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Atkins Advantage Bars
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Hey Redbone,
If you want another option other than aspartame (Nutrasweet) or sucralose (Splenda), you can try Stevia Extract. It comes from a leaf in South America.
I get mine at Trader Joe's. It's all natural, and there are no known side effects. There's a very slight bitterness, but I find it tastes better than Nutrasweet or Splenda in my tea and homemade Miracle Whip knock-off.
Long story short, they can't sell Stevia as a sweetener, but only as a food supplement. So product labels may be a little strange. The stuff I get comes mixed with some lactose (milk sugar). Apparently, you can get this stuff just about anywhere as a sweetener except in the US. The biggest market is Japan. The FDA has excluded it based on some study that showed depressed fertility in females, but 1) it was a poorly controlled test, 2) the results have never been duplicated and 3) if it was true, the WHO would jump all over it for use as a natural population control. The supplement industry claims that the FDA red tape is the influence of people like Donald Rumsfeld and his ties to Searle (makers of Nutrasweet). Unlike Splenda, since there's so little money to be made from a non-patentable natural substance like Stevia, there's little money to fight for FDA approval. And with the "food supplement" legal back door, there's even less financial incentive to fight.
In any case, I include that info to explain why such a good product isn't more widely used.
If you want another option other than aspartame (Nutrasweet) or sucralose (Splenda), you can try Stevia Extract. It comes from a leaf in South America.
I get mine at Trader Joe's. It's all natural, and there are no known side effects. There's a very slight bitterness, but I find it tastes better than Nutrasweet or Splenda in my tea and homemade Miracle Whip knock-off.
Long story short, they can't sell Stevia as a sweetener, but only as a food supplement. So product labels may be a little strange. The stuff I get comes mixed with some lactose (milk sugar). Apparently, you can get this stuff just about anywhere as a sweetener except in the US. The biggest market is Japan. The FDA has excluded it based on some study that showed depressed fertility in females, but 1) it was a poorly controlled test, 2) the results have never been duplicated and 3) if it was true, the WHO would jump all over it for use as a natural population control. The supplement industry claims that the FDA red tape is the influence of people like Donald Rumsfeld and his ties to Searle (makers of Nutrasweet). Unlike Splenda, since there's so little money to be made from a non-patentable natural substance like Stevia, there's little money to fight for FDA approval. And with the "food supplement" legal back door, there's even less financial incentive to fight.
In any case, I include that info to explain why such a good product isn't more widely used.
Jadow
Diamond Member
I've lost almost 70lbs on Atkins, and that man should be awarded the Nobel Prize post-humosly. I'm glad those two studied in the New England Journal of Medicine came out before he died, and in the last couple of years before his death, he was validated.
I just bought 30 of the chocolate peanut butter bars at wal mart for 1.57 each. they are not bad at all. I also HATE carb solutions BTW.
I just bought 30 of the chocolate peanut butter bars at wal mart for 1.57 each. they are not bad at all. I also HATE carb solutions BTW.
yukichigai
Diamond Member
The Atkins diet is good for losing weight in the short term, but it can have disasterous side effects. The diet initates a state of Ketosis in the body, which basically means your body flushes out a lot of water. (this is why they say to drink lots of water starting it) A good deal of the weight you lose is water weight. Anyway, the problem with Ketosis is that only certain genetics are really well equipped to handle it, since it puts a strain on the kidneys. I know a few people who've been hospitalized for kidney failure about a week into the Atkins diet. Believe me, the risk is real. (Incidentally I have German ancestry, a culture which is capable of withstanding Ketosis just fine)
Anyways, I did the Atkins diet for a month and I lost 15 pounds... but I stopped doing it because of a sort of cuisine of the world kinda thing (very tasty) and two days later it was all back. :| I have finally come to the conclusion that I love food too much to limit myself on what I can eat, but not how much I can eat. There was a recent study which showed that switching to a lower calorie diet produced results similar to the Atkins diet as far as overall weight loss, though not as good. (It was on CNN but I can't find the damn link. Curses) I figure I'll stick with that and be much happier with my life.
Oh yes, Atkins bars don't taste like dirt... more like silt to be specific. Bleah.
Anyways, I did the Atkins diet for a month and I lost 15 pounds... but I stopped doing it because of a sort of cuisine of the world kinda thing (very tasty) and two days later it was all back. :| I have finally come to the conclusion that I love food too much to limit myself on what I can eat, but not how much I can eat. There was a recent study which showed that switching to a lower calorie diet produced results similar to the Atkins diet as far as overall weight loss, though not as good. (It was on CNN but I can't find the damn link. Curses) I figure I'll stick with that and be much happier with my life.
Oh yes, Atkins bars don't taste like dirt... more like silt to be specific. Bleah.
Mephistokur
Senior member
Whoa. You be careful spewing this crap. What you said above is DANGEROUS. Insulin does NOT turn into glucose. Any diabetic (like me) can confirm. Insulin turns glucose into fuel. Insulin is an enzyme that allows your muscles to absorb glucose from your blood and burn it.
link to more info
Mephistokur
Senior member
Atkins recommends against Nutrasweet because of concern about its side effects - mainly the increased carbohydrate cravings that just about any diet soda drinker can tell you about. ALL sugar substitues effect your blood sugar.
I think most the psychological aspect of the Atkins diet is underestimated.
A low carb diet:
1. makes you full sooner.
2. you lose weight easily, thus motivating you to exercise harder.
By the way, KETOSIS is not abnormal, everybody goes into a degree of ketosis after undergoing a hard cardio workout. Ketosis is a controlled and regulated physiological process in most people.
Don't confuse ketosis with ketoacidosis, which is what diabetics experience.
A low carb diet:
1. makes you full sooner.
2. you lose weight easily, thus motivating you to exercise harder.
By the way, KETOSIS is not abnormal, everybody goes into a degree of ketosis after undergoing a hard cardio workout. Ketosis is a controlled and regulated physiological process in most people.
Don't confuse ketosis with ketoacidosis, which is what diabetics experience.
Mephistokur
Senior member
I must warn anyone that is a diabetic that wants to try Atkins. Depending on your meds, the side effects of stopping them can be harsh - for me it was mild headaches for a few days, but other than that I was fine. No matter what, most doctors will tell you to only use the diet for short periods because it can adversely effect your already damaged kidneys. ALL high protien diets will effect your kidneys.
Some pointers I can give from experience:
Pay *very close* attention to your bloodsugar levels, and do NOT come off your meds until you start getting too low. Because of the sudden drop in sugar intake, it can be difficult to safely navigate the first (hardest) week.
DRINK DRINK DRINK that water. I mean it. Fill a gallon jug every day. twice a day if you can handle it. Make sure you are staying hydrated. If you aren't taking a leak every 1.5 hours, you aren't drinking enough. If you read the Atkins book, he talks about the importance of maintaining your hydration level on the diet. It also has the nice side effect of calming your cravings a little.
Diet beverages are not banned from Atkins. Decaf is prefered. Caffiene is a diuretic (it dehydrates you), which adds to the downsides of the diet. Drink a couple extra glasses of water when you have a caffienated beverage. I couldn't make it without caffiene, but I felt good as long as I kept up with my water.
BTW, you are allowed carbos from day one of the diet. What matters is how many. 20g per day for the first two weeks. That isn't much. Thats a little less than a slice of bread. Head out and look at the Diabetic section of your supermarket. Diabetic diets are *always* carbo conscious. The brand 50/50 makes candy bars using Maltose, which tastes much better than Stevia, Splenda, and Nutrasweet. Avoid Fructose. Maltose is so slow an absorber that it barely effects your blood sugar levels, and does not adversely effect the Atkins diet either.
Some pointers I can give from experience:
Pay *very close* attention to your bloodsugar levels, and do NOT come off your meds until you start getting too low. Because of the sudden drop in sugar intake, it can be difficult to safely navigate the first (hardest) week.
DRINK DRINK DRINK that water. I mean it. Fill a gallon jug every day. twice a day if you can handle it. Make sure you are staying hydrated. If you aren't taking a leak every 1.5 hours, you aren't drinking enough. If you read the Atkins book, he talks about the importance of maintaining your hydration level on the diet. It also has the nice side effect of calming your cravings a little.
Diet beverages are not banned from Atkins. Decaf is prefered. Caffiene is a diuretic (it dehydrates you), which adds to the downsides of the diet. Drink a couple extra glasses of water when you have a caffienated beverage. I couldn't make it without caffiene, but I felt good as long as I kept up with my water.
BTW, you are allowed carbos from day one of the diet. What matters is how many. 20g per day for the first two weeks. That isn't much. Thats a little less than a slice of bread. Head out and look at the Diabetic section of your supermarket. Diabetic diets are *always* carbo conscious. The brand 50/50 makes candy bars using Maltose, which tastes much better than Stevia, Splenda, and Nutrasweet. Avoid Fructose. Maltose is so slow an absorber that it barely effects your blood sugar levels, and does not adversely effect the Atkins diet either.
Mephistokur
Senior member
Which, in turn, allows your body to process less sugar. Switching to sugar substitues effects your blood sugar by allowing your body a better handle on it. Therefor *all* sugar substitues effect blood sugar. In the case of diabetics, this can be very important.
I can't stand those Advantage bars (or Carb Solutions for that matter) But what I truely like are the Endulge bars. Now they're not for Induction (at least according to the Atkins web site) but I can't get enough of the Peanut Butter Cups.
The reason why I'm bringing up the Endulge bars is I found them on sale at Walgreens a couple of days ago. It was just the plain chocolate Endulge, but the price was fantastic. Normally selling from anywhere between $1.50 to $2.30 a bar, Walgreens was closing them out at $.74 a bar!!! I bought 20. 😱
I usually eat one of them with some Macadamia Nuts and have a Mauna Loa experience. Also, I found a recipe for a Chocolate Endulge Cake that I'm dying to try.
Oh, by the way, I've been on the Atkins diet for about 9 weeks now and have lost over 30 lbs. Got another 30 to go.
The reason why I'm bringing up the Endulge bars is I found them on sale at Walgreens a couple of days ago. It was just the plain chocolate Endulge, but the price was fantastic. Normally selling from anywhere between $1.50 to $2.30 a bar, Walgreens was closing them out at $.74 a bar!!! I bought 20. 😱
I usually eat one of them with some Macadamia Nuts and have a Mauna Loa experience. Also, I found a recipe for a Chocolate Endulge Cake that I'm dying to try.
Oh, by the way, I've been on the Atkins diet for about 9 weeks now and have lost over 30 lbs. Got another 30 to go.
I like the Advantage bars, personally... But comparing the Advantage bars with the Endulge bars is a bit like apples and oranges. The Endulge's are like a candy bar, wheras the Advantage's are more like a protein bar.
But no... I can't stand the Carb Solutions one, either.
I've been doing Atkins for about 8 weeks now, and have lost 24 lbs. Got about 20 more to go. 😀
KAMAZON
Golden Member
These would go well with the Tania Body Fat scale I bought from Amazon gold box for $20.00, (normally $25), but you'll have to add $5 of items for free shipping. I'm thinking of doing atkins. I'd like to lose a complete 15 pounds of body fat, and build some muscle. Did you know for every 10 pounds of muscle, you motabolize 60 pounds of fat energy, per year? With the Atkins diet, you can work out hard too which burns off fat and builds muscle!
Johnbear007
Diamond Member
Body-For-Life
first off, i would like to begin by saying that i commend you all on trying to improve yourselves by losing more weight. however, as i was reading through this thread, i was shocked by just how misinformed some people are about this diet and other things relating to it. i am also hoping that the majority of you who are on this diet did weigh the pros and cons of this diet instead of just doing it because it was the latest 'fad' diet. i guess you can also say that i am a scientist in training (student) so i am rather well-informed about these subjects as food science and human nutrition is my primary area of focus. first off, some of you have mentioned some side effects of ketosis which is the result of a low-carbohydrate diet. one important side effect that i do not believed was mentioned was that ketosis can affect brain function in a negative way and i do apologize for not being more specific as i'm doing this off of the top of my head. in fact, there is research going on at my university where they're studying how children that have a certain brain disorder see improvement by putting them through a very heavy ketosis (ie ketoacidosis as someone mentioned). you can see the problem with this if you're on a low carb diet (in case of more curious minds, sugar is your body's most natural source of energy, but when there isn't enough sugar, it then turns to fat and then proteins as it's major supply and ketosis arises from your body breaking down proteins to get it's energy). so by going on any low carb diet you are potentially putting yourself in a long term state of ketosis which is definitely not good.
speaking of sugars, insulin actually does not turn sugar into energy, but rather it turns it into glycogen which is stored in your liver and is basically a 'reserve' for your body in case it needs the energy and another enzyme, glucagon converts glycogen back into glucose. glucose can readily be used by the body to undergo the required metabolic processes. the reason you may hear that insulin does otherwise is that insulin is a limiting factor and for simplicity's sake, they basically say insulin is responsible for whatever. as for sugar sweeteners, some are still debatable about their safety while others like phenylalanine are completely natural and safe (phenylalanine is an amino acid that your body naturally produces and should not be harmful if ingested). also, just because the FDA takes a food off of some 'bad for you' list does not ensure it's safety. there have been a number of occassions where the FDA have made incorrect decisions based on 'false' data. lastly, i hope most of you are watching your fat/cholesterol intake.
probably the main reason that i decided to post in this thread is that one of my roommates is on this diet, and quite frankly, what he puts in his body is disgusting. any time that he does consume a 'large' amount of carbohydrate he takes a pill which i personally find revolting as he is cheating if you will and basically is telling me that he would like to lose weight, but not put in the effort to do so. i do not know the details about the atkins diet regarding fat intake, but taking in too much fat will neglect any weight loss as a single unit of fat if you will contains roughly twice as much energy as a single unit of glucose. in addition, i would simply also recommend that you watch your cholesterol levels as well if you are in fact consuming large amounts of fat.
i hope most of you did make an informed decision about the diet. my main problem is that most people who do lose weight on this diet put it right back on after going off of it and quite frankly, i couldn't see myself going on this diet as a lifestyle change. i also hope that most of you are on some sort of daily exercise as losing weight alone does not ensure good health especially if you can't even go two flights of stairs without losing your breath. i wish you all the best and hope that some of you are better informed because as cheesy as it may sound, knowledge is power.
speaking of sugars, insulin actually does not turn sugar into energy, but rather it turns it into glycogen which is stored in your liver and is basically a 'reserve' for your body in case it needs the energy and another enzyme, glucagon converts glycogen back into glucose. glucose can readily be used by the body to undergo the required metabolic processes. the reason you may hear that insulin does otherwise is that insulin is a limiting factor and for simplicity's sake, they basically say insulin is responsible for whatever. as for sugar sweeteners, some are still debatable about their safety while others like phenylalanine are completely natural and safe (phenylalanine is an amino acid that your body naturally produces and should not be harmful if ingested). also, just because the FDA takes a food off of some 'bad for you' list does not ensure it's safety. there have been a number of occassions where the FDA have made incorrect decisions based on 'false' data. lastly, i hope most of you are watching your fat/cholesterol intake.
probably the main reason that i decided to post in this thread is that one of my roommates is on this diet, and quite frankly, what he puts in his body is disgusting. any time that he does consume a 'large' amount of carbohydrate he takes a pill which i personally find revolting as he is cheating if you will and basically is telling me that he would like to lose weight, but not put in the effort to do so. i do not know the details about the atkins diet regarding fat intake, but taking in too much fat will neglect any weight loss as a single unit of fat if you will contains roughly twice as much energy as a single unit of glucose. in addition, i would simply also recommend that you watch your cholesterol levels as well if you are in fact consuming large amounts of fat.
i hope most of you did make an informed decision about the diet. my main problem is that most people who do lose weight on this diet put it right back on after going off of it and quite frankly, i couldn't see myself going on this diet as a lifestyle change. i also hope that most of you are on some sort of daily exercise as losing weight alone does not ensure good health especially if you can't even go two flights of stairs without losing your breath. i wish you all the best and hope that some of you are better informed because as cheesy as it may sound, knowledge is power.
Good points, rich.
I don't think it's fair to say that people who lose weight, eat low carb then stop, gain their weight back. If I eat too much (and too much crap) and am not active enough, then I start eating better, then I go back to eating too much... Of course I'm going to gain the weight back. I think that's not exclusive to any individual "diet", including low fat plans.
It seems that many times people don't exactly follow the plan, but then they are representing how the plan works. There was a thread not too long ago, where the guy proclaimed that Atkins didn't work for him. Turns out he didn't quit drinking beer, amongst a few other things. My stepmother-in-law was saying that she is doing Atkins... Not too long after she finishes a significantly sized portion of (sweetened) strawberry shortcake. There was a post here that I read recently, where some guy was eating like 6lbs of beef per day!
I'm sorry, but people who do such plans without the education are just asking for trouble.
Now, does Atkins (when done correctly) work? For me... Yes. I am an example that it does work. For everyone... Not necessarily.
And is it healthy? I am not convinced that intaking more fat is definitely a bad thing. I am not convinced that if I eat a fatty piece of steak, it corolates directly to fat in my arteries.
I am convinced that refined flours, refined sugars, trans fats, caffeine, etc. are very bad.
I am convinced that I'll be healthier at 170 lbs, than 215 lbs.
I feel healthier now, than I have since I got married. I have more energy throughout the day, and I no longer have the energy swings. Because of that, I am mentally more aware throughout the day, as well. I can run farther than as far back as I can remember.
I've always had low cholesterol (160's, iirc), and I'll be getting mine checked again in a couple of weeks.
I don't think it's fair to say that people who lose weight, eat low carb then stop, gain their weight back. If I eat too much (and too much crap) and am not active enough, then I start eating better, then I go back to eating too much... Of course I'm going to gain the weight back. I think that's not exclusive to any individual "diet", including low fat plans.
It seems that many times people don't exactly follow the plan, but then they are representing how the plan works. There was a thread not too long ago, where the guy proclaimed that Atkins didn't work for him. Turns out he didn't quit drinking beer, amongst a few other things. My stepmother-in-law was saying that she is doing Atkins... Not too long after she finishes a significantly sized portion of (sweetened) strawberry shortcake. There was a post here that I read recently, where some guy was eating like 6lbs of beef per day!
I'm sorry, but people who do such plans without the education are just asking for trouble.
Now, does Atkins (when done correctly) work? For me... Yes. I am an example that it does work. For everyone... Not necessarily.
And is it healthy? I am not convinced that intaking more fat is definitely a bad thing. I am not convinced that if I eat a fatty piece of steak, it corolates directly to fat in my arteries.
I am convinced that refined flours, refined sugars, trans fats, caffeine, etc. are very bad.
I am convinced that I'll be healthier at 170 lbs, than 215 lbs.
I feel healthier now, than I have since I got married. I have more energy throughout the day, and I no longer have the energy swings. Because of that, I am mentally more aware throughout the day, as well. I can run farther than as far back as I can remember.
I've always had low cholesterol (160's, iirc), and I'll be getting mine checked again in a couple of weeks.
Good info on this thread, although it seems there are quite a few know-it-alls who caution against Atkins. Just follow Atkin's red book and you'll be fine. America has an obesity problem. Typical American diet is carb laden. Coincidence? Doubtful. And any doctor will tell you that obesity is far more dangerous than ketosis.
Walmart also sells Deelite candy bars for $.99 or 6/$5. The caramel crisp tastes just like 100 Grand and the choc crisp tastes BETTER than Nestle Crunch. They have the best B&M prices on low-carb stuff all around that I've found.
For me: 21 lbs in 1 month. I feel great, always have energy and never get weighed down like I used to. Psychologically I'm encouraged to exercise more and I never crave carbs. Except pizza, which I broke down and ate once last week. Still lost 2 lbs. So far it's been extremely tolerant of short carb lapses once you're past induction, which is really encouraging. Unlike low-fat, Jenny Craig, Weight-Watchers, and low-cal diets which I've tried in the past, without success. Don't let the anti-conformist nay-sayers discourage you if you are interested in becoming healthier. I was a complete Atkin's skeptic up until 1 month ago. Now I want to second him for that post-humous Nobel prize that someone mentioned above.
Walmart also sells Deelite candy bars for $.99 or 6/$5. The caramel crisp tastes just like 100 Grand and the choc crisp tastes BETTER than Nestle Crunch. They have the best B&M prices on low-carb stuff all around that I've found.
For me: 21 lbs in 1 month. I feel great, always have energy and never get weighed down like I used to. Psychologically I'm encouraged to exercise more and I never crave carbs. Except pizza, which I broke down and ate once last week. Still lost 2 lbs. So far it's been extremely tolerant of short carb lapses once you're past induction, which is really encouraging. Unlike low-fat, Jenny Craig, Weight-Watchers, and low-cal diets which I've tried in the past, without success. Don't let the anti-conformist nay-sayers discourage you if you are interested in becoming healthier. I was a complete Atkin's skeptic up until 1 month ago. Now I want to second him for that post-humous Nobel prize that someone mentioned above.
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