4 concerns and questions...

[carbless.in.MPLS.]

1) I have always hated vegetables. I can barely get myself to eat the 3 cups of salad a day. I am willing to cut up cucmbers and cauliflower and green onions and add them to spinach and rommaine or iceburg lettuce, then drown it in bacon bits,cheese and blue cheese dressing. Other then adding onion and celery to chicken/tuna salad that is about it for vegetables...but I have survived so far. Any comments or suggestions?

2) I love Diet coke and have found some made with splenda-but it is not caffeine free. Do I just need to pay attention as to how caffeine or amounts of coke effects my cravings? I recently read that Diet Rite has splenda and caffeine free-I will switch soon-but still same concern of how much splenda is actually in there. Any definitive answer here? I am very good at getting my water in each day.

3) Are there any places you recommend to order low carb/Atkins products? How do you know which products are allowed in induction. Also, the best recipe sites?

4) Lastly, looking way into the future-will I be able to add 2 slices of whole grain bread with peanut butter to my lifestyle? <<She asks hopefully!

[not2late]

Originally Posted by carbless.in.MPLS.

1) I have always hated vegetables. I can barely get myself to eat the 3 cups of salad a day. I am willing to cut up cucmbers and cauliflower and green onions and add them to spinach and rommaine or iceburg lettuce, then drown it in bacon bits,cheese and blue cheese dressing. Other then adding onion and celery to chicken/tuna salad that is about it for vegetables...but I have survived so far. Any comments or suggestions?

There are about 50 veggies on the Acceptable Foods List. About 20 of them are on the "salad" list.

You might want to try veggies prepared in different ways. I've found that many people don't like vegetables because they never had them properly prepared.

2) I love Diet coke and have found some made with splenda-but it is not caffeine free. Do I just need to pay attention as to how caffeine or amounts of coke effects my cravings? I recently read that Diet Rite has splenda and caffeine free-I will switch soon-but still same concern of how much splenda is actually in there. Any definitive answer here? I am very good at getting my water in each day.

Dr. Atkins said that caffeine could cause blood sugar instability. Cravings are only one symptom of blood sugar instability (there's a big chart in the book that lists the other symptoms.)

Also, part of losing the weight on Atkins depends on keep that blood sugar steady.

3) Are there any places you recommend to order low carb/Atkins products? How do you know which products are allowed in induction. Also, the best recipe sites?

You have to read the ingredients and check the Induction Acceptable Foods List to see if the ingredients are on it. If they aren't, then it doesn't matter how many carbs the product has or who makes it, it's not okay for Atkins Induction.

Even with the low carb recipe sites---double check the ingredients and double check the Rules of Induction.

4) Lastly, looking way into the future-will I be able to add 2 slices of whole grain bread with peanut butter to my lifestyle? <<She asks hopefully!

Yes and no. If grains and peanutbutter doesn't adversely affect your weight loss or health, then you may be able to add them to your diet. Over the years, many folks on the OWL Phase have discovered that they are allergic or sensitive to grains (wheat, corn, rice, barley, rye, etc.), nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.), legumes (peanuts, soy, etc.) and other foods. So if your body can tolerate it, then you might be able to reincorporate it.

[carbless_in_seattle]

nice user name