman]

Re: Ingredient Question

Ummm...Norman, whipping cream has carbs

I do agree about learning what foods make you crave, or make you stop losing, etc

Cheez, you are right JulieB!
It has 6-7 g CHO per cup. I guess what I meant to say was that it is an induction legal food in the right quantity but it stalls me.

[FwL]

Re: Ingredient Question

if there is 1g of carbs in a product, what does it matter whats in it? How is that going to affect losing weight?

In the presence of insuline, the body stores fat. The type of carbs you eat can have an effect on blood sugar which, in turn, triggers insuline production.

You'll find that DR. A arranged the carb ladder by glycemic load... ie. how fast the carbs turn to sugar in your bloodstream. The faster the sugar enters your bloodstream, the more likely you are to have an insuline spike.

High insuline is linked to much more nastiness inside your body than just storing fat.

Which carbs you choose also plays an important role in nutrition. Dr. A's plan is based on the idea of getting the most 'bang for the buck' out of the carbs you consume. A cup of broccoli is going to provide food for your body with very little potential damage to the system. The same can't be said for flour and sugar.

[bognerje]

Re: Ingredient Question

ok.. i understand the glycemic index.. but 1 carb? I can see if it were
30 carbs etc. but 1gram, does that really matter?

[JulieB]

Re: Ingredient Question

ok.. i understand the glycemic index.. but 1 carb? I can see if it were
30 carbs etc. but 1gram, does that really matter?

Sure it does, we're starting at less than 20 grams/day. Many people only have 10 - 15grams/day on induction. We are supposed to be learning how to eat properly, not caving into the "one bite won't hurt", "one carb won't hurt" attitude that got us all here in the first place.

[bognerje]

Re: Ingredient Question

Im certainly not arguing with anyone.. but i've had the 1 carb/low carb bbq sauce on chicken etc. and eat 5x a day and workout and lost 22 pounds this month. I am not heavy per se, 5ft 8, 206 starting, 32 1/2 waist.. i've been on induction the entire time but the 1carb thing has been the last 2 weeks where i lost 10 pounds.. maybe the ingredients are safe then?

[FwL]

Re: Ingredient Question

All Atkins can do is lay out the plan as it makes the most sense for the most people. How much you deviate from that plan is a matter of personal choice and what your metabolism will allow.

Somebody else could try that BBQ sauce and put themselves into a tailspin.

The "rules" act as a frame of reference.

[Georgiana]

Re: Ingredient Question

ok.. i understand the glycemic index.. but 1 carb? I can see if it were
30 carbs etc. but 1gram, does that really matter?

Yes, it matters. One carb above your CCLL is enough to stop losing; one carb above your CCLM is enough to start gaining. Also, if you have an intolerance to some nasty ingredient(s) in a food, those ingredients can also cause you a stall, a slowdown in weight loss or even weight gain. The nastier the ingredients, the higher the chances for an intolerance.

And all cravings (often evolving into binges) start with "just one carb".

[bognerje]

Re: Ingredient Question

I hear you on the CCLM.. but i am nowhere near my limit.. i get about 3grams from cheese, 5grams from veggies so i have room for 1carb.. I will just monitor things, as long as im dropping weight im not terribly worried about it, thanks all.