Jay Robb whey protein powder on induction/atkins??

[Carboholic]

Would someone be able to tell me if I can use Jay Robb whey protein shakes or powder on induction or even Atkins? I purchased 2 very large tubs of this powder while trying Wendy Chant's WOE and don't want to waste it. I would primarily use it on induction for some of Cleo's recipe where she uses protein powder. After induction, I would like to use it occasionally for a on-the-run emergency only snack/meal. I just want to use up the supply.

Ingredients are: Cold-pressed cross-flow microfiltered whey protein isolate, natural flavor, xanthan gum, lecithin, stevia.

If this is ok on induction or after induction, does anyone have some good recipes to use it? I have chocolate and vanilla flavored.

Thanks!

[Chef Kevin]

As a rule, I avoid all powders/shakes/bars.
Remember, too much protein and your body converts it to glucose.
Also, induction really is about eating real foods.
Having said that...

I guess you could work it in, but you would have to balance it with plenty of fat. maybe with cream or something.

I think it would be tough to do honestly. Might even make you hungrier from altering your blood sugar, causing cravings.

Just my 2 cents.
~Chef

[liv]

Whey is a dairy product so once you get to rung 2 you should be fine with it.
I drink a protein drinks for breakfast some days if I exercise and that is what I have time for. I really like it actually and would probably have it a lot - except as Kevin says - have to watch the protein content somewhat and YES eating whole foods is the best way to go. I mix mine with some cream (to get up the fat content), decaf and cocoa powder.

[oopsiedoop]

So, why up the fat? Isn't the protein that makes for weightloss?

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by oopsiedoop

So, why up the fat? Isn't the protein that makes for weightloss?

Atkins is a high fat diet, not a high protein one. During Induction, your body switches from primarily burning glucose for energy to burning fatty acids (which result when you break down lipids -- so one gets fatty acids and also glycerol). But to have these fatty acids your body uses to get its "fuel", you have to eat a certain amount of fat. For Induction, the percentages you should aim for are 65% fat, 5% carbs and 30% protein.

[oopsiedoop]

You're kidding! I did not know that! So the way for me to do this more successfully is LESS protein, MORE fat? For instance eat a smaller piece of steak but fry it in oil or something? Eat eggs only with Hollandaise sauce? Make sure I eat my alloted veggies with dressing? Stuff like that?

[Georgiana]

That's right!

Use FitDay to track your foods. Enter a few menus and tweak them to make sure you keep your fat intake high. Here's the link to FitDay: FitDay - Free Weight Loss and Diet Journal

There is no limit on protein (in terms of quantity), but excess protein is converted into glucose (a form of sugar). So what you need is high fat, moderate protein, low carb (see the percentages above).

[oopsiedoop]

That site absolutely ROCKS. I can't believe it's free.

So excess fat is not converted to sugar? I have been reading that. This is going to change my life. Naturally if this doesn't work I will start counting calories in conjunction though. And I can live with that -- calories count but in the right proportions -- proportions that go against everything diet gurus have been saying and that I have tried with no success. I read Atkins a long time ago and I've been researching it on the internet but I never heard this essential component. I thought it was just about limiting carbs but there's more to it. There's more to understand. Let me ask this then: say my fat/protein ratio is the opposite of what you suggested, BUT I'm still not over my limit of protein (which is not exactly known as far as I've read .. is it?). Will I gain weight or just not lose or is it possible I will still lose weight due to .. well limiting my carbs?

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by oopsiedoop

So excess fat is not converted to sugar? I have been reading that. This is going to change my life. Naturally if this doesn't work I will start counting calories in conjunction though. And I can live with that -- calories count but in the right proportions -- proportions that go against everything diet gurus have been saying and that I have tried with no success. I read Atkins a long time ago and I've been researching it on the internet but I never heard this essential component. I thought it was just about limiting carbs but there's more to it. There's more to understand. Let me ask this then: say my fat/protein ratio is the opposite of what you suggested, BUT I'm still not over my limit of protein (which is not exactly known as far as I've read .. is it?). Will I gain weight or just not lose or is it possible I will still lose weight due to .. well limiting my carbs?

Okay, let's see. I'll break down your post into several questions.

1. Is excess fat converted into sugar?

No. While this happens in plants, mammals simply do not have the mechanisms needed to convert fat into glucose.

Now what happens to excess fat. Depends how you define "excess". It is true that Dr. Atkins said we do not necessarily have to count calories. However, he also said we should eat only to satisfy our hunger, without stuffing ourselves -- our bodies "know" how many calories they need, without us trying to eat 1200, 1500 or 2000 calories every day. If you listen to what the body is telling you, you'll end up with 1200-calorie days, but also with 2500-calorie days. On Atkins, you also have a so-called "metabolic advantage". A study published in 2004 has shown that men on a controlled carbohydrate diet can consume approximately 300 calories per day more than those on a standard diet and have the same weight maintenance results. However, while you can indeed eat a few hundred calories more than someone on, let's say, a low-fat diet, consuming more than what you are burning will be nevertheless stored as fat. But as I've said, as long as you eat only when you are hungry (or have gone 6 h without eating) and don't gorge yourself, you'll be fine. Many of us have an overeating problem though, in which case we have to pay extra attention to distinguish between being hungry and eating something just 'cuz it's on our plate.

2. What if you "invert" the fat/protein ratio?

Those percentages are not written in stone. They are approximate numbers that people found by analyzing the menus in the book, but Dr. Atkins never mentioned them in the book. So you do not have to be at a "perfect" 65-5-30 every single day. However, keep in mind that fat has 9 calories/gram, while protein has only 4. This means that if you keep your fat intake low, you either have to eat a very limited number of calories (with the risk of putting your body into "starvation mode") or go over your carbohydrate limit or overeat protein. Which brings me to the third question...

3. What happens to excess protein?

Again, it depends how one defines "excess" -- there is indeed no limit set on this number, at least as far as I know. Protein catabolism involves the production of amino acids. These amino acids have several functions: some will be used for the synthesis of other amino acids, some will be used by the muscles, while some will enter into the Krebs cycle, where they will be used for energy (ATP) metabolism.

When you restrict your carbohydrate intake, your body gets its energy from ketones. One way to produce ketone bodies is via fat oxidation; another is from amino acids (that's why body builders can be in ketosis even when they keep their fat intake low). However, oxidizing fat requires less energy expenditure, so it will be the preferred path -- as long as there is fat available, it is fat that will be used to make ketones. On the other hand, when fat is "missing", glucogenic amino acids like alanine and glutamine may be released into the blood stream at concentrations significantly above those found in muscle proteins. When this happens, these two amino acids will undergo gluconeogenesis -- alanine in the liver (fast rate), glutamine in the kidneys (slow rate) -- thus being converted into glucose.

So, long story short. If you restrict your fat and carbohydrate intakes, some amino acids will go into glucose. The efficiency at which this happens or the amount of protein you have to eat for the process to give you a "sugar spike" are things that depend on each person.

4. Will you lose weight if you do no overeat protein, but keep your fat and carbohydrate intakes low... something like 30% fat, 5% carbs, 65% protein?

Let's make a rough assumption and say one needs 1 g protein per kg of body weight. For a person who weights 100 kg, this would mean 100 g of protein. 1 g of protein is 4 calories, so 100 g are 400 calories. If 400 calories represent 65% of your total caloric intake, this means you would have to eat 615 calories per day. This will put your body into starvation mode even if you all day. Not to mention how hungry you'd be.

Fat will keep you full between meals and it will give you energy since producing ketone bodies (=fuel) from lipids is more efficient than producing them from protein. It will also make food taste better.

I assume you are just starting Atkins. If you want others to have a look over your meals and make suggestions, you can post one or two menus (including quantities) in the "Review My Menu" forum. Here's the link to it: Review My Menu - Atkins Diet

[OrigamiFrog]

^^^^^^^ SCIENCE!!

Good stuff to know. Thanks.