Hi Carly,
Hi matey, I'll do my best to answer some of your questions.
1. The main reason to watch calories while low carbing, is to get
enough cals. If you're doing fine and losing weight, there is no reason to worry too much about your cals.
If you use Fitday (I mentioned it in your journal) to calculate your carbs, you'll automatically get a readout of calories, too.
2. You can eat as many eggs as you like! The reason the low fat brigade will try to dissuade you from eating too many eggs, is that they contain saturated fat. Sat. fat is only harmful to our health when eaten with starches and sugars.
The only harmful fat is "trans fat." You'll find trans fats in margarine and commercially baked goods such as biscuits, cakes and pastries.
3. How you keep track of your carbs is up to you, really. I prefer to write what I eat in my journal, and also post them into Fitday so I know what I'm doing.
Remember that you subtract "fibre" carbs, as the body does not absorb those carbs. You'll be surprised just how many vegies you can eat when you do that!
But Carly, there are no rules about this. If you feel you can keep track of your carbs in your head and you're doing fine, great!
4. Whether or not weight loss is slowed by not eating all your carbs is really a YMMV thing. I tend to think you
are better eating them all, mainly so you can have plenty of vegies and, once you are not in Induction, some fruit.
Vegies are very helpful not only with nutrition, but useful for, ahem, preventing constipation.
Besides, vegies taste pretty good slathered in butter!
5. Is exercise essential? According to Dr Atkins it is. He describes exercise as nonnegotiable.
50mins 3 times a week is fine. 4 times may be a spot better, but you are out there moving, and that's what counts.
6. Can't help you with the nitrate free bacon, I'm afraid. I looked in lots of places in Brissie at first, but now I just eat the ordinary stuff from Coles. I don't eat it every day, though.
You could ask at a few butchers and health food shops - that's all I can suggest.
Maybe some Sydneysiders might pop in to help?
7. I think you are better to eat brekkie and lunch even if you are not hungry. There's no need to force down a huge meal, but not eating causes your metabolism to slow - the last thing we want!
8. Ketostix are available in chemist shops but I truly wouldn't bother! There are many different low carb plans and only Dr Atkins bothers about the stix.
I've seen too many people get obsessed about them. When it all boils down, whether or not the stix change colour doesn't matter. What matters is that you are losing fat.
9. I would avoid the gum at least while you are on Induction. Does the packet give a carb count? If not, avoid. If so, wait until you are out of Induction and then count the carbs.
10. I don't think Dr Atkins mentions eating late at night. What he does say, and I agree, is to eat if you are hungry! So if you are feeling peckish late at night, eat!
Whew, hope that helps!
Carly, if you have more questions, ask 'em in your journal - I'll keep an eye out.
Meanwhile, hop along the "Newbies' Questions" and check out the Hot Links. There are lots of previous threads there with answers to questions you haven't thought of yet!
Cheers.
Rosebud