Atkins advantage bars...

[Smushee]

OK, I have these Apple crisp morning bars, they have a net Atkins count of 2 carbs. On the back of the box it says they are "appropriate for induction (phase 1)". True or false?

[Forest]

most people here will tell you false

[Smushee]

Why? Aren't these Atkins official products? I just would rather eat a quick bar for a breakfast on the go than eat eggs EVERY DAY!!

[julirama723]

Mmmm, False.

True, they are labeled to say appropriate for induction, but check out the ingredients.

INGREDIENTS: POLYDEXTROSE, SOY NUGGETS (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, TAPIOCA STARCH, SALT), PROTEIN BLEND [CALCIUM CASEINATE, HYDROLYZED COLLAGEN], GLYCERIN, PALM KERNEL AND PALM OIL, DRY ROASTED SOYBEANS, ROASTED ALMONDS, SUNFLOWER OIL, DRIED APPLE PIECES, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, CELLULOSE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, MALTITOL, DICALCIUM PHOSPHATE, SOY LECITHIN, CARAMEL COLOR, SPICE, MALIC ACID, SUCRALOSE, ACESULFAME POTASSIUM. NUTRITION BLEND: VITAMIN A PALMITATE, ASCORBIC ACID, NIACINAMIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, THIAMIN MONONITRATE, FOLIC ACID, ALPHA TOCOPHERYL ACETATE.

I've highlighted just a few ingredients that are NOT legal, or are problematic.

Almonds are not legal until Rung 3, Nuts and Seeds. Soy products and soybeans are not legal until Rung 6, Legumes, and apple pieces are not legal until Rung 7, Other Fruits. Malitol is a sugar alcohol which can have a strong laxative effect. If you feel no ill effects from it, you need to count ALL the sugar alcohol and mystery
carbs, because this means your body has processed it like regular sugar. This means, that instead of counting only 2g carbs, you have to count 7 (14g -7g fiber=7 net carbs). If you eat it and it does indeed cause a laxative effect, this means your blood sugar has not been affected by the malitol.

Since some people absorb ALL of the carbs, bars and shakes can stall weight loss or stop it completely.

It's my opinion, (and the opinion of many others here) that the bars are just a way to make money. It's best to eat whole, natural foods, especially on induction. In an emergency, these bars might do in a pinch, but only if you're on the appropriate rung. Not everyone has problems with bars and shakes, but it's best to give you the info so you can make the decision that's right for you.

Hope this helps!

[julirama723]

Dr. Atkins was a doctor.

Atkins Nutritionals is a company, and they want to make money.

You don't HAVE to eat eggs for breakfast. Eat anything you want off the acceptable foods list. And induction only lasts two weeks, after which you'll be incorporating new foods for more variety.

Check out Linda's Low Carb site for really good recipes. Most of this stuff can be made in a big batch, so you can just grab something out of the fridge for when you need it. Induction legal recipes are marked with a "*".

http://genaw.com/lowcarb/index.html

[Smushee]

OK, OK, I think I get it. This morning I had buffalo wings with blue cheese!!!

[soliwit]

hey smushee (love the name by the way) that is the BEST breakfast I can imagine, hmmmmMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, those bars are yukkie anyway !

[Smushee]

Yeah, it was great! I just had to get rid of the breakfast foods for breakfast mentality. This fourm is the best support system PERIOD! I feel like I have thousands of sponsers. Everytime I even think of giving up I just log on and get my mind right. Thanks all you guys, it nice to know I always have someone to turn to.

[semtingwa]

I ave been cheating on my rungs of the ladder and have been having two small flax seed muffins for breakfast with cream cheese. It is much faaster cooking in the mornings. I can cook all I need for the week and then just grab, top with cream cheese, and go.

[Pickletoe]

Yeah, took me awhile to get past the breakfast food mentality during breakfast - this morning I had a taco