# So I'm eating my first Atkins lunch... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2003, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235 "2003-05-05T18:22:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ultress](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/7c8e57/32.png) [@ultress](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultress)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/21 "2003-05-06T16:17:51Z")
The most important question is…did you read the book? There are lots and lots of information on how you will feel, what takes care of it, what portions you should eat, like two cups of salad and 1 cup of cooked veggies, or three cups of salad. Cheese is limited to 4 oz. a day. No aspartamine if you can avoid it. Too much info to even begin to give out. Do make sure you take your vitamins and supplements, that helps with the energy level. I quit smoking last July, after 31 years, and I started Atkins in January. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/22 "2003-05-06T16:49:33Z")
Yup - bought the book and read almost all of it. I need to buy a kitchen scale so I can measure out what I’m eating (meats and cheese, etc.) and I did measure my salad and dressing. I’m not a diet soda drinker (I used like 1/4 packet of Sweet-N-Low in my hot tea), so aspartame isn’t a problem. I did quit smoking at the same time, and drastically cut my caffeine. I do feel better today - lunch is gonna be a Chicken Caesar Salad. ---
**Author:** ![Fluffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Fluffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fluffy)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/23 "2003-05-06T20:34:33Z")
I’m on my second day of Atkins. I read the book last year and for some reason I thought that there was no limit on cheese. Has it changed in the new book? ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2003, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/24 "2003-05-06T20:51:10Z")
Most cheeses are generally 1 carb per oz, give or take. Processed cheses can be considerably more, rich cheeses like Brie a bit less. So there’s a limit inherant right there. I don’t recall a specific limit, but I haven’t read the book in a while - **ultress** may be more up to date than I am. BTW, even eggs have trace amounts of carbs (.626 carbs per egg), as does coffee and cream. If it’s less than 1 carb per serving, it doesn’t have to appear on the label in the U.S. Packets of artififical sweetener have 1 carb each, which can add up if you use them a lot. Other than meat, chicken, and fish, there really aren’t that many “free” foods. Of course most people don’t have to watch their carbs quite that strictly. I personally never counted the carbs in eggs, but I did count the carbs in cheese and cream. The USDA Nutrtion Database allows you to look up just about any food you want: [http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut\_search.pl](http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl) ---
**Author:** ![mcms\_cricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@mcms\_cricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcms_cricket)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/25 "2003-05-07T21:02:43Z")
Another Atkins-ite checking in FWIW - celery **is** allowed during the induction period (per the Atkins site: [http://atkinscenter.com/Archive/2001/12/15-464579.html](http://atkinscenter.com/Archive/2001/12/15-464579.html). Yes, creamy ranch type salad dressings are OK too, but check the label. A lot of them have sugar in them which is a no-no. I’ve found very few salad dressings that are listed as zero carb - but there are some good ones. For cheese, I’ve found that those little packets of string cheese are great- each one is one ounce so it makes the carb counting easy. Trace amounts of carbs or not, Atkins says you can have unlimited eggs without counting carbs. However, if the label says the product has some sort of sugar (dextrose, sucrose, whatever), you’re still suppsed to count it as a carb because of those trace amounts. Cricket ---
**Author:** ![mcms\_cricket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@mcms\_cricket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcms_cricket)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/26 "2003-05-07T21:06:55Z")
By the way, the link I posted above is a great primer for Atkins (not to replace reading the book). It’s all the rules of induction in a few short pages - everything you can and can’t eat. When I first started I printed it out and carried it around in my purse. Cricket ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/27 "2003-05-12T18:44:14Z")
Just an update - After one week, I am down nine pounds and many inches all over!! ---
**Author:** ![Vixenation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/278dde/32.png) [@Vixenation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vixenation)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/28 "2003-05-12T18:56:54Z")
**Avarie** , that is AMAZING! 🙂 Geez! One more week to go and then you get to slowly add more carbs and good stuff to your diet, its worth it. You’ll most likely start to lose less weight soon (maybe only a pound or two a week), but it will still come off nonetheless and you will be losing inches, so don’t get discouraged. What kind of exercise (if any) are you doing? I highly recommend Winsor Pilates, it’s a great way to start toning up in little time. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/29 "2003-05-12T19:07:11Z")
Dad on Atkins. Just knowing what he CAN’T have, I KNOW I would go NUTZOID on Atkins! ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/30 "2003-05-12T19:25:24Z")
**Vixexn** , I’ve got a pilates machine downstairs (ordered from QVC :eek:) and just need to get my but down there. **eric** , the primary dietary restrictions are for the first two weeks. And you would be astonished at the number of low-carb substitute foods out there. All bread products, pasta, cereal, syrup, ice cream, jelly, tortillas, chocolate sauce - you name it, SOMEBODY has figured out a low-carb version. And you would probably go “NUTZOID” because you are a carb addict. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/31 "2003-05-12T19:39:24Z")
“My name is Eric and I’m a carbohydrate addict.” “Hello, Eric.” ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/32 "2003-06-08T20:02:04Z")
Hope it’s OK to bump this: I wondered if anyone had any updates? I start my Atkins diet tomorrow. Am currently boiling eggs ready to make a tuna, egg, mozarella and cucumber salad tomorrow (it will be brunch, I won’t be breakfasting as well). If people are still interesting in posting Atkins tips and experience, that would be great. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/33 "2003-06-08T20:12:56Z")
Well, since that fateful Monday, I have lost 23 pounds and god-knows how many inches (we can’t find our origingal weigh-in sheet :mad: ). I was wearing tight size 14s, and now my 12s are getting loose. We went to Old Navy last week, and I was brave enough to try on a bikini. And the large WAS TOO BIG!!! 😃 😃 😃 Be sure to eat your veggies and drink your water! Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/34 "2003-06-08T20:30:21Z")
What’s wrong with Shapiro’s? Just take the bread off the pastrami sandwich and Adkins yourself away! (or better yet, lose weight by eating a balanced diet) ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/35 "2003-06-08T20:34:29Z")
WOW!!! Congrats - that is really encouraging. Am so jealous about the bikini, just had a total dressing room mirror nightmare misery shopping for swimwear today. I don’t have a lot to lose, maybe a stone? - it’s mainly some pairs of trousers that seem a little tighter, and I was trying to blame it on the hot climate shrinking them, but… 😉 I am going to SO miss fruit and unlimited vegetables for the induction period. Luckily I’ve never been a big bread/rice fan, I like pasta but don’t crave it that much. Chocolate I will miss, big time. And mint creams. But not cakes or doughnuts or that sort of stuff. The ultra-meat thing does freak me out. I’ve never been a massive meat eater. I like it, but intermittently. Do you find yourself growing to like meat more? And also - the “strange breath” thing - I’m a bit paranoid about that. If it happens, would it ruin the diet to suck sugar-free mints? ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/36 "2003-06-08T22:24:03Z")
Go ahead and keep sugar-free mints and gum around, **istara**. The bad breath will go away eventually. And **I Love Me, Vol. I** , please make sure you know what you’re talking about before you post. If you’re doing it right, the Atkin’s diet _is_ balanced. I’ve lost 30 lbs since the beginning of the year, something I couldn’t do on any other so-called diet. My husband has lost 35. My brother has lost 20 since Easter. My parents have lost about 10 total since last Sunday. ---
**Author:** ![Wicked\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/2acd7d/32.png) [@Wicked\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wicked_Blue)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/37 "2003-06-09T00:03:08Z")
Wow Avarie537, that’s amazing! Good for you! I started Induction 11 days ago and have lost 10 pounds so far and I’m loving it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/38 "2003-06-09T00:31:45Z")
For anyone who would like a little extra support, I like [low-carb-friends.com/bbs](http://low-carb-friends.com/bbs). They also have a huge reader-submitted recipe room and links to buying low-carb products. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/39 "2003-06-09T03:46:29Z")
To maintain, for lunches, I stick primarily to salads with chicken and shrimp thrown in; for quickie snacks, lunch meat and cheese slices (no bread); and peanuts in the shell also make a superb snack; really, any nuts do; sliced cheeses are cool (swiss, cheddar, etc.); you get the idea. My dinner entrees tend to be meat-heavy, but that’s because I like meat, myself; pork, beef roasts, steaks, etc. I also like to broil skinless chicken breasts in the toaster oven and serve them with a veggie for a nice, easy, quick treat. Just never any bread, rice, potatoes, what-have-you. And almost never any sweets. And no booze. I’m fairly strict with myself, but that doesn’t mean that you have to be with yourself. I’ve sort of adapted the diet to suit my needs. Eggs and bacon, as others have mentioned, are terrific at any time of the day …eggs are cool because they’re so versatile! Hope that helped! ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2003, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235/40 "2003-06-09T04:10:04Z")
A friend gave me a really superb cookbook for my birthday: **500 Low-Carb Recipes** by Dana Carpender, available at [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) for under $15.00. Ms. Carpernder tries hard to keep her recipes limited to ingredients that are pretty easy to find, and are not too ungodly expensive. We’ve liked the ones we’ve tried so far, especially the Confetti Frittata. YUM! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-im-eating-my-first-atkins-lunch/173235.md?page=3)