Questions on Veggies

[Stella]

Hello Everyone! I am so thankful to all of you for the information on this website. I am on extended induction - I am on day 18 of induction.
You are all so wonderful, I've been lurking everyday and reading everything I can get my eyes on! I now carry the 2002 NADR in my purse with me at all times. I have read and re-read (and re-read and re-read) everything up to induction and the chapters on vita-nutrients and other possible metabolic resistance. I love this book! Anyway....

My question is about veggies. (My sister-in-law who is also doing Atkins does not understand this either) We can have up to three cups total of veggies. Or two cups of salad veggies plus one cup of any other veggie from the acceptalble list. I do not understand how to get most of my carbs this way.

For instance at lunch I had 2 C. of Romaine - Net Carbs = .8
I added 6 Cherry Tomatoes - Net Carbs = 2.8

And to the point..... (Sorry! LOL)
??? Do the tomatoes count as my "3rd Cup" of veggies?
OR do I still have one cup of another acceptable veggie?

Thank you so much for your help on this!



Day 18 - Down 14.8 lbs! (95 more to go!)

[jimmie 48]

Re: Questions on Veggies

if you check your DANDR on page 126, you will see that tomatoes are listed as Other Vegatables and you can have 1 cup of those in addiction to the 2 cups of salad vegabtables.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Questions on Veggies

Yes, they would count as your third cup. Tomatoes are on the "other vegetable" list.

If you insist on sticking to extended induction....look on the acceptable list and find the vegetables with the most bang for your buck. By this I mean the highest carbs (which most times means higher fiber and higher nutrients). Some examples from the salad list would be:
1. Jicama packs a whopping 6.5 grams of fiber per cup
2. Peppers have more vitamin C in a cup than oranges do
3. Celery has diuretic properties and 2 grams fiber per cup
4. Fennel and Chicory both have about 2.7 grams fiber per cup

These are just some suggestions/samples, BTW.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Questions on Veggies

Oh and one other thing

I strongly encourage folks to move into the Ongoing Weight Loss phase as opposed to staying on induction. Unless you are very strict on your "cups" of vegetables, you are probably doing the first "rung" anyway. The first "rung" is to add 5 net carbs of vegetables to your induction levels. You can stay on the "vegetable rung" for as long as you like. (And, once again, I think this is what most people are doing...though they might call it extended induction....let's face it folks...if you go to McDonalds/Chic-fil-A/Arbys/the grocery store and buy one of their salads and eat the whole thing...that is *NOT* induction portions....that's rung 1 portions.)

[Stella]

Re: Questions on Veggies

Ok! I see .... thank you both for your help!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Questions on Veggies

You're welcome! I'm a big advocate of eating vegetables. They are so good for us in terms of the fiber and vitamins and minerals they contain. Plus, they add so much to our diets in terms of color, texture, crunch, flavor.

Every now and then I tell myself I'm going to go back to induction....but I never make it because I don't want to limit myself to just 3 cups of veggies per day.

[Stella]

Re: Questions on Veggies

I will consider that. After reading the chapter on extended induction I felt that it was a reasonable choice to stay on induction. I would like to add more veggies, I am finding that I enjoy them more than ever before. The two reasons I would list is the large amount yet to lose at least 95 will be my goal weight (which I think is still 30 lbs. above the recommended weight for someone my height of 5'7") and I noticed in my food journal that when I went above 15 carbs the scale was not moving. That could just be the newbie in me.
Thank you!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Questions on Veggies

Stella, keep in mind too that many people experience what we call here "Post Induction Stall Syndrome" during weeks 3 and 4. Meaning, they don't lose anything...sometimes even gain. It happened to me. Weeks 3 and 4, no loss. On my week 5 I moved into rung 1 of veggies and started losing again. I have no idea whether adding more vegetables got things going again, or if it would have happened anyway. So, if that's where you are at, don't fret.

Make sure you use your tape measure. Most times when the scale isn't moving for you, the tape measure will...or your clothes will get looser. Take pictures of yourself for comparison later too (you don't HAVE to share them with us if you don't want to LOL)

I am of the opinion that no one ever got fat eating vegetables, and they really will become the mainstay of your Atkins plan.

Keep in mind too, that I've lost about 60 lbs in the Ongoing Weight Loss phase of this plan. Doing extended induction doesn't guarantee that you will lose it any faster...and frankly I'd rather have the variety to keep me satisfied over the long haul. At any rate, enjoy veggies!! LOL

[Stella]

Re: Questions on Veggies

Thank you so much for all of the advice! I really appreciate it! I could not do this without this group!

You look amazing by the way! I can't imagine fitting into my prom dress. If I could do that I'd show my picture too!! Maybe I can add that to my list of goals in my journal! Congratulations on your success! What an inspiration!

Actually, I think I may post a photo soon. I do have one I took just a few days before I started. I can see a slight difference in my face already!! I'll do that when I have some extra time to figure it out. I would also like to add my stats and get a little meter. Those are soo cute!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Questions on Veggies

If you're a veggie lover, I'd urge you to consider making the move to OWL. You don't have to climb the rungs fast and can stay at the first rung for a long time, adding lots of wonderful veggies. Many people find that they lose even more on adding extra veggies!

Looking forward to seeing your pics Stella!