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  #76   ^
Old Sun, Oct-26-03, 14:43
Bayrat's Avatar
Bayrat Bayrat is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 413
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 226.5/193.0/185 Male 72 inches
BF:
Progress: 81%
Location: Upstate NY
Default

Just back from my casino trip so I will give an assessment of the GNC carb blocker tomorrow. I really did not fall too badly, 1.5 buckwheat pancakes, two bites of bread crust and perhaps six french fries on Friday. The rest of the time I was pretty much low carb except did have a few more drinks Friday than I normally would on the weekend. I use the blockers on all but two meals (forgot them), one consisted of a bite of blueberry tart and the other a few tablespoons of cream of wheat. The rest of my meals consisted of eggs, prime rib, bacon, salads and veggies. Weigh in first thing in the morning.

Last edited by Bayrat : Sun, Oct-26-03 at 16:41.
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  #77   ^
Old Sun, Oct-26-03, 16:40
Bayrat's Avatar
Bayrat Bayrat is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 413
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 226.5/193.0/185 Male 72 inches
BF:
Progress: 81%
Location: Upstate NY
Default Interesting tidbit

Tantalizing promise, controversial results

by Allison Sarubin Fragakis, RD



Learn More
Related Stories > 100 Foods That Fight Fat
> Calorie Counter
> Slash Cancer Risk with Carbs






With low-carbohydrate diets still popular, supplements called carb blockers-such as Carb Trapper, Carb Cutter, and Carb-X-are suddenly everywhere. The claim: One or two tablets with a meal can block the absorption of about 400 calories' worth of bread, pasta, or potatoes.

But, do they really work? The main ingredients are bean and wheat germ extracts thought to stop carbohydrate absorption by inhibiting a digestive enzyme that breaks down starch. If starch passes through you undigested, you should lose weight.

That's the theory, but the truth is this: There's only a little evidence that they might work. In the '80s, several studies showed that the bean extract had no effect on calorie absorption or body weight.

But recently, however, researchers at the Mayo Clinic found that higher doses of bean extract (4,000 to 6,000 mg) and wheat germ extract (4,000 mg) slowed carbohydrate digestion. These higher doses are not available in commercial carb blockers, plus no one knows whether slowing carbohydrate digestion actually causes weight loss over time.
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  #78   ^
Old Mon, Oct-27-03, 09:04
amiee3377's Avatar
amiee3377 amiee3377 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 647
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 182/152/120 Female 5'1
BF:
Progress: 48%
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Ok I'm here to give you all an update. On Monday of last week I weighed 158. On this Monday I weigh 156. I ate low carb foods all last week. I didn't take my pills at every meal because I would forget. I am going to continue taking them. I will keep you all posted.
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  #79   ^
Old Mon, Oct-27-03, 16:29
Bayrat's Avatar
Bayrat Bayrat is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 413
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 226.5/193.0/185 Male 72 inches
BF:
Progress: 81%
Location: Upstate NY
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Amiee,

If you are low carbing, the two pounds sounds like a fairly average weight loss. The pills I have read about claim that result without low carbing, so the jury is out, keep us posted.

BRat
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  #80   ^
Old Tue, Oct-28-03, 07:11
bcadieux's Avatar
bcadieux bcadieux is offline
Contributing Member
Posts: 234
 
Plan: atkins-OWL
Stats: 201/162.3/150 Female 5' 8"
BF:
Progress: 76%
Location: Chicago
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Yo Bayrat,

We've been waiting for you to tell us about your carb blocker casino weekend. How did it go?
Bette
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  #81   ^
Old Tue, Oct-28-03, 12:17
bcadieux's Avatar
bcadieux bcadieux is offline
Contributing Member
Posts: 234
 
Plan: atkins-OWL
Stats: 201/162.3/150 Female 5' 8"
BF:
Progress: 76%
Location: Chicago
Default

Mary,

Thanks alot for the PM. I think I will give it a try
bette
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  #82   ^
Old Tue, Oct-28-03, 15:57
Bayrat's Avatar
Bayrat Bayrat is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 413
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 226.5/193.0/185 Male 72 inches
BF:
Progress: 81%
Location: Upstate NY
Default

I was up 2.5 pounds on Monday morning, I low carbed all day on Sunday with the exception of perhaps six ounces of soy milk and a quarter cup of all-bran. As of this morning I was within .5 of my starting weight on Friday morning, so I assume I will be back to 195 by tomorrow. With any luck I will still lose an additional pound this week, would like to be 190 by Thanksgiving.[/U]

Strange as it may seem, the only ones that seem to have luck with these blockers are people that sell them...hmmmm. I shall keep trying, still have time to use more before my month is up for the full refund on this brand!
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  #83   ^
Old Tue, Oct-28-03, 16:19
mbschlgr's Avatar
mbschlgr mbschlgr is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 630
 
Plan: Back with Atkins, works b
Stats: 196/151/145 Female 5'6"
BF:28/26/
Progress: 88%
Location: Buffalo, NY
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bayrat
Strange as it may seem, the only ones that seem to have luck with these blockers are people that sell them...hmmmm. I shall keep trying, still have time to use more before my month is up for the full refund on this brand!


I don't sell them and I have luck with them. You can't just go about your merry way and eat what ever you want and pop them like candy and expect to lose weight, they don't work that way... but they can be used as an additional tool.
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  #84   ^
Old Tue, Oct-28-03, 17:50
Bayrat's Avatar
Bayrat Bayrat is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 413
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 226.5/193.0/185 Male 72 inches
BF:
Progress: 81%
Location: Upstate NY
Default

Interesting, what can you eat with them? I have tried small amounts of pasta, buckwheat pancakes with butter only (1.5 x 6"), half a dozen french fries, oatmeal, 1/4 cup cream of wheat and wild rice to name a few. I know they are not geared toward raw sugar so quite honestly have eaten no more than a tablespoon full of dessert if I have a craving, which is rare (perhaps five times in five months). Of course I have not lived on or depended upon them either, my loss is due strictly to my closely followed regimen of diet and exercise.

Can you give us some examples of what you ate, in what quantity and the effect the blocker had? More than one would be good, I really would like to believe they work!

Thanks for your help, I know Bette will be relying upon them soon.

BRat
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  #85   ^
Old Tue, Oct-28-03, 20:03
mbschlgr's Avatar
mbschlgr mbschlgr is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 630
 
Plan: Back with Atkins, works b
Stats: 196/151/145 Female 5'6"
BF:28/26/
Progress: 88%
Location: Buffalo, NY
Default

Here is what I posted the other day and it includes what I consumed... it was easier to repost it than type all over again

Quote:
Originally Posted by mbschlgr
I have taken several different brands of "carb blockers" the infamous Ultra Carb that you hear on the radio, stuff from GNC and a product called Carb Blocker2 from Nutralite (works the best).

NOW HERE THIS... They do not work as a miracle weight loss product! BUT, they do work to help you to maintain what weight you have already lost IF you don't just totally jump off into the deep end. They work if a day here or a day there or a weekend here or a weekend there if you have made the decision to eat something at that time that you shouldn't. I have been monitoring my weight for several months (over the summer). I personally have to be careful of sugar in addition to starch. I get the shakes if I eat anything with sugar in it, BUT with the Carb Blocker2 I didn't have any ill effects from it (I did visit Dairy Queen a few times over the summer) I didn't gain any weight AND what I feel most important is that I didn't fall off the wagon. I was always one once I blew it, I couldn't stop.

Knowing that once in awhile you can consume those nasty things out there really does keep you on track. Everything in moderation!! But, we all wouldn't be here if we all did everything in moderation now woudl we

They are all natural, no stimulants... I brushed up on nutrition (the Atkins Nutrition book is terrific!!!) and basically if we were eating the things that are in the carb blockers, we wouldn't be having the troubles in the first place.

I have 5 lbs to go to reach my goal weight. I didn't actively "diet" all summer long. I pretty much ate what I wanted, basically LC, but I did indulge in Ice Cream, Pizza and occasional bread, I took Carb Blocker2 all summer and didn't gain a pound. I do not exercise, so I can tell you that my overall activities were not increased. Frankly, but being able to do so, I don't have any cravings that are uncontrollable, if I had a craving for pizza I took a Carb Blocker2 and ate that slice of pizza and much to my surprise, 1 piece was plenty and I was totally satisfied and didn't lose control after that (which is what used to happen all the time before)


I actually think that the way they work is to help control cravings and keep you under control. Not as a weight loss tool. My husband has lost 10 lbs. LCing and claims 6 of it is since he started taking Carb Blockers. Will they work for everyone? I can't answer that, but they have worked for me. I do not sell them and I do not intend to sell them, I'm just letting people know about my experience with them and where to get them if they want the particular type I take.
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  #86   ^
Old Wed, Oct-29-03, 17:01
Bayrat's Avatar
Bayrat Bayrat is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 413
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 226.5/193.0/185 Male 72 inches
BF:
Progress: 81%
Location: Upstate NY
Default

That is interesting Mary. Do you weigh in more than once a week if you eat that ice cream and such? I have documented my weight daily before and after the few times I have cheated, but only one time did I actually eat a full serving of a forbidden fruit. That would have been a full sized helping of cake and pie, the other times were minimal amounts of things. I can honestly say that with blocker or without the starch meals always had the same result, a two plus pound weight gain that would be gone within a week. That is why I am curious about your method of tracking, if you weigh in once a week you may not notice the rise and fall after a cheat meal and attribute the blocker to holding the line when in reality it is Atkins at work.
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  #87   ^
Old Thu, Oct-30-03, 07:52
mbschlgr's Avatar
mbschlgr mbschlgr is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 630
 
Plan: Back with Atkins, works b
Stats: 196/151/145 Female 5'6"
BF:28/26/
Progress: 88%
Location: Buffalo, NY
Default

I always weigh myself on Monday mornings. Occasionaly I will weigh myself at other times during the week but not as a general rule.

Daily weighing will show fluctuations in weight whether or not you cheat. There are always contributing factors, and just about any professional will tell you that once a week at the same time, wearing the same thing will give you your actual "average" for the week.

Past personal experience has given me proof that the carb blockers help me. If I ever had cheats in the past I was doomed. I would look at food and gain weight. Cravings would return and I would ALWAYS spiral out of control to my old eating habits. I also have adverse reactions when I consume sugar, I get the shakes, sick to my stomach, etc and if I take the carb blocker I do not have those symptoms.

Again, I must repeat, I don't just go hog wild (again I feel that the carb blockers help with this)

You don't gain 2 lbs of fat over night, nor do you lose 2 lbs of fat over night. 1 lb of fat loss is either the burning of 3500 calories or total consuming LESS than 3500 calories, (or a combination of both) and weighing daily can cause some people to get very discouraged. So if you for example eat a piece of cake that is 1000 calories and the carb blocker blocks 500 this in turn helps with your total consumption.
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  #88   ^
Old Thu, Oct-30-03, 08:21
amiee3377's Avatar
amiee3377 amiee3377 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 647
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 182/152/120 Female 5'1
BF:
Progress: 48%
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Ok yesterday I ate earthquake cake and today my scale said 154.5 It is working for me.
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  #89   ^
Old Fri, Oct-31-03, 07:16
bcadieux's Avatar
bcadieux bcadieux is offline
Contributing Member
Posts: 234
 
Plan: atkins-OWL
Stats: 201/162.3/150 Female 5' 8"
BF:
Progress: 76%
Location: Chicago
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My daughter and family are going to Louisana on Tues to visit relatives. You know what they eat there, beans and rice, among other high carb stuff. So she is taking carb blockers with her. She doesn't want to hurt the relly's feelings.
Then they are going to Florida where I will meet them for a 10 day vacation. I don't know if I will try any high carb stuff but if I decide to I will take the carb blockers. I will let you all know what happened when we return. Maybe they will work!!
-Bette
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  #90   ^
Old Fri, Oct-31-03, 09:10
amiee3377's Avatar
amiee3377 amiee3377 is offline
Senior Member
Posts: 647
 
Plan: Atkins
Stats: 182/152/120 Female 5'1
BF:
Progress: 48%
Default

I ate bad yesterday too and my weight still hasn't changed. I'm going to be a good little girl today
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