Atkins bars and other questions???

[hilary1229]

Hello...I am just on day three and I have read the book as well...but with all of the new atkins products out that claim to be okay for all phases I was wondering if anyone has had any success with using those during induction? Also...the low carb tortilla?? I found one with 3 net carbs...is this allowed? If i were to use these things would it prevent me from going into ketosis? Please let me know your experiences with these products.
Thanks so much

[Georgiana]

The book tells us (page 123)

4. Eat absolutely no fruit, bread, pasta, grains, starchy vegetables or dairy products other than cheese, cream or butter. Do not eat nuts or seeds in the first two weeks. [...]
5. Eat nothing that is not on the acceptable foods list. And that means absolutely nothing! Your "just this one taste won't hurt" rationalization is the kiss of failure during this phase of Atkins.

This does not only mean do not eat 10 macadamia nuts or 1 tbsp of milk in induction, but also do not eat anything that has illegal foods among the ingredients.

Check the ingredients in the Atkins bars. As far as I know, all of them have at least one ingredient that is illegal for induction (e.g. nuts, milk, oats, etc.).

The ingredients the LC tortillas (the 3 net carb ones from La Tortilla Factory) are:

Ingredients: Whole Wheat Flour, Water, Oat Fiber, Soy Bean Flour, Cold Pressed Canola Oil And/Or Safflower Oil, Contains 2% Or Less Of The Following: Baking Powder (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate Corn Starch, Monocalcium Phosphate), Sea Salt, Yeast, Xanthan Gum, Guar Gum, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Calcium Propionate (To Maintain Freshness)

Wheat flour and soy flour are illegal ingredients, so the tortillas are not designed for induction, but for OWL Rung 9.

While Atkins is indeed a low-carb diet, not any low-carb diet is Atkins. This means it is not enough to simply count carbs and think a food is allowed just because it is low in carbs. How many net carbs would make a food illegal for induction -- 3, 5, 7, 10? When Dr. Atkins designed this "diet", he didn't set the order of the rungs by pulling food group labels out of a hat. Instead, he observed that foods in some groups trigger "food allergies" easier than others; these foods are left for the higher rungs of Atkins.

As to whether

If i were to use these things would it prevent me from going into ketosis?

The difficulty with which one goes into ketosis (or the easiness with which one is thrown out of it) depends on the person. Is eating a low carb tortilla or an Atkins bar more important for you than your weight loss and, after all, than your health? Does it worth risking everything you wished to accomplish when you started Atkins (feeling better, being healthier, wearing the clothes you never thought you can fit into or enjoying an activity you could never do because of your weight) for the taste of any of these foods? In the end it is your decision, because no matter what others' experiences with tortillas and bars have been, the way our bodies react to them is highly personal.

My advice... Do a clean induction. Unless you have a high metabolic resistance or have very much to lose, move to OWL after the first two weeks and start introducing foods in the way it is described in the book.

Good luck!

[barbecuer]

I saw them last night...I was a bit confused because they do say "Approved for All Phases," and in the book it does say that Dr. Atkins stands by all products with the Atkins name. However, I looked at the bars and the # of carbs were too high for me to even consider on induction.

[blueberrylady]

Since Dr. Atkins died, his company has changed their ads to suggest that things are legal that aren't. He cared about the people; they only care about the bottom line. So your best bet is to go by 'the book' literally, and not believe everything the company says now. Keep your goals in mind and stick to the induction rules and you will be much happier with your loss. Good Luck!

[hilary1229]

I see and understand what you guys mean about following the "old" dr atkins diet. That is the way I have always done this. I just have so many people I know supposidly on Atkins who say they use the bars and tortillias during induction....and they claim to be losing weight....so I just wanted to make sure that with this "new" atkins the rules had not changed a bit. It seems people are counting the NET carbs now...so using the fiber in these foods make them legal in that sense. I just want this to be as painless as possible because I honestly feel like I am so sick and just feel funny and I am on day four...its making me want to give up.

Hilary

[kat7hy]

Hi Hillary - I'm on Day 5 and woke up this morning feeling nauseous but I think it's the body starting to really burn fast and adjust. I'm trying to look at it that way. Anyway, I went to the gym and had my breakfast and now I feel fine - it passes.

[Elizellen]

Originally Posted by barbecuer

in the book it does say that Dr. Atkins stands by all products with the Atkins name.

Some old time Atkineers who remember what products were available at the start said that the original 'induction legal' Atkins bars had very different ingredients in them which were all on the allowed list. Also that they didn't taste very appetising

[Lyssie]

OMG. I think this explains why I can't understand why people actually *want* to eat those bars as meal replacements!! I used to be able to stomach about half a bar, if I was *REALLY* starving... Everyone around here acts like they are candy and I couldn't figure it out!