one more newbie question

[remickmom]

I have read Atkins Diet Revolution and I understand its principles. Nonetheless, I wanted to know if any of you have lost weight and eaten the low carb bars and other processed foods while losing. I don't think I can attempt to do a LC diet if I can't eat some of these types of food. Maybe I should be looking at a different plan. Thanks.

[bkloots]

The short answer? No.

Why do you think you "can't" get along without foods like sweet snacks? Cravings, whether for ice cream or cheese or salty snacks, are clues to the things that work against good health in our bodies. Atkins aims to move you past the cravings by providing a hunger-free, satisfying way of eating, without resorting to "junk food."

Can you commit to two weeks of Atkins induction? If so, you'll be on your way to a healthier body and a new state of mind.

The problem with snack bars and shakes and low-carb snack foods is that it's easy to overeat them, or to eat them at the expense of healthier choices. In the long run, calories DO count, and it's important to learn to enjoy the healthy foods instead of junk. Atkins allows for sweets, only you'll learn to make them from sugar-free ingredients. And you might find that you don't even want them anymore.

Instead of saying, "I can't..." why not give yourself a break and think positively about what you CAN eat on a healthy low-carb plan.

[ginyer]

But I can tell you that like some of the other posts read, if you can control it and really, really count it, I would give it a try. Best case, do as suggested above for two weeks of induction at least, and then try adding some of the items in that you're considering. Your appetite will change during those two weeks, so you may be surprised at what you won't be craving. But I have known people to lose and still be able to treat themselves a little. Of course, everyone's chemistry is different, so you have to see what works for you. I almost didn't do this diet because of the no diet coke/caffeine rule. My sister told me she had lost 40 pounds and she never gave up her coffee so I figured I would give it a shot...I just can't even consider giving up my diet coke......anyway, when I did it two years ago I lost 43 pounds in less than six months and I never gave it up although I've read about the problems it can cause. And believe me, though I'm back again, it wasn't the diet coke that brought me back. This way of eating works wonderfully!

Take care and give it a try. Don't let it keep you from trying the plan.!
Anita

[jorelq]

I second (or is it 3rd) the comment about start the Atkins induction and you will be utterly surprised with the results and even more shocked with what happens to your cravings. I thought I couldn't live without my morning after coffee mint and evening ice cream. I thought once I was past induction I would eat those low carb ice creams. But now after only a few weeks, I seriously have no desire for any sweets. For me its meat and eggs only for now at least. And the lbs and fat are just falling off. Give it a try you can see for yourself. Best wishes,
Jorel

[shortone]

I am a carb freak so I thought I would just "die" on Atkins. The first day I thought I was going to lose it and found the Atkins bars. I did lose weight and ate 1 per day and lost weight but after 2 weeks I stalemated. So I quit the Atkins bars. And honestly, I am OK with no carbs - that is a miracle in itself!!!! I tell friends the carbs for me are like cigarettes for smokers quitting - I am OK as long as I don't see others chomping away at it or the smell of fresh baked bread. I am soo glad I don't work in or near a bakery!!

So, yes, the craving for carbs does go away - I am a true believer!!!

[JaneDough]

Maybe I should be looking at a different plan. Thanks.
Hey - maybe you should, although I can't imagine a better low-fat plan than WW.

But maybe you just need to let go of your preconceptions. You seem to have one toe in the water, instead of just jumping in and getting the shock over with. I suggest you pick an LC plan and do it the author's way because structure is important, especially in the beginning. Concentrate on what you can have and how you can modify old favorites to fit your new lifestyle over time. If you want to eat pre-fabbed LC convenience foods, that's your call, albeit a controversial one. I wish you all the best as you sort it out.

[meredith70]

I was making my little boy a dish of chocolate ice cream last night (complete with little blue Mucinex "sprinkles") and I didn't take a bite for myself - I didn't even think about it!!

[Paddypower]

One thing I really like about Atkins is that if it is done properly, particularly during induction is that all the food you eat is real & clean. Personally, weight watchers bothers me because they shove the processed stuff in your face and make people develop that way of eating as a habit. They should stick to real foods and do away with the crap they sell.

One could make the same arguement for Atkins, however he states in his book several times stay away from bars and shakes as much as possible. In fact I've often wondered if the massive influx of Atkins processed foods that seemed hit hard after he died would have been marketed so heavily had he been alive.

You can give up the bars if you really want to. After all - look at all the surgar addicts on this site who didn't think they could do it.

[Rsmry]

I firmly believe the modern Atkins company is all about selling products and they don't seem to care about the principles of the Atkins way of life. Just as an example, I wrote to Atkins' Swedish branch to inform them of some of the ridiculous and misleading translations in the Swedish version of DANDR (i.e., a Cheese Danish became the Swedish for "Danish Cheese" and Grape Nuts cereal became, literally, "grape seeds" and the induction rules were changed completely in the "Atkins Cookbook"). Their response was to tell me that it had nothing to do with them,but that they would write to the publisher!

On point, though, I do not use any manufactured foods now. No bars, no shakes (I tasted an Atkins shake once and thought it was disgusting), or anything else. Do I feel deprived? Well, let's see. Dinner tonight was a beautiful piece of Argentinian entrécôte accompanied by asparagus with home-made hollandaise sauce. I didn't even care about the new potatoes that went on my husband's plate along with the meat and veg. It was delicious, if I do say so myself!

I've been doing Atkins for 26 cheat-free days. I have only lost 5 kg (in the first two weeks) but I know it is working on many levels. I feel better, have more energy, the mood swings have disappeared, my blood sugars are stable and I have been able to reduce my insulin dose drastically. I have also lost 3 cm on my waist in the last 12 days, which included my TOM and I did *not* gain even one PMS pound...or to put it another way, I probably did but because I have been losing fat, it did not show up on the scale. I am confident the scale will begin moving again soon, but even if it didn't (and that would truly stink), this woe has already improved my health in tangible, measureable ways.

Rosemary

[liddie01]

I wish cheese danish was allowed in my DANDR, :lol:

[Meg_S]

Some people lose. The overwhelming majority find the products a problem which hinders weightloss.
If you bite the bullet and do induction properly for 2 weeks.. NO cheating.. you will amaze and impress yourself with how little cravings you have. You won't believe it is you. Try it first.. 2 weeks is not a big deal.. if you hate it then look for another plan.

[Qmass]

I lost weight while having one Atkins shake every day as a snack. I also ate Atkins morning start bars without a problem.

I held off on the Advantage Bars until I was closer to goal, and haven't had a problem with those, either. But I don't have more than one or two a week, at most.

[MissieA]

My husband can eat all the sugar alcohol or atkins bars he wants and lose all kinds of weight. I can only eat meat, cheese and veggies.


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