Substitute for cream in my decaf?

[vmartennis]

Well, it's day 25 of Induction and I haven't lost a pound (on the scale, anyway) My belly is smaller. Interesting. If I need to lose it anywhere, it's there. I am going to eliminate dairy before I try eliminating coffee. I wonder if anyone has used an appropriate cream substitute? Also, I think I have candida. Took the spit test. My results were consistent with those I read about in the candida forum. I have suspected that I was a candida candidate for some time now. I have mild symptoms, so I don't think it will take much to get it under control. Any suggestions about cream substitute or any thing else?

[sallyseachange]

Sounds like you're losing inches rather than pounds. Usually the scales catches up, eventually. It could be that, if you're exercising more than before, you're building muscle, which vol for vol weighs heavier than fat.

I'm no candida expert, so I'm sure someone will be along to advise on the cream.

[bellajgw]

I'm lactose intolerant and since I only allow myself 1 cup of coffee a day now (down from 5!) I use non-dairy Sugar-free Coffeemate (1 tbsp = 1 g). I'm not officially on Induction at the moment but eat very Induction-ly (word?) I know the Coffeemate is probably NOT inducation friendly and those on the board who are sticklers for rules will slam me, but it has been a HUGE help for me.

That being said I can't say whether or not it's Candida-friendly or not. I'd really have to have a chemist around for that...but its a non-dairy option to at least look at. (just don't forget to count it in as one of your sweetener portions!)

My partner and I are going to be eliminating a lot of our Candida-causing foods this weekend and see if that helps her. I've gotten through my 4 week stall but she hasn't and has all the symptoms and failed the spit test miserably (passed?...very cloudy and legs)

[atkinsgal08]

>>non-dairy Sugar-free Coffeemate>>

As you know, this is a true "frankenfood" and isn't ever Atkins friendly!

The ingredients generally contain partially hydrogenated soybean/andor cottonseed oil [transfats]) ... something we should always avoid ... even if not doing Atkins!

If one couldn't have cream, then I would advise learning how to drink coffee black ... or give it up altogether before using "Coffee-Mate" or any of those artificial "creamers".

[atkinsgal08]

>>t's day 25 of Induction and I haven't lost a pound (on the scale, anyway)>>

If you want to post a sample menu, with net carb counts and your calories, we can take a look.

How much water are you drinking per day?

Are you on any medications?

[Barb1965]

For your decaf, try a tablespoon of coconut oil, it kills the candida and is delicious. I use it in green tea, never tried it in coffee but I think it would still be good.

[vmartennis]

I am not doing any working out other than walking.. as much as I was before Atkins. But I am wondering if the increase in protein that I've been eating (protein, of course, along with more fat, has taken the place of the carbs I was eating before Atkins) is serving to build muscle, even without added working of the muscle. I can't think of any other reason why I wouldn't see a loss in scale weight for one whole month. Even a loss of water weight would likely show up on the scale. I guess i'm too scale-obsessive.
Someone asked me if I take meds. I take 1 mg. of Estrodiol which is natural estrogen, the lowest dosage my Dr will let me have... and twelve days of each month I take natural Progesterone. (She doesn't prescribe synthetic hormones.) I talked with her a/b estrogen as a fat-producing hormone. She said it can produce more fat. But in my case, ten years ago, for no obvious reason, I gained 20 lbs., suddenly..over a period of only four months (devastating..I'm only 5 feet tall).....early stage of menopause. That was a whole year before I started taking estrogen. So, she seems to think that the estrogen has stabalized my hormone balance and it probably isn't affecting my weight loss issues. But you never know. Sometimes I think we just have to move along according to what our bodies tell us.. not necessarily what Drs. tell us. Anyway, waiting for some kind of a whoosh on the scale. I t would encourage me. Thanks for everyone's help on these issues. I have had a revelation a/b my eating: After having done Atkins once before and then returning, I had forgotten how much better I feel eating this way. The lack of horrible hunger pangs that just kept me eating myself into a constant state of carb overload, the disappearance of my nerves (butterflies) in my stomach, the lack of sugar-craving (which is amazing to me) have all made me see that I can't ever eat any other way...weight loss or not. So, Amen to Atkins.
So, I perservere. TTYL Veronica

[atkinsgal08]

If you want to post a sample menu, with net carb counts and your calories, we can take a look.

How much water are you drinking per day?

[vmartennis]

Here's a sample menu for a typical day: Decaf coff. w/ 2 teas. heavy cream. 1 packet of Stevia. Break: 2 eggs fried in olive oil or butter. 3 pork sausages. (5 carbs) (All the pork products I buy are organic and uncured : Organic Prairie) ( I count stevia as 1 carb)
Snack: 1 oz. mont. jack cheese (or 2 T of cream cheese) and 2 stalks of celery. 2 carbs
Lunch: 1/2salmon steak. 1 cup mixed greens w/ 1/4 cucumber and 1 T ranch dressing (3 carbs)
Snack: 1/2 green bell pepper (fried in olive oil) Yummy! 2 deviled eggs w/mayo-must.-celery salt. ( 3 carbs)
Decaf coff.w/ 2 teas. h. cream 1 packet Stevia. (1 carb)
Dinner: bacon-wrapped chicken w/2 oz cheddar/mont. jack cheese. 2 cups Jicama and cuc. or bell pepper. (4 carbs.)
I drink more than 64 oz water everyday. Two 32 oz bottles finished by 3:00. I drink more after that.
Any comments? Veronica
Okay: Stevia=1 carb Eggs=1 carb each Sausages=2 carbs
Mont. Jack cheese=1 carb. or 2 oz cream cheese=1 carb. Celery (stalks are small)= 1 carb
Mixed greens and 1/4 cuc= 2 carbs Ranch = 1 carb.
Bell pepp.= 1 carb. Eggs= 1 carb each
2 ozs. Chedd. Cheese= 2 carbs Jicama= 1 carb Cuc. or bell pepp.= 1 carbs. (The ratio of cuc or bell to Jicama is greater)
( I forgot to add 1 carb for total heavy cream for the day)

[atkinsgal08]

It would be more helpful to me if there was a net carb count with each food item!

Thanks.