Why can't I have an entire Wendy's Chicken/Bacon Salad?
 

I've only lost 6 pounds since starting Atkins last Monday. I'm almost at my 2 week mark. I'm definitely throwing Ketones as my sticks are always DARK reddish.

I've been really good about measuring my 2 cups of salad per day. I bought a Wendy's Chicken/Bacon salad. I took it apart and started measuring it. The whole salad has WAY more than 2 cups of salad BUT the Wendy's website says the net carbs is only 6.

I'm SO confused - why am I only allowed to have 2 cups of salad if an entire salad is only 6 net carbs. I throw out the dressing/croutons and pour on the oil and vinegar.

Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I have never meausred anything and I have eaten a whole salad. - minus the no-nos

I don't know why you can't. I would ;)

I always ate as much veggies as I could (counting the carbs) but it was way more than 2 cups a day. I say as long as you are getting your carbs from natural foods and you stay in the 20 net carb count range then eat as many veggies as the carb count allows. I think most people would agree. Try to stay away from processed foods (bars, shakes, fake ice cream, etc) and eat til you ar full but over stuffed.

I have always viewed it as at least 3 cups of veggies. More veggies the better as long as you make sure to count the carbs for it.

I shoot to get most of my carbs to come from veggies and usually I need way more than 3 cups to do it but that depends on the veggies I eat.

OK so maybe I'm just confused. My info from the atkins website says 2-3 cups of salad (romaine, cucumbers) per day but only 2 cups if you eat a cup of any other type of "allowed" veggie like spinach or broccoli.

If I can eat at least 3 cups instead of no more than 3 cups, I'm having one great big salad for dinner. :-)

I would choose to view it that - count the carbs, but eat your veggies! The fiber helps you lose weight!

The 3 total cups guideline, I believe was put in place for the "beginners" so they can get started without having to count. IMO, if you count the carbs and stay at 20, eat your salad and enjoy!

What do you mean ONLY six pounds in less then two weeks. SIX POUNDS IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS IS AWESOME!!! Especially, since you don't have that much to lose to begin with :)

Eat the salad! Lettuce and the other stuff on there is good for you, it is only 6 carbs, and you'll be fine.

However, if for some reason (other than the natural slow-down after the first two weeks) you start a long stall, THEN start measuring your veggies. But unless that happens, eat up! :p

Ditto what everyone else has said. Do yourself a kindness and enjoy your salad. :)

I'm with Sydnarella. My first thought was "ONLY" HA, I wish!!!! keep up the good work :)

Alli

I think Freckles is right about there being a reason for the 3 cups, or 2 with 1/3 cup cooked veggies. In the new Atkins Essentials book, this is addressed and it basically says that not all carbs are created equal, so you can't eat whatever want all the time even if you stay within 20 carbs. If that was the case, you could consume all your carbs in lc bread, lc snacks, higher carb fruits/veggies, etc. By no means am I an expert, but I had the same thought (complaint :rolleyes: ) and this is what my friend told me-she has that book. Once you get past the 2 weeks....and you are ALMOST there...you can revise all of that if you chose anyway. I figure I can do almost anything for 2 weeks. :)

I hope that helps!!

Thanks for all of your help. Sorry if I offended anyone with my reported weight loss.

I ended up only eating half because it was so much food! My dh did eat all of his - he's doing Atkins with me! Yay!

Personally, take out carrots and tomatoes... and chow DOWN on lettuce. Following to the program to a T is definitely great... but in the end, realistically, it's LETTUCE.

I eat all the salad I can stand..... You need the fiber too.

Sounds like you are doing great so far! Nice to have hubby with you. Don't fret about salad though. This is not where we have our carb problems!

The 3 cups of veggies guideline assumes that you will also be including other things in your daily menu allowed on induction that also have carbs such as cream, olives, avocado, lemon juice, cheese and eggs. If you are not eating those items, by all means eat more veggies! :)

I also think that when "New Diet Revolution" was written, Dr. Atkins hadn't yet figured out the "NET carb" thing. I don't recall that being written about. I think the book focused on total carbs. Subsequently it seems they learned that the fiber carbs really don't impact you. Since that salad has 6 net carbs, it probably has more than 20 total carbs. I think when he came up with the 2 or 3 cup guideline, they were looking at total carbs. Does anyone else think that could be the case?

No. I didn't think it was the case at all...but out of curiousity looked it up in DANDRE. Here is a quote from page 285 of my edition:

"Fiber is good for your digestive system and a legitimate deduction from your carbohydrate totals."

Balletmom--I don't think you offended anyone with posting your weight loss. We're all happy for you. As someone just starting induction, I am hoping to lose 6 pounds in less than 2 weeks lol!!

I agree with everyone else--enjoy the salad!! If it fits in with the plan, go for it. Way better than eating junk, even if it's lc junk!

I agree with sydnarella.. you don't have all that much to loose.. and you did 6lbs in two weeks.. that's pretty good.

My wife's only beef with this WOE is me picking out the carrots slivers out of my salads. There are usually twenty 1/4 - 1/2 in. slivers of carrots in the salad mix that we buy. So, I took the advice to remove all carrots, and that's what I do. I tried to explain the GI to her in layman's terms, but she still doesn't think that those "few" slivers of carrots will make a difference.

Before my wife got pregnant, she tried Atkins for four days and lost 5 lbs. But, the cravings got too much for her (also we were trying to get pregnant, so I "authorized" her to go off of Atkins....yeah right, she does what she wants, when she wants, and how she wants!!!!!). And btw, our second child is due later this month (3/31)!!!! Two daughters. I am the luckiest guy on the face of the earth!!!!