I had one shake a day since I started Induction, didn't think it was slowing me down, as I lost about 9 or 10 lbs during this time. But, on previous attempts I normally lost 13 in the same time frame. I have been losing, but some days nothing and other days a half pound. Seems slower to me.
This a.m. I decided to skip the shake and eat eggs and sausage and try my own experiment for the next few days and ditch the shakes to see if I could suddenly drop a few pounds. I am off induction anyway, but wanted to see if it would make a difference.
I'll keep you posted!

There are several sweeteners available that are not sugar alcohols - although I'm not convinced that they don't affect blood sugar, I know personally, using more than 1 -2 servings of just about any sweetener can cause issues for me.

Oligoglucose - which is ground chicory root, alleges to be a fiber-based sweetener that "will not cause insulin surges". It does taste good and doesn't make me run to the bathroom, but I'm leery of the claims.

Then there's Stevia / SweetLeaf, which I use in powder and liquid form. Again, I won't say it's completely without risk, but it works best for me.


The sugar alcohols (or polyols) vary in caloric content, sweetness and glycemic ratings.. they include Arabitol, Erythritol, Glycerol, Isomalt, Lactitol, Maltitol, Mannitol, Sorbitol, Xylitol, and probably more that I haven't heard of lol. Maltitol is the worst one for me, I love those SF candies, but I just can't eat them. On the other hand.. they may come in handy if I get a little "backed up", lol!

I'm pretty new to LC and still in induction and I do not want to stall out my weight loss. So I count total carbs regardless if they are fiber, sugar and or sugar alcohols. This is what I understand you to say.

Why would there be any risk to stevia?

I am on metformin 500mg x2 per day. I was doing really well watching my carb intake for about 6 months then the holidays hit and I have not gotten back on track. My BG levels are slowly climbing back up and I just found this wonderful group. I have been reading the threads and came across this one and it looks like there are a few diabetecs here who will be able to help with any carb questions. I have found two books of Dr Atkins and am reading them now. I will start off with the induction menu. My question is are there any threads I should join that will help with my understanding all the carb chat or Dr Atkins menu in particular..thanks

Wow yalls post really helped me I guess ill cut back on all the alleged L/C ice cream. But what about the L/C fudgesicles i frequently binge on with reddi whip is that OK? Someone please answer cause I eat two of these a day it helps with my sugar cravings immensely!

I used to buy LC ice cream, but I have absolutely no control when it comes to portion size. Now I have an egg cream instead - its LC and tastes like ice cream because it uses the same ingredients!

If you are doing Atkins correctly, you shouldn't have sugar cravings, period. However, I see you are doing South Beach, maybe you should consider changing plans to rid yourself of these cravings.

Great discussions! I got my question answered reading everyone's comments. Thanks....I'm starting induction over beginning tomorrow with no sugar/sugar alcohols....as someone said Frankenfoods (that's hilarious)!

Great post and wish I saw it before I asked the same question in a new thread. Alas, I am still a Newbie and there's so much information here I don't know where to look!! Anyway, so much for my IceBreakers Sours .... 0 carb, but have 1g sugar alcohol listed. I'm still in my first week induction, so I'd better not have any ...... thanks to everyone here!

Wow, I had no idea! I just started the Low-carb diet and I thought you subtract the dietary fiber plus sugar alcohol,which will give you net carbs. So I went ahead and bought lots of sugar-free candy(which was mainly sugar alcohol) and Ive been eating them daily! Crap! Why didnt anyone tell me this earlier!? lol Thanks guys for the information!

i had to wonder how that worked and now i know...i bought some atkins products and crystal light..recommended by a friend..and they both should be off my llist..i had no idea these could affect weight loss...that's certainly the last thing i need!

Bumping this because it's such good information.

I keep the bars around in my desk at work or in the back of the pantry. This is for "emergencies" when something else would be far worse.

But I can't argue with the author's sound reasoning; and the experience of so many who discover that such products both keep their sweet tooth "alive" and stall their weight loss efforts.

For those wondering what they will do for something sweet, I'd suggest that you are not kicking the cravings so much as you are feeding them methadone. Then they lurk, waiting for you to rationalize that thing that appeared in the break room.

Once you've gotten rid of the desperation for a sweet taste, you will discover that many foods you eat routinely are actually sweet. For me, it's the heavy cream I put in coffee or tea; I never use any sweetener, because the cream tastes so sweet to me now.

Werebear,

You are right, in an emergency they are fine. Heck, I have bars and some Sugar Alcohols in my pantry that I use for treats.

However they are Treats, and are not something I use everyday.

I have one bar of LC chocolate, that I purchased a month ago, again, used as a treat.

However with the kind of day I am having right now I think I will dig 4 squares out and treat myself.

Right now my kids are working towards me being charges with justifiable homicide. If something happens and I don't post for a while, write my wife to get my prison address.

Don't do it, John!

Think how starchy that prison diet is.