Atkins Induction

For anyone who has tried or has been on Atkins for awhile, you know that induction is probably one of the most daunting stages of the program. Induction usually lasts about 1-2 weeks, and it is the time period where you adjust your body for this way of eating and try to get yourself into fat-burning mode, or what is normally called a state of ketosis.

Today, August 1, 2012, I'm going to stray away from normal low carb in order to go through a week of Atkins induction. Induction has always helped me jump start my low carb journey when I hit a plateau, fall off the wagon, or just endure any other complications. After becoming very ill recently, I went ahead and consumed foods that weren't exactly low carb for the sake of just feeling better. I feel much better now and am no longer ill. So, induction it is.

If anyone out there is also on induction and has read DANDR, yet don't feel like going back to read it for the sake of essentially re-learning the process or the foods you're allowed - or heck, even if you haven't read it and just want to know what you can have on induction - there is a cheat sheet available!

Induction Foods List via SugarFreeSheila.com

SugarFreeSheila.com is pretty much a lifesaver. Her website is an INCREDIBLE resource for anyone who needs advice or motivation while doing Atkins or any kind of general low carb WOE. I have used her foods list numerous times in the past, and today is no exception. Her acceptable foods list for induction is based off of DANDR. There is a printable grocery list (I always find these things so cute!) for if you need it handy while shopping for your induction goodies. Just looking at her list, I already have several ideas in mind for some delicious snacks and meals I will be enjoying.

"Do not give up, the beginning is always the hardest."

Make Low Carb Calpis in 5 Easy Steps

There is a special drink out there that I absolutely love and adore. It is a Japanese yogurt drink named Calpis (カルピス, natively pronounced ka-ru-pee-su). It is absolutely delicious and even comes in the form of soda!

If you have already started your low carb journey and are thinking, "man, I wish I could have tried that!" Do not fear; I have found a solution!

Introducing: Low carb calpis!

This recipe is great for a summer treat! This recipe is suitable for people with diabetes and people maintaining on the Atkins program.

Ingredients

• 1 container of Carbmaster yogurt in any flavor (this brand of yogurt is sold at Kroger stores)
• 3 packets of sweetener (I use Apriva, also a Kroger brand product and is their budget answer to Splenda)
• Approximately 1 cup of water

Step 1: Pick a flavor

 Choose a flavor of low carb yogurt that you'd like to use. The flavors of Carbmaster yogurt I had on-hand was Banana Cream Pie and White Chocolate Raspberry. Both of these flavors are excellent choices. I went with Banana Cream Pie since I've already tasted the other one (it was delightful!)

 The texture of Carbmaster brand yogurt is a bit different from other traditional yogurts. When you first open the container, you may notice that it has a jelly-like texture. Do not worry, this is completely normal; for now, just slip all of the yogurt into a medium to large sized cup or glass. It is easier to scoop out with the current texture.

Step 2: Soften the yogurt

 This is an important step. Now that you've transferred the yogurt into the cup or glass you'll be using, it is best to use a spoon and start mixing the yogurt around. This will quickly smoothen the texture and you will notice the consistency will be like that of other traditional yogurt. If you skip this step, the yogurt will maintain its jelly-like texture and will not have a pleasant final result and will be nearly impossible to soften later on.

Step 3: Add water

 This step is pretty much at your own discretion. If you want it to taste thick almost like a smoothie, do not add too much water. If you want the drink to be more like traditional calpis and be more refreshing, add an amount of water up close to the brim of your cup. It is simply up to what you're in the mood for.

Step 4: Add sweetener

 Add 3 packets of whatever sweetener you chose. Any sweetener will work fine, but I recommend any form of sucralose such as Splenda. I am using Apriva, which is basically a Kroger brand version of Splenda.

Step 5: Enjoy!

You can sip on it directly, or you can toss a couple of ice cubes in it and sip on it with a straw. Whatever you want! Wasn't that easy? If you've never tasted calpis before, this is an excellent low carb alternative. Actual calpis has more of a fruity beverage kind of flavor, but you can experiment with different flavors of low carb yogurt and see what works for you. If you are just starting out on a low carb program, I would not recommend drinking this too often as it could potentially stall your weight loss.

Assuming the packets of Apriva have about 1g of carbohydrate each, the recipe has approximately 7g of carbohydrates per serving.

Low Carb Lifestyle

If you are reading this, you probably already realize that low carb is an incredibly effective and efficient way to drop the excess pounds. You, just like me, may not completely understand all of the science behind it, but you just know it works. What other way of eating could have you dropping 7 pounds in 3 days by actually CONSUMING food and not starving yourself? It's great. I've experienced many accomplishments by eating low carb for awhile. Other benefits of living a low carb lifestyle include:

• Reduced appetite. For most people, sugar can induce intense cravings. Thus, you become affected by what I call "just-one-more disorder". Notice that if you've ever tried a low calorie "diet", it becomes difficult to eat a small 100-calorie snack pack of fudge delight cookies without thinking about eating another pack. It's like trying to eat just one chip out of a freshly opened can of Pringles. You may muster up the willpower to do this, but you don't feel satisfied; the sugar and carbohydrates you've consumed just leaves you wanting more sugar and carbohydrates. Consuming excess carbohydrates can have you eating until you're sick, not eating until you're full. With low carb, your appetite becomes much more regulated. When you're full, you're actually full. You're satisfied, and your body realizes this. Try eating 2-3 servings of any kind of meat without anything else on the side and without desert afterwards and see how you feel.
•  A newfound flow of creativity. This may just be a perk for aspiring chefs or cooking enthusiasts, but you start becoming more creative with your meals. I see a lot of people come to the conclusion that if you're low carbing, you must be eating only meat and fat with no vegetables all day. This is simply not true of everyone who dedicates themselves to low carb. Many people decide to go different routes that may be harsher, such as the people from Zeroing in on Health or people living a paleo lifestyle. But if you're like me, who is undoubtedly a self-proclaimed carbohydrate addict, you would rather just flip traditionally unhealthy recipes and strip away the carbs without sacrificing the delicious taste. I think this is where a lot of the fun of being a low-carber comes from.
• Reduced risk of diabetes. It is never a bad thing to strip away unnecessary sugar from your diet, so you will inevitably reduce your risk of getting your blood sugar way out of whack when you reduce your sugar consumption.
• Weight loss. If you have been struggling with losing weight for a long time, then low carb is most likely the way of eating you want to adopt. You can experiment with what works for you -- would you prefer to eat very low carb and shoot for consuming only 20 to 50 grams of carbohydrates per day? (starting out this way, you will have to consume a large amount of water to keep yourself hydrated) Or, would you prefer to be more casual about it and just cut out excess sugar wherever you can? Either way, you are bound to not only become more healthy but also tip the scale in your favor.

These are just a few of the amazing benefits I've discovered from leading a low carb lifestyle. In this blog, I'll be posting up some of my own recipes as well as my attempts at trying other low carb recipes I've found across the web. And of course, there will be pictures! I'll also add in some fitness tips for those who would like to throw some exercise into the mix and maximize results. I am excited to share my journey!

Low Carb Factory

Thank you for visiting Low Carb Factory. I made this blog to document ideas and recipes for low carb living. I will also discuss some maintenance options for after you've reached your weight loss goals from low carb. I am not a scientist or a nutritionist so some of my approaches may seem a little vague, but I will document what's worked for me in the past and what will help me reach future goals.

You may also occasionally find me discussing my other interests which include Japanese language and culture, video games, and other whatnots. This blog will be, however, mainly focused on low carb living.