Is Less than 20 carbs OK?

[mary]

I'm doing induction for the 2nd time and I haven't had a chance to read the book again this time (it's on my agenda for the weekend). I did Atkins back in 2003-04 (with great success but for the fact that I stopped doing it) and I remember a good bit from then, but I definitely need a refresher course with the book. My immediate question is - do you need to have 20 carbs a day during induction, or is it OK to have fewer carbs? The last two days I had 11 and 15 carbs; I got in my 3 cups of veggies and I wasn't hungry. I assume that's OK but I wanted to be sure. My only "cheat" was a bottle of Diet Lipton Green Tea (aspartame and caffeine!) that I couldn't resist. I usually drink a few of them a day, so limiting myself to one was progress of sorts, I guess. I think I'm going to have to make my own decaffeinated, Splenda sweetened tea and bottle it for portability!

[LessofLisa]

I also drink diet lipton green tea..limit myself to one bottle..hasn't hurt in weight loss...on the carb count...if I don't have at least 20 carbs I feel..icky

[not2late]

Most people who follow the rules, average between 10-15 net carbs. It's okay to do that.

As for the tea...According to Dr. Atkins, no caffeinated products are allowed. Also each serving of that diet tea (read the bottle for the serving size) counts as 1 of the 3 sweetener servings we are allowed to have.

[mary]

Thanks! I did count the sweetener in the iced tea as 2 carbs, and I've taken to drinking my hot decaffeinated tea without sweetener because otherwise I'd be over the sweetener limit. Does liquid Splenda count as 1 carb or toward the sweetener limit?

[joyous]

is caff. free lipton tea alright i sun brew it?

[Elizellen]

Originally Posted by mary

Does liquid Splenda count as 1 carb or toward the sweetener limit?

I think it does. One serving of a drink is 8 fluid ounces so I would count 1 carb for every 8 fluid ounces of a splenda sweetened drink.

[Elizellen]

Originally Posted by joyous

is caff. free lipton tea alright i sun brew it?

What ingredients are listed for it?

[joyous]

the ingredients are decaffeinated orange pekoe and peoke cut black tea,they are tea bags that i sun brew decaff. lipton ones

[Evermind]

Most people don't consume even close to 20 carbs during induction.

20 is your limit, not the minimum amount required!

[Elizellen]

Originally Posted by joyous

the ingredients are decaffeinated orange pekoe and peoke cut black tea,they are tea bags that i sun brew decaff. lipton ones

Seems fine to me as long as you have it in addition to your water.