Hi all!

I'm brand-new here and have already gotten so much great info. from this place, ya'll rock!
Couple of questions:

1. What is the diff. between carbs and *impact* carbs?? I saw some protein bars at the store today that looked like they'd be great, but .... 15+ gm. of carbs per bar!! Granted, the label *did* say "Only 2 gm of Impact Carbs!" but ... a carb is a carb, isn't it??

2. What vitamins should I be taking? I am technically on week 1 of hte Atkins diet, although I am modifying his plan a wee bit to fit my personal preference.

Thanks!!

Welcome Aridane!

In answer to your first question:
Impact carbs is the carb count after fibre and/or sugar alcohols has been subtracted. For example, in the protein bar you mentioned, it probably contained malitol (or a similar sugar alcohol,) that 'supposedly' does not affect your blood sugar, thereby allowing you to continue burning fat. BEWARE - these sugar alcohols affect everyone differently - some people stall on their weight loss, others get bad diarrhea (sp?), etc. Another reason you might see the term 'impact carbs' is because fibre is deducted because fibre's gonna go right through you and also not affect your blood sugar. For example: a medium apple has approximately 21 grams of carbs and 4 grams fibre. 21 - 4 = 17 impact carbs. Does that make sense?

In response to your second question:
It's totally up to you! Check out the Nutrition and Supplement forum by clicking here Personally, I take a really good multivitamin (sans sugar, of course,) calcium + Vitamin D (to absorb the calcium), Vitamin C, L-Glutamine, Chromium, and Vitamin B12. I choose not to take an additional Iron supplement (there's some in the multi vite,) because I eat ALOT of meats that naturally have Iron in them.

Feel free to post with more questions. Happy LCing!

If you live in America, the carbs figure may include the fiber and any sugar alcohols. The fiber goes straight through you and sugar alcohols are either not absorbed or atre absorbed so slowly they have little effect.

The *impact* carbs are what we often call effective carbs - the carbs after the fiber and sugar alcohols have been subtracted.
So a carb isn't always a carb.

I'd leave off the bars until after induction if I were you.

As for "modifying his plan a wee bit to fit my personal preference" I wouldn't if I were you - I'd stick to what it says in the book. Your 'personal preferences' may be what made you have to diet in the first place.

Good luck

Robert