Have you gained weight since moving to the U.S.?

[trailmix 77]

I've found Atkins is actually pretty easy. And you do get to eat lots and lots of veggies, just not starchy or carb loaded ones. I've had as many as 3 salads a day. Its all about balance really. And no bread or pasta. After about 3 days, my carb cravings were pretty much gone. I can even say no to ice cream when James is waving it under my nose

So far I've just been using the website for info and help, I ordered the book thru a used seller on Amazon, and it hasn't got to me yet Here's their website http://community.atkins.com/ Forums and everything.

Its a life long lifestyle change, not just a diet. As I said before, just the benefits of my IBS being gone alone is reason enough for me to keep on it. I feel great!

Yeah I agree Reba, I think it really does work and i'm glad it works so well for you - I bought one of the older books.

I think that we really started out too far in the protein extreme and it wasn't really sustainable. I also think it's wonderful that you are feeling so much better.

Edited December 4, 2008 by trailmix

[SpiritAlight 1]

I don't offcially live here yet but I've done a three month visit. I lost five pounds. I'm sure it's because I've been doing a lot of cooking and using the apartment complex gym regularly. We found a grocery store that has some really amazing and cheap produce. It has almost everything you can imagine including snake beans and Chinese brocoli. It inspires me to cook from scratch.

I really want to try weaning off my anti-depressant meds about a year after I get here for good so I've been working hard to change my lifestyle to support that. Hopefully, the healthy diet and excercise will be well entrenched habits by the end of next year. Then I'll talk to a pshychaitrist about getting off the meds.

~ Catherine

I wish you strength and courage Catherine.

[MsZ 6]

Fascinating poll Trailmix.

- the corn syrup thingy and other hidden things in processed foods

As I understand it, corn syrup has the same composition as regular cane sugar.

[thetreble 19]

Fascinating poll Trailmix.

- the corn syrup thingy and other hidden things in processed foods

As I understand it, corn syrup has the same composition as regular cane sugar.

Yes, we all agree that it does. However, as stated before, it is in almost every product that does NOT require sugar here in the United States.

[TheATeam 0]

There is a distinction between corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup though. Often you'll find that products contain both. It's the HFCS to watch out for.

And Mandy...isn't it crazy how you find it in EVERYTHING?! I couldn't believe it when I saw it in milk! Seriously? They need to sweeten regular milk?

[TayL 0]

I don't want to be alarmist, but I have to say, I'm fairly anti-hfcs. There have been a couple of studies that have shown that the consistently higher separated fructose levels may put additional strain above and beyond normal sugar on the pancreas. It's not that I think hfcs is evil or something, I just think it's understudied, if studies are just coming out now that talk about this as a possibility. I don't like putting things into my body that are understudied, as far as processed products go. Yeah, I know, fresh vegetables can have salmonella and stuff! Thing is, those bacteria are often still there when they put it into jars and stuff after processing. I'd rather not put the processed stuff into my body, for the most part. A pop here, a cookie there... but the store cookies never taste as good as homemade anyway!

(not in the US yet, so can't comment on the weight thing, just weighing in on the hfcs thing)

Edited December 4, 2008 by TayL

[Marilyn. 340]

I found HFSC in a can of diced tomatoes

[TheATeam 0]

Tay- I'm absolutely anti-HFCS. I've even got my hubby watching for it now. He's even noticed how different things taste with the HFCS. I don't like it. It makes me feel awful after I eat anything with it in it, so I avoid it at all costs. In general I don't eat much of anything that's processed, but like Marilyn said...it can be in tomatoes! (And milk and bread, etc, etc, etc.....) It's just nuts!

[trailmix 77]

Fascinating poll Trailmix.

- the corn syrup thingy and other hidden things in processed foods

As I understand it, corn syrup has the same composition as regular cane sugar.

Yes - as Amanda mentioned, we have clarified that we are aware that HFCS is just....sugar.

I have 2 problems with it.

1. I think everything is pretty much over sweetened in the United States (personally, from the foods I have tried here).

2. It is in things sugar should not be in (like tomatoes or tomato paste - again, this is my personal opinion and when compared to Canadian products I would buy and not find sugar in)

Bottom line, HFCS is cheap, it is a cheap ingredient that gives manufacturers more flavour bang for their buck - that is why they use it.

What is the result of this? The result is that things get over-sweetened. I will give you an example.

If you have a Tablespoon of Heinz ketchup in Canada, it will contain 15 calories. If you have a tablespoon of Heinz ketchup in the United States, it will contain 20 calories.

This is one small example but it's a HUGE deal. Ketchup is a popular condiment. I do not know how many tablespoons of ketchup each person in the U.S. consumes each year, on average, but that's a lot of extra calories for something people probably don't even think twice about eating.

Edited December 4, 2008 by trailmix

[Krikit 1,163]

Ooops! I did my HFCS blurb on the Coke thread! lol

(Do I need to move it here? )

[trailmix 77]

Ooops! I did my HFCS blurb on the Coke thread! lol

(Do I need to move it here? )

and I did mine here in response to MsZ - and was then thinking, it really belongs in the Coke thread

[Reba 2]

Yeah I agree Reba, I think it really does work and i'm glad it works so well for you - I bought one of the older books.

I think that we really started out too far in the protein extreme and it wasn't really sustainable. I also think it's wonderful that you are feeling so much better.

The "best edition" according to the forums and website is the 2002 edition. They've added a couple of rungs to phase 2, and the maintenance phases are easier to follow. Plus, with a few more years of scientific study to back it up, more veggies and foods have been added to phase one.

I finally got my book yesterday. Got up to chapter 9 I think before Grey's Anatomy started

[trailmix 77]

Yeah I agree Reba, I think it really does work and i'm glad it works so well for you - I bought one of the older books.

I think that we really started out too far in the protein extreme and it wasn't really sustainable. I also think it's wonderful that you are feeling so much better.

The "best edition" according to the forums and website is the 2002 edition. They've added a couple of rungs to phase 2, and the maintenance phases are easier to follow. Plus, with a few more years of scientific study to back it up, more veggies and foods have been added to phase one.

I finally got my book yesterday. Got up to chapter 9 I think before Grey's Anatomy started

My fav show, really the only one I watch on any kind of regular basis.

Wow that's off topic.

Umm, when I watch that show I am not gaining weight unless I am snacking.

[Reba 2]

Its actually bugging the ####### outta me. Too sweet and crazy lately (I mean really? Sex with a freakin' halucination? Its supposed to be a drama, not a fantasy show ). Too much sugar is not good for anyone, and is not allowed at all on Atkins.

[Sprailenes 47]

I FOUND HFCS IN MY TOILET PAPER!