posted
My husband and I are going to do this diet. We will have a few problem areas. Pasta, bread, and potatoes are a big part of our diet. I am going to try the cauliflower but what are some suggestions on replacing these foods? We can't afford special foods so it would have to be affordable. We have 6 kids to feed too. What kind of bread is good? We don't like diet drinks and can't stand artifical sweeteners (tried them yuck)? My husband is going to try Sprite to replace his Dr. Peppers at work (also will drink more water) and I will give up the occasional (not supposed to drink soda because of the acid) sodas I have been sneaking. We like milk (2%). Is that ok? We also drink decaf. tea with our dinner. How do we drink that if we can't stand the sweetners? I don't want to give it up all together. Help... I also have a problem with chocolate and will be looking for the diet bars. I have to have some chocolate. I can't give it up completely. I will cut down a lot. Also, do we need to use those strips (urine testing) and what are they for? Should I buy the book to help me or can I get what I need from the computer? Is there a list somewhere that will tell me the carbohydrates in raw vegetables (no labels to read)?
I think that is enough questions for now. Thanks for any and all help. Maybe this will help with my Acid Indigestion problems too. I have all the symptons of Acid Reflux but tested negative. I even had my gall bladder removed. The dr about broke us with all the tests. I have a problem with certain foods.....
Posts: 6 | From: Louisiana | Registered: May 2003
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Sprite is going to deter weight loss. There is so much sugar in one can of soda that you will always have fuel from that and never resort to burning fat for fuel.
I would HIGHLY recommend the Atkins book. It explains why all these foods must be cut out.
I have ulcerative colitis and acid reflux and when on this diet I have absolutely NO symptoms. It helps tremendously!
Can't help you out much with substitute foods...I always buy the premade subs rather than cooking my own stuff. I buy Atkins bread at local healthfood store. Can't tell the diff between that and Wonderbread.
-------------------- Tiffany CarbHealth Webmaster ========== Original Start: 2/27/98 Originally: 178/130/130 Now: Pregnant and 203 lbs. Posts: 352 | From: upstate, NY, USA | Registered: Mar 2002
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Just a suggestion to you..go to www.atkinscenter.com....where you can sign up free-of-charge...and it gives you all the resources and basic info on the atkins plan...without having to buy the book or the products. There are also some great low-carb sites if you just take some time to surf around..that can offer you all kinds of info and support. The atkin's center has alot of helpful features...including an area to personalize/record/log all your info., and progress...it's worth checkin out! But, as I said....make sure you surf around...you will find some contradictory information...I personally don't agree with "all" of atkin's principals..but, knowledge is power..so empower yourself with as much info as you can..and find whatever works best for you...and , of course, you can always come here for support. Keep us posted...
-------------------- Kim :} Posts: 4 | From: Massachusetts | Registered: May 2003
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posted
Hi, Vickie. I'm new to this board, but have been eating Atkins-style for about 5 years now. I think you are missing the point of this way of eating if you are starting out seeking substitutes. Most do, but the great thing about eating like this is getting rid of the cravings for foods like potatoes, pasta and bread. Believe me -- I was well known for eating a loaf of home made bread right out of the oven or having a PLATTER of breakfast potatoes (a dish known in our favorite cafe as "the kitchen sink) or having 1/2 pound of pasta at 9 at night because I heard it calling me. I could also have chocolate for breakfast because I couldn't think of not eating chocolate.
But after being on this WOE for a short time I found the cravings for these foods VANISHED. My brother who is like me says the same thing.
We both discovered the low-carb chocolate bars recently and -- the cravings are back. So now I've kept some as a dessert treat when we are having company, but otherwise they are out of my eating plan.
As for sugar substitutes, have you tried Splenda? The Diet Rite sodas are made with Splenda and are a good choice for this plan. Dr. Atkins said he thought Splenda was the best sweetener on the market, so it's a great choice on this plan.
With kids, it's really not too difficult to plan a meal. Have a protein (meat, fish, chicken), a salad and/or vegetables, and then a small dish of pasta, potatoes or rice. Your kids can have their "regular" meal and you and your husband can just skip the starch. You can also start introducing whole grains into their meals as this will be a better option for you and your husband when you reach maintenance.
Now trust me here. We all know exactly what you mean when you say you can't possibly live without those foods. It's the same thoughts that went through our heads when we started. But give them up for the 2 week induction and then go another wee or so and you'll be surprised by two things.
1. you won't have such strong cravings for them 2. if you do give in and have them, they won't tast as irresistable and the first thought you'll have will be, "I'm ruining my diet for this?!"
Good luck.
Shaz
Posts: 12 | From: California | Registered: May 2003
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posted
I am going to try to answer everyone at once. As for the Sprite, Dh will have to have something to drink besides water at work. He spends his entire day out in the hot sun and will need more than water. As for the Splendra, we have tried it and it is nasty. I am not worried about craving potatoes and rice. We don't eat potatoes as much as we used to and only have about 3 meals with rice. The pasta will be the hardest. It is not the craving it. We eat a lot of pasta for side dishes. We buy groceries every 2 weeks and fresh vegetables don't last very long. We will want to have something besides just meat. From what I have seen so for the diet doesn't seem to give you much choices. I will be getting the book to help us out. We will probably adapt the diet a little. There are just some things that will be impossible. Of course, it will mean it will take us longer. We can't just drink water and will have to find something else. We don't like diet or sweeteners. We have tried that. As long as I can find plenty of side dishes that will work it will be good.
We are not going to put the kids on the diet but they will be cutting out the pasta side dishes, eat less potatoes, and get their beans and rice less frequently. They will still be allowed some things. Most of them need this too. They are teenagers and eat like their dad.
Here's a suggestion. My husband works outdoors and has an issue with just drinking water-it doesn't help. He's also not a big fan of diet soda, hates diet rite, but doesn't mind Diet Pepsi. However, the high sodium content is a stopping factor. After induction, why not try Propel, the Gatorade flavored water. It's not carb free, it has about 3 per serving, but only about 10 calories. If you're off induction, it's a keeper. My husband drinks it pretty exclusively, and it has a great taste, not to mention several flavors. I haven't found a bad flavor. Be careful of other flavored waters, though. Most of them have sugar and a very high carb count. Propel is the only one I have found that is pretty good. Also, my husband loves energy drinks like Red Bull, but they are very high in carbs as well. He's found a no carb drink called XS Energy drink, no carbs and he says it has a great taste. I'm not a fan of the energy drinks but it's another to try. Good luck! I was a big Coke and Dr. Pepper drinker, so I know the struggle. I actually cut back my soda drinking first, took about 2 weeks, then I found that the low-carb diet was much easier to start. One addiction at a time!
Posts: 4 | From: Edison, NJ | Registered: May 2003
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posted
I have a great new drink called Fruit2O. Its sweeted with Splenda and has lots of great flavors. Its a bit hard to find, though. I'm in Miami and I can find it at Walgreens and CVS Drug stores. No carbs!
Take care, Alison
Posts: 5 | From: Miami, FL | Registered: May 2003
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I bought Dr. Atkin's book and will be doing some reading the next couple of weeks. I should understand enough by payday for us to get ready to start the induction. I am going to have to wait a couple of weeks before I can start it anyway. Plus, we want to do the induction at the same time. Easier.
We couldn't find the strips to check the sugar level. Where would we find them? Walmart didn't have them.....
posted
Most pharmacies have them. Keeping track of ketosis is not required, so you can do the diet without them if you want.
Posts: 12 | From: California | Registered: May 2003
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posted
I know it is so hard to give up soda and sweet drinks. I hate all of the artificially modified low-sugar / low-carb foods. Instead, I have looked for natural low carb foods.
When I am try to satisfy a sweet or salty craving I go for what Dr. Atkins has deemed the dieter's best friend-- Macadamia nuts. They are so indulgent, yet perfect for atkins. Macadamia nuts a high energy food. I eat them before I go to the gym after work. I eat them for dessert.
They are completely cholesterol free, naturally high in monounsaturated fat ("the good fat"), and has just four grams of carbohydrates per ¼ cup serving. Macs are what have converted me from an Atkins dieter to a person who practices a low-carb lifestyle. I even get monthly shipments from Mauna Loa!
Posts: 1 | From: San Francisco | Registered: Oct 2003
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