12-15 Net Carbs or 2 cups of Lettuce/1 cup of veggies... confused

[Grego]

I started Atkins on 4/4/2009 with 15 pounds to lose. I lost 5 pounds in the first week. Since 4/10/2009, I have lost 1 more pound (which comes and goes depending on the day). I am sticking to the inductions food (plus one-decaf coffee and 1 diet-rite) each day. I drink enough water and take fiber pills. I can't figure out why I've only lost 1 pound in 20 days! I'm not even losing inches.

The Atkins acceptable food list says we can eat 12-15 net carbs a day. If all I ate was lettuce (.2 net carb = 1 cup), this would be like 75 cups of lettuce a day (which I'm not eating).

However, I have been eating 12-15 net carbs a day - using "custom food" tracking on FitDay. For example, I created a custom lettuce that is .2 net carb for 1 cup. So each day, I eat a variety of veggies... mushrooms, onions, peppers, lettuce, celery.

Other forums say to eat 2 cups of lettuce and 1 cup of other vegetables. If I ate 2 cups of Lettuce (.4 net carbs) and 1 cup of mushrooms (2.4 net carbs), that is less than 3 carbs a day! So who is right??? Should I eat the 3 cups of veggies or 12-14 net carbs a day?

Also, does anyone have a list of net carbs in veggies by weight (weighed raw, before cooked). I weigh everything as I don't like to cram my lettuce in a cup to measure. Weighing seems more accurate.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Frustrated Mama

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by Grego

So who is right???

Dr. Atkins. Always!

On this Bulletin Board, we go by "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" (2002 ed.). According to this book, during Induction you should be eating 3 cups of vegetables per day -- either 3 cups of vegetables from the "Salad Vegetables" list OR 2 cups of "Salad Vegetables" and 1 cup of "Other Vegetables". You should also be careful to get over half of your net carbs from veggies.

Also, does anyone have a list of net carbs in veggies by weight (weighed raw, before cooked). I weigh everything as I don't like to cram my lettuce in a cup to measure. Weighing seems more accurate.

You said you're using FitDay. You can introduce foods in FitDay by weight (in g, oz, lbs or kg).

I started Atkins on 4/4/2009 with 15 pounds to lose. I lost 5 pounds in the first week. Since 4/10/2009, I have lost 1 more pound (which comes and goes depending on the day). I am sticking to the inductions food (plus one-decaf coffee and 1 diet-rite) each day. I drink enough water and take fiber pills. I can't figure out why I've only lost 1 pound in 20 days! I'm not even losing inches.

In the first 14 days of Induction, one typically loses about 5-10% of the weight he/she has to lose. So losing 5-6 lbs out of 15, i.e. over 33%, is fantastic! The weight will come off slower since you do not have a lot to lose.

It would be also a good idea to move to OWL, so that you have time to progress through all the phases of the Diet. Then you'll make Atkins your new way of eating for life, so that you don't gain back the weight you've lost once you reach your goal.

[SarahUK]

Hi Grego,

I've always wondered about the same thing about using a cup which is why I always weight my veggies and salad and calculate the carbs that way rather. Here in the UK most food has nutritional info on the packaging so it's easy to work out.

Could someone clarify the following. If I had 2 cups of salad and 1 cup of green veggies my carbs would be less than 5g per day and about 1%. As I understood it carbs should be no more than 20g (on induction) and 5% i.e the magic 65/30/5. The book says both 2-3 cups and 20g. So which are we aiming for, because using my measuring cups 2-3 cups doesn't come anywhere near 20g?

Sarah

[TGIFriday]

Other forums say to eat 2 cups of lettuce and 1 cup of other vegetables. If I ate 2 cups of Lettuce (.4 net carbs) and 1 cup of mushrooms (2.4 net carbs), that is less than 3 carbs a day! So who is right??? Should I eat the 3 cups of veggies or 12-14 net carbs a day?
I too am confused by this! And after almost a month on this diet I haven't lost a pound, so which way is the right way and which one do you loose on? Cups or weighed net carbs? Agreed, 3 cups certainly do not equal the amount of net carbs suggested, and if this is the case, we can't use FitDay! Unless, we eat a higher carb vegetable such as pumpkin or brussel sprouts every day? I just want to do it right and loose something already! I have read on other boards that some people are eating whole heads of lettuce every day and 2 or more cups cooked veggies. That just doesn't sound right to me!

[Koober101]

Yep, I know the feeling, if I have 2 cups lettuce, and then 1 cup
from the other list of lets say pumpkin, its still only a total of 5 - 6 net carbs.
Not even close to the 15 or so a day they want you to have : (

I am not a veggie person so its harder for me to mix and match when you
only like 2 things from each list.

[Loewen]

Well, according to my calculations there are about 8 carbs in an entire head of iceberg lettuce. My goal after reading in the book to keep it "under" 20 net carbs/day was to keep it as far under that as possible. While that may not be the healthiest approach, which I'm finding out by battling tremendous diarrhea, I have dropped 13-14 of the 50 I'm gunning for in less than 14 days. Lots of exercise, tons of water, fiber, sticking to the right foods and prayer.

I cut Zero caffeine and have no troubles with it impacting my appetite. I too do not understand the 2-3 cups salad requirement. I'm eating a minimum of 5-7 cups each day just for filler to satisfy my appetite. I eat quite a lot and still find it very easy to stay under 20 carbs.

[Koober101]

Hi Loewen,

You Wrote:
"there are about 8 carbs in an entire head of iceberg lettuce"

That sounds high to me, but maybe its right.

However, I am allowed only 2 cups, not a full head

[Koober101]

Loewen,

You Wrote:
"I'm eating a minimum of 5-7 cups each day just for filler"

YOUR NOT DOING ATKINS !! YOU CAN ONLY HAVE 2 CUPS !
AND 1 CUP FROM THE OTHER LIST !!!

OK, Just playing with ya : ) But if I follow the rules its very hard to
get 15 or so net carbs from veggies, when you follow thier 2 - 3 cup
limits.

Best wishes...

[Koober101]

To up my net carbs I sometimes have a glass or 3 of red wine
after work, I find after a couple glasses I seem not to worry
about this veggie / 15 carb delema as much.


Oh no, I should not have said that, now Georgiana will hunt
me down and give me a stern lecture about wine on induction

But then again, she is very pretty so maybe that would not
be such a bad thing

[JulieB]

I've deleted this as I think I misunderstood the question. Sorry.