pounds moving along with you.
BUDDY UP
Whether itâs improving your tennis game or slimming down, itâs definitely easier to achieve any goal if youâre working with someone who has your back. Thatâs what buddies are for. Youâll be able to celebrate each otherâs victories as well as help each other regain equilibrium when forward momentum is lacking. A buddy also helps keep you in line, perhaps talking you off the ledge when a jelly doughnut beckons after a stressful day. In an ideal world, your buddy would be your gender and age, have about the same amount of weight to lose, and live down the street. That said, if youâre both doing Atkins, your significant other might be a great buddy. A friend or relative in another town could do too, as could someone you meet in an Atkins chat room. With Skype, email, instant messaging, or tweets, you may never meet face-to-face with the person whoâs sharing your journey.
If youâre having trouble sticking with the program, an Atkins buddy can be a huge help. If your problem is more one of perception than of compliance, accept that although youâre losing more slowly than youâd hoped, youâre heading in the right direction. For more on troubleshooting in Phase 1 (Kick-Start), see the FAQs that follow.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Can I eat more carbs one day if I cut back the next?
A. By maintaining a constant level of carb intake from day to day, youâre more likely to keep your blood sugar on an even keel. But a range of 3 or 4 grams of Net Carbs from one day to the next should not create a problem as long as your average intake is consistent. If you do overindulge one day, simply return to your current level the next day.
Q. Why canât I do Atkins during the week and then take the weekend off?
A. Doing so will mean that youâre consistently returning to a primarily blood sugar metabolism for two days. It then takes several days to reignite your fat-burning engine. Stopping and starting, known as âcarb cycling,â will lessen the likelihood that youâll lose weight or keep it off.
Q. Will drinking caffeinated beverages interfere with weight loss?
A. Caffeine itself doesnât slow weight loss. Drinking a few cups of coffee or tea each day actually produces numerous health benefits. However, have your beverages without sugar or honey. Noncaloric sweeteners are okay, but have no more than three packets a day. Also lighten these beverages with cream, half-and-half, or acceptable dairy substitutes, not milk.
Q. Can I consume beer, wine, or other alcohol in Phase 1?
A. No. However, once you transition to Phase 2, you can consume moderate amounts of most alcoholic beverages, assuming it doesnât interfere with weight loss, as weâll discuss in Chapter 5 .
Q. If the object is to stay at 20 grams of Net Carbs a day, why canât I have Atkins bars and shakes or a slice of bread instead of all those vegetables?
A. Youâre not just tracking your carb intake; youâre also aiming for a well-balanced meal plan full of vitamins and other nutrients provided by vegetables, along with fiber to help manage your hunger. One slice of bread might represent the balance of your daily carb intake in Phase 1, which would put your blood sugar back on the roller coaster.
Q. Why canât I drink tomato or orange juice with my breakfast?
A. The juicing process removes all or most of the fiber in fruit and vegetables, concentrating the sugar hit. Youâll be able to introduce tomato juice in Phase 2. In Phase 3, oranges and other citrus fruits are acceptable.
Q. Why is cream allowed in Phase 1 but not milk?
A. Strange as it may seem, milk is higher in carbs than cream, thanks to the lactose (a form of sugar). In Phase 2 you can reintroduce small amounts of whole milk. Or dilute cream with some water, if you prefer.
Q. Iâm experiencing cravings for sweets and other high-carb foods such as
BUDDY UP
Whether itâs improving your tennis game or slimming down, itâs definitely easier to achieve any goal if youâre working with someone who has your back. Thatâs what buddies are for. Youâll be able to celebrate each otherâs victories as well as help each other regain equilibrium when forward momentum is lacking. A buddy also helps keep you in line, perhaps talking you off the ledge when a jelly doughnut beckons after a stressful day. In an ideal world, your buddy would be your gender and age, have about the same amount of weight to lose, and live down the street. That said, if youâre both doing Atkins, your significant other might be a great buddy. A friend or relative in another town could do too, as could someone you meet in an Atkins chat room. With Skype, email, instant messaging, or tweets, you may never meet face-to-face with the person whoâs sharing your journey.
If youâre having trouble sticking with the program, an Atkins buddy can be a huge help. If your problem is more one of perception than of compliance, accept that although youâre losing more slowly than youâd hoped, youâre heading in the right direction. For more on troubleshooting in Phase 1 (Kick-Start), see the FAQs that follow.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Can I eat more carbs one day if I cut back the next?
A. By maintaining a constant level of carb intake from day to day, youâre more likely to keep your blood sugar on an even keel. But a range of 3 or 4 grams of Net Carbs from one day to the next should not create a problem as long as your average intake is consistent. If you do overindulge one day, simply return to your current level the next day.
Q. Why canât I do Atkins during the week and then take the weekend off?
A. Doing so will mean that youâre consistently returning to a primarily blood sugar metabolism for two days. It then takes several days to reignite your fat-burning engine. Stopping and starting, known as âcarb cycling,â will lessen the likelihood that youâll lose weight or keep it off.
Q. Will drinking caffeinated beverages interfere with weight loss?
A. Caffeine itself doesnât slow weight loss. Drinking a few cups of coffee or tea each day actually produces numerous health benefits. However, have your beverages without sugar or honey. Noncaloric sweeteners are okay, but have no more than three packets a day. Also lighten these beverages with cream, half-and-half, or acceptable dairy substitutes, not milk.
Q. Can I consume beer, wine, or other alcohol in Phase 1?
A. No. However, once you transition to Phase 2, you can consume moderate amounts of most alcoholic beverages, assuming it doesnât interfere with weight loss, as weâll discuss in Chapter 5 .
Q. If the object is to stay at 20 grams of Net Carbs a day, why canât I have Atkins bars and shakes or a slice of bread instead of all those vegetables?
A. Youâre not just tracking your carb intake; youâre also aiming for a well-balanced meal plan full of vitamins and other nutrients provided by vegetables, along with fiber to help manage your hunger. One slice of bread might represent the balance of your daily carb intake in Phase 1, which would put your blood sugar back on the roller coaster.
Q. Why canât I drink tomato or orange juice with my breakfast?
A. The juicing process removes all or most of the fiber in fruit and vegetables, concentrating the sugar hit. Youâll be able to introduce tomato juice in Phase 2. In Phase 3, oranges and other citrus fruits are acceptable.
Q. Why is cream allowed in Phase 1 but not milk?
A. Strange as it may seem, milk is higher in carbs than cream, thanks to the lactose (a form of sugar). In Phase 2 you can reintroduce small amounts of whole milk. Or dilute cream with some water, if you prefer.
Q. Iâm experiencing cravings for sweets and other high-carb foods such as
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