Scared about too many carbs & no phantasy in food choice

[ingridz]

Hi All,
I wrote part of this already in the THE SPOTLIGHT INTRODUCE YOURSELF, but I think that the follow ups don't fit there.

I've tried several diets but didn't succeed. The many stories and photo's here are so stimulating. I can't think of anything else. I want to be able to post before and after pics too. Thinking about your photo's make me not crave for any carb at all! Thank you all for that.

I started out reasonably okay at March 2, but I'm standing still now for 4 days. Fortunately I didn't go up.
I know, I haven't been eating veggies every day, because it's so handy to just walk around with brie-cheese (0g carb) at work. But I feel that my bowels are full, so I have good hope that I actually did go down.

Yesterday I decided to add veggies every day to my daily menu (for health and bowels sake ). I use 100g raw cabbage (4g carb) per day and mix it with fish or cheese or meat (no sauce). I don't dare to eat more veggies, because I'm scared that if I make some kind of mistake in carb counting (with the different cheeses), that I will be above 20g. So I rather stay on the low side.

Today I got my Ketosticks. That will give me more confidence about the carbs I hope. I guess I could experiment a bit with the veggies and check myself with the Ketosticks, but it is a bit scary. I don't want to make a mistake and gain weight.

Due to my busy job I'm always looking for easy things to carry around. Cabbage in a small box is okay. Cheese is easy. Smoked fish smells in the office, but fortunately I have great colleagues in my room. Meat is okay, but I like chicken wings and that is somewhat less handy.

Does anyone here have a similar problem with bringing food to work? I don't like going out or to the canteen for lunch. I'd rather browse this Atkins site.
I'm starting to eat a bit the same over and over again. I know that there are recipe sites that I could use for cooking in the evening, but I'm so scared to use too many carbs. So also in the evening I eat the same stuff as during the day.

Tips & tricks are very welcome.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Scared about too many carbs & no phantasy in food choice

>> I know, I haven't been eating veggies every day,>>

There's a big reason why you might be losing.

Getting MOST of your daily net carbs from vegetables appropriate for your phase of Atkins is the basis of Rule # 3 of Induction.

>>it's so handy to just walk around with brie-cheese (0g carb) at work.>>

Handier than a celery stick? Or some pepper sticks?

Also ... Brie isn't 0 carb. No cheese is 0 carb. You count 1 net carb per ounce.

Are you counting NET carbs? The USDA has 100 grams of "cabbage" (raw) at 5.80 total carbs and 2.5 grams of fiber, so that's 3.3 net carbs.

>>I don't dare to eat more veggies,>>

While you might not dare, you have to eat more that just 100 grams of cabbage.

<< Today I got my Ketosticks. That will give me more confidence about the carbs I hope.<<

Well, the confidence wouldn't be related to anything though. The sticks don't really work the way I think you think they do.

>>'m so scared to use too many carbs.>>

Then you need to count accurately.

You need to understand that 20 net carbs is Induction ... with MOST of those net carbs coming from Induction vegetables.

If you count ... either by hand or by using a site such as Fitday or Fatsecret, some of the being scared about using too many carbs will go away.

[ingridz]

Re: Scared about too many carbs &amp; no phantasy in food choice

Hi atkinsgal,
Thank you for your reply.

I used brie as my main meals. It says 0 gram carb per 100g on the package. Here in the Netherlands the law is very strict about information on packages. But I'd rather listen to you. 1 net carb per ounce. And 1 ounce = about 30 gram? That is a lot! I will diminish the cheese drastically. Thank you.
Anyway, my goal is also to incorporate a normal way of eating in my life. I basically forgot what a normal way of eating is. I do understand that living on cheese is not normal.

Maybe the amount of carbs depends a bit on the kind of cabbage (I use white cabbage and conical cabbage) or the Dutch calorie site is not accurate. But I didn't do the fiber subtraction. I will increase my net vegetable carbs per day then until at least 10g. The Dutch site I was looking at doesn't give the fibers. But I can find other sites in Holland that are specifically for the Dutch food market. And there will be some overlap of course on US sites.

The ketosticks will tell me every day if I'm (still) in ketosis, right? So I can check if I did the right thing. And of course I count as good as possible.

Thanks for your straight answer. I will switch to 3 salads a day mixed with fish or meat. And I can add eggs to my day as well.

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Scared about too many carbs &amp; no phantasy in food choice

>>It says 0 gram carb per 100g on the package.>>

It's still not correct though.

The USDA has brie at 0.45 net carbs per 100 grams. It's DANDR that uses the rule of thumb as 1 net carb per ounce.

The limit of cheese is 3-4 ounces (85-113 grams) per day.

>> will increase my net vegetable carbs per day then until at least 10g.>>

12-15 would be MOST ... and a better number to strive for on Induction.

>> The ketosticks will tell me every day if I'm (still) in ketosis, right?>>

Maybe. They don't tell you if you're doing everything right ... or if you'll lose weight. Relying on them for anything other than hand-eye coordination is generally a waste.

Here's an article:

https://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/atkins-low-carb-dieting-faqs/82407-article-ketostix-color.html

Some carb counting sites:

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

It can be downloaded to your PC here:

Nutrient Data Products and Services

FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal (uses grams)

All Things Food and Diet - FatSecret (can show net carbs without doing your own math)

Hope that helps.

[ingridz]

Re: Scared about too many carbs &amp; no phantasy in food choice

Atkinsgal,
Thank you so much!

I was also reading some of your explanation about fiber in the other threads. Indeed in Holland the fiber is separately displayed. Vegetables don't always have a list with carbo, fiber, calories etc however.

Thanks very much for the websites. I just read the clear article about the ketosticks. I'm going to set up a good eating plan with help of the sites. 12-15g carbs coming from veggies. With the big advantage (among others) to have no full bowels anymore

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Scared about too many carbs &amp; no phantasy in food choice

>>in Holland the fiber is separately displayed.>>

In that case, the listing for carbohydrate is "net".

>>Vegetables don't always have a list with carbo, fiber, calories etc however.>>

That's why you would use a site as above to look them up!

[ingridz]

Re: Scared about too many carbs &amp; no phantasy in food choice

I will. Thank you for your help!