confused about the veggies

[akm32]

I've been on Atkins for 3 days- going well... but I'm massively confused about the amount of veggies we can have-- I saw a post a couple of days ago where someone photographed a days worth of veggies- I think they said it was 18g of carbs-- and it looked like a heck of a lot more than "3 cups of salad veggies" or "2 cups of salad and one cup of other"-- can anyone help me??? I want to be sure to get my veggies in properly, but I can't for the life of me figure out how I can get 12-15g of carbs from 3 cups of salad veggies-

Thanks in advance! I'll try to get some more info up about me eventually!

[*Emma*]

those werent an induction menu, they were more a... OWL menu, though please please please, take advantage of the "other" veggies list, stay away from lettuce as much as possible! its got literally no nutrition!!

after your 14 days on induction, dont wait around, at least hit the first rung on OWL and add more veggies, veggies are good for you!!

[Elizellen]

You are right, the 12-15 carbs from veggies is confusing if you are following DANDR as we on ADBB are. Atkins company website seems to have rewritten the rules and stated that number of carbs. Maybe they are trying to fight the misconception that the media pushes about Atkins being a 'Bacon and butter diet' by emphasising the sentence that Dr Atkins put in the rules of induction

Eat no more than 20 grams a day of carbohydrate, most of which must come in the form of salad greens and other vegetables. You can eat approximately three cups-loosely packed-of salad, or two cups of salad plus one cup of other vegetables

As we are allowed up to 20 net carbs, logically 'most' of that number would come to something like 12-15 carbs.

So as Emma suggested, choose your vegetables carefully to give you as many carbs as you can while staying within the 3 cups rule, and then move on up to OWL rung one and add 5 net carbs more!

[akm32]

thanks for your responses-- the weight is coming off already, so I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and try not to think about it too much!! I think I'm so paranoid about doing it right and sticking with it this time, that I'm stressing out when I don't need to (guess my husband was right.. darn )

[pamelainaustin]

I had the exact same problem during induction, eating almost all salad veggies with occasional green beans or broccoli within the 3 cup limit. The most net carbs from veggies that I ever had was 10 and it was usually 8 or 9. My total carbs were usually around 17 or 18.

On OWL rung 1 I still eat a bunch of salad veggies (I love baby spinach, mushrooms, cucumbers, celery) and sometimes add a roma tomato. I also eat broccoli, cauliflower, green beans and/or spaghetti squash daily and my net veggie carbs are about 12-15 with total net carbs about 20-22. I am eating some HUGE salads these days.

It is confusing. I personally think it would be almost impossible to generate 13-15 net carbs from the induction vegetable list and amount allowed. I was pretty paranoid too and it sounds like you are doing just right!!

Pam

[*Emma*]

it is possible, with onions, but i wouldnt recommend that! probably tomatoes would make it doable too...


just go as youre going...

[jimmyolsenblues]

i totally had the same question.
If a cup of lettuce has less than one net carb, I always wondered, how possibly could I get 12 net carbs in 3 cups?
The good news is after the 14 day induction, I don't think there is a volume or size restriction.
So 12-15 net carbs in lettuce would be more than I could possibly eat.
Don't laugh.
Some nights, there is nothing better , than a head of lettuce or a big bag of raw spinach. Some oil, some vinegar, some mayo, little tiny bit of sour cream, some spices, and boom , I can munch and munch to my hearts content.
I know I can't dump my feelings into carbs anymore.
But somedays, I have taken a lot of frustration out on a big bowl of salad.
If I know I am an emotional eater, its hard to break old habits, even on Atkins.
Thanks

[not2late]

The other thing you have to remember about the 3 cup limits are portion size. Many of us are fat, in part, because we over-eat. Using that 3 cup method forces us to eat "real" serving sizes, rather than the enormous servings we get at restaurants. And by forcing us to measure the amounts we can see how distorted our ideas of "1 serving" is.

1 serving of vegetables is defined as 1 cup raw veg or 1/2 cup cooked veg.

[akm32]

Thanks again,everyone! Nice to know I'm not the only one who didn't get it! I might as well throw another question out there since I'm here- I assume you all advocate for going into OWL rung 1 after only 2 weeks on induction? I have a considerable amount of weight to lose and I don't really want to mess around... would it be a good idea to go to OWL and just stay at rung 1 for awhile?? I guess it's different for everyone, so I should just see what happens! Just wondering what your suggestions would be-

Thank you!!

[julirama723]

YES! Move to Rung 1!

More veggies will be better for you in so many ways! More meal/snack options, new recipes to try, more fiber, more nutrients, LESS boredom. My favorite thing about Rung 1 is that I could eat more of the "other" veggies, like cauliflower, pumpkin, spaghetti squash, etc.

Staying on induction does not benefit you unless you are metabolically resistant (if you did not lose any weight during those 14 days) and doesn't help you if you have normal metabolic function.

I lost about 25 pounds on induction/extended induction, but I've lost 70 pounds on OWL! I wish I'd gone to OWL sooner instead of hanging around induction, thinking it would speed my losses. Those extra veggie carbs actually will boost or jumpstart weight loss in many people. My first week of Rung 1, I lost 3.5 pounds! In fact, I lost about 13 pounds that first month of OWL.

Just make sure that you go up 5g net carbs per week, choosing induction veggies. Not everyone hits 20g daily on induction. If you normally ate around 15g carbs, by adding your 5g you'll be eating 20g carbs per day. Just remember to add carbs in increments of 5g.

Don't be afraid of veggies, they're GOOD FOR YOU.