Hello,
I just read and started the Atkins program. I am a little confused on the source of the 20 grams of carbs I am to consume daily for the Induction phase. Here is my question. If I am to consume 3 cups of vegetables in the form of salad greens or the listed vegetables then that doesn't add up to 20 grams. So the meat is hardly any grams and the cheese would be only 4 grams so where do I get the other grams of carbs if the books emphasizes that you should not have other than what is listed. Am I missing something? I am now on my 4th day and feel surely that I am doing something wrong. Help!!

Here is a link which you may find helpful:



http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=236482

Thanks LizzyLC for responding. I did read that link. Let me see if I got this straight. The bulk of the carbs must come from the meat if I can only have 3 cups of veggies? The book states that the bulk should come from the veggies. How do I eat 16 grams of carbs from veggies (minus 4 from cheese)? Meat has virtually no carbs. I am having a problem comprehending this. What is wrong with me?

if you don't eat them i don't think it's a problem - you don't need to eat ALL your carbs each day. . . . i think :?

There are trace amounts of carbs in many things, artificial sweetners, cheese, sauces, meats, drinks, salad dressing, veggies, etc. Do not worry out it, or best yet post up what you have been eating and what you have listed as the carbs so we can better help.

Ok so yesterday I ate 2 eggs omelet with a few TBS shredded mozz cheese and half cup of brocolli and few slices of ham. Lunch was a can of tuna with 2 Tbs mayo on a bed of arugala (one cup) and dinner was a piece of salmon with one cup of sliced fennel. That is about typical of how I have been eating for 3 days. I did make some scallops wrapped in bacon and have been snacking on those too.

I copied and pasted this from my journal:



You aren't doing anything wrong and you are getting it, lowcalmal. Even if you're eating some of the higher carb veggies, you might be getting a few more than that, but still likely not getting 20.

What I found useful when I first started Atkins was to get a calorie/carb counting book and I used that to help get my daily 20 grams of carbs a day.

I recommend calorieking.

Thanks Freckles. Your sample menu was really helpful. I am realizing that I must log everythink I eat and really count the carbs. They do add up but not necessarily to 20 per day. I think I am eating too much protein which adds up to too many calories because I have not lost any weight yet. I will hang in there but am wondering why I have not seen any weight loss yet. I don't want to get discouraged.

I'm not going to tell you what you should do as different people respond differently to the diet, but I'm a bit concerned about your thought process.

Your ID is LowCalMal and you talk about not wanting to eat too much so you don't lose any weight. I think that's the wrong approach to the LC WOE. There is nothing wrong with maintaining High Calories, in fact, many people here lose better with calories above 1,500 than they do with low calories. I'm not sure it is possible to eat too much protein unless you are eating 3 pounds of it a day.

Many people try to combine Low Carb with Low Calorie and then don't lose weight. If you are Low Carb and Low Calorie, you body isn't getting the nutrition it needs and will hang onto everything it has and will not lose the weight.

lowcalmal has been my nickname by girlfriends for years - back in the day when no one ever heard of low carb dieting. I am not concerned at all about consuming the required fats whether it be from meat, or butter/olive oil, or mayo. I do not look at this diet from a low fat perspective. I do remember Atkins mentioning that in the end too much calorie consumption by way of protein can hinder the weight loss. In other words, you can't eat all you want of meat. I think my portions may be too large.