Sun, Feb-16-03, 08:19
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Plan: Bernstein Diabetes Soluti
Stats: 260/-/145
BF:
Progress: 63%
Location: Michigan
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Re: induction foods
Quote:
Originally posted by Javamama
Hi,
A couple people where I work have started Atkin's. Some of us disagree on induction foods. They say you can eat anything low carb(as long as you stay under 20 carbs.) and still loose weight.
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If they're not following the plan as written, then they're not doing Atkins; they're doing their own version of low carb.
The plan is written as it is for specific reasons, the biggest one to promote health not just lose weight.
I could probably get my 20 grams of carb per day from chocolate and still lose weight, but it wouldn't be the Atkins plan and it certainly wouldn't be healthy. I could also probably get my 20 grams of carb per day from fruit (or any other food low in carbs besides the allowed foods), but the volume would be considerably less and I'd likely be provoking some pretty strong carb cravings from the sugars in the fruit.
If they think that Atkins is too limiting why not suggest that they check out some other low carb plans that are more to their liking like Protein Power or Schwarzbein? Atkins isn't the only low carb program out there. I did that with a co-worker and he's very happy with the Schwarzbein plan and is now at goal and maintaining.
Which ever program they choose, though, they should follow it exactly as written until they get a good grip on the priciples of their plan. Many people "tweak" their own plans to suit their own needs and lifestyles, but I would only suggest that someone do that after at least a couple of months following their plan exactly as written.
Here's what Dr. Atkins has to say about all of this:
If I stay under 20 grams of carbs a day, why can't I have some in the form of a slice of whole grain bread or even a peanut butter cup, which has 20 grams of carbs?
There are two reasons this approach won't work. For one, all carbohydrates are not created equal. The Atkins Nutritional Approach is designed to prevent blood sugar levels from spiking and causing the overproduction of insulin—a hormone that helps convert carbohydrates to body fat. The first carbohydrates you need to add back to your diet when you move beyond Induction are more vegetables, then seeds and nuts, then berries and then—if you are still losing—legumes and grains. Even bread made from 100 percent whole-wheat flour contains enough refined carbs to produce this insulin-raising, fat-storing effect in many people. Later, if your weight loss is progressing well and you have increased your daily carb intake, you may eat an occasional slice of whole grain bread. (In the meantime, try AtkinsTM Bake Mix, with which you can make tasty quick breads and even crunchy snacks such as garlic toast.) As for the 20-gram peanut butter cup, it contains a lot of sugar--not to mention artery-clogging hydrogenated fat—and sugar is the worst kind of carbohydrate.
Secondly, the Atkins approach is not just about rapid weight loss--it's about learning to eat only nutrient-dense carbohydrates for the rest of your life. These are foods that are packed with the most antioxidant vitamins and healthful phytochemicals relative to the amount of carbohydrates--so you’re getting the most bang for your carbohydrate buck. (This is what we call the “Atkins Ratio.”) Once you’ve reached your goal weight and established your personal Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance (CCLM), most people can enjoy whole-grain bread, fruit and even the occasional plate of French fries. Unfortunately, that conventional peanut butter cup just doesn’t make the grade!
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