Let's talk shakes

[MomToEli]

Ok, let me start by saying that I personally prefer NOT to use shakes as I prefer whole foods. That said, if I were out and couldn't find whole foods to eat ... well, just saying.

Anyway, I've read on here repeatedly that shakes are not allowed on Induction. One gal even posted she felt she had been lied to by Atkins Nutritionals because she was led to believe they were acceptable on all levels.

So, I've been reading the book - just like I'd never really done Induction before, I'd never really read the book before Every time Dr. A says use flax it is with shakes - even in Induction. Fast forward to chapter 18 which is jump-starting your weight loss. In there Dr. A gives a one week Induction menu that a person can follow. And low and behold he includes (as snacks only) carb controlled shakes. (BTW, he also has sugar-free jello on there).

So, I'm not trying to argue with anyone, but I really need to understand what is at the root of the descrepancy.

Thanks for indulging me here.

BTW, page 226 in the book, first page of chapter 18, makes it clear he is talking to the person just starting, not the person who has been on Atkins for awhile.

[Brook]

This has been a circular debate since the book was released. Dr. Atkins rocked, but his editors sucked rocks.

Well before Chapter 18.....Chapter 11 to be exact....Dr. Atkins said that if it's not on the allowed foods list, it's not to cross your lips. Guess what's *not* there? . Dr. Atkins also address controlled carb products, saying they were for emergency situations (7 years on Atkins, never had one of these "emergency situations". If I'm somewhere I can buy an Atkins bar or shake, I'm somewhere I can buy cheese, sliced meats, jerky in a pinch, salads, etc. - just sayin' ) and to be used sparingly....and yet... there it is in what I like to call the "ANA advertisements section" as part of a weekly menu. .

Dr. Atkins spends the majority of the book stressing whole, natural foods...and you found *a* page and a couple of menus that use the products. I'm of the opinion that the rest of the book outweighs the couple of places where Atkins editors should have been kicked in the . The rules of Induction are the Low Carb gospel.

[Chef Kevin]

many of the ingredients in the shakes are known to cause stalls in weight loss.

I cannot use them at all, i jump right out of ketosis. I can't eat bars, or anything with sugar alcohols either.

So, a few people can use them, but most people i have talked to cannot.

I think they are pure evil and a way to make a quick buck for Atkins.

[not2late]

We don't recommend the shakes and bars, etc. because it's been our collective experience here on ADBB that they have the tendency to stop or slow down weight loss in some folks.

But when I was on Induction and even on the early OWL Rungs, I drank "shakes"---my own shakes made from pumpkin puree or pureed avocado mixed with a little cream, water, pasteurized egg whites, and sweetener.

[Slingnmom]

I use them when I really start craving some chocolate. I don';t have a problem with stalling. I've used a bar or a shake once a day since I started and I've still had a 3lbs weight loss a day. Now I know I just started too, but I don't think they should be used instead of real foods either. I think it'd be too much carbs and sugars. For that late night snack attack though a quick shake helps me get through it.

My guess is that it is a personal choice and if you don't stall with their limited and responsible usage then go for it. However if you find that it doesn't help you lose wieght and causes more problems then perhaps you shouldn't use them. I'm lucky I am one that they don't cause problems for me, unlike say Chef Kevin there where he says is makes him stall.

I've started to become more creative this time around so I don't think I'll need to be as dependant upon the shakes and bars like I was in the past.

[clogger]

Most of us got to our highest weights by over-indulging in carb-laden foods, including sweets. All of the bars and shakes are sweet. When we eat sweet things - whether made with real sugar or sugar-free sweeteners - we are continuing the cycle of our addiction/habit/need for the taste of sweets. If you cut out sweeteners you'll find that you don't crave sweets. Once you introduce sugar-free sweeteners you'll find that you want more sweets. It's really a vicious cycle.

That's my two cents...

[LeanLioness]

I have used them on induction for breakfast when I did not feel like eating "solid" food and needed to make sure my blood sugar stayed stable.

When I did Atkins the first time, there were times I had to be at work at 3am. Dr. A says in the book to have something with in 30 minutes of waking and so Atkins Vanilla shake while getting ready for work was the way to go for me.

It is a YMMV (your mileage may vary) thing though. What works for me, might not work for the next person!!

Good Luck!

[MomToEli]

Thanks, everybody, for the input. Like I said in the beginning, I'm a big advocate of whole foods and would never recommend replacing a meal with a shake. I do think it is an individual thing. And Brook, I really do respect your positions as I greatly admire your accomplishment. Your words carry a lot of weight. It has been more than one page, though. (You ALL count, for sure - I'm just familiar with who Brook is ... I'll stop now before I dig this hole any deeper!)

This is the first time doing this that I've run in to the sugar free jello taboo thing, unless of course it causes you to stall. Believe me - the times I've failed Atkins before have NOT been caused by sugar free jello (For the record, I've not eaten any in the last two weeks. But I will likely add it occassionally after today - Day 14.)

Goodness, I hope I'm not sounding like the Atkins . That is sure not my intent.

[Elizellen]

As some have sais here, it it manily a question of the ingredients in any processed foods that determine which phase of Atkins it is suitable for.

So if you like a shake make one with no milk/nuts/berries/soy/ etc in it and you will be sticking to the rules

Likewise this is why the bars in my opinion cannot possibly be induction-legal unless you can find some with no OWL rung ingredients in them.

Again you can make your own bars using legal ingredients - I sometimes make pumpkin bars for taking with me.