Scared about moving on to OWL

[CookieDoughLover]

I am on day 7 of induction right now. I know I still have at LEAST a full week of induction but I am SO scared about moving on to OWL. I guess I am just not sure what I need to add. Induction is safe for me ya know? it's what I know, it's my "comfort zone"
We're going camping next week. For the whole week (spring break) so I think I will stay on induction and not start OWL until I get back.
I saw the OWL advice in the FAQ column but still, I'm SCARED!!

Can you give me any advice???
Thank you!!

[I_Luv_Pugs]

Re: Scared about moving on to OWL

No advise but you aren't alone. I'm scared, too. OWL is where I've messed up in the past. I've been very careful about what I have added back and measure EVERYTHING new. All I've added back are things I really miss like yogurt, strawberries, and almonds or peanuts. I'm still around 20 grams of carbs per day and still loosing.

Keep posting and we can comiserate!!

[julirama723]

Re: Scared about moving on to OWL

Cookie, good idea to wait on OWL until you're back home. OWL was kind of scary for me, but it was a welcome change. I LOVED adding new foods in, and it was pretty interesting (well and still is) finding out what foods I can eat and which ones I shouldn't because of reactions or cravings.

Make sure you read the chapter about OWL in DANDR, and check out the stickies on ADBB. OWL is actually the main weight loss phase of atkins...that's why it's called ONGOING weight loss! OWL is the time when you really learn about your body and learn to control and track your foods.

There are a lot of us on here who are living proof that OWL works and that you can still lose weight doing it the right way. I'm on rung 9 of OWL, and I'm still losing weight, even eating 60g carbs per day. True, each of us has a different CCLL, but that's one of the joys of OWL--finding out about your body!

Like I said, read the chapters, read the stickies. Know EXACTLY what you're going to do and how you're going to do it before you start. Failing to plan is planning to fail in OWL!

[Scooterjam]

Re: Scared about moving on to OWL

I'm really happy with OWL right now. This Second Time Around, however, I think I'm doing it better. I'm on rung1 and I have promised myself that I will stay on rung1 for at least a month, maybe more as I migrate through new veggies and such. I know you're apprehensive about moving forward, but it's only 5 carbs....just make sure you're really careful and don't try to fly up the rungs too fast. I found that unless I utilized total 'portion' control on things like Almonds, Peanuts, Strawberries I was out of control. I know now that those items triggered 'hunger or craving more' for me, so this time around, most likely I will skip them completely. I might have to re-think that though....summertime and strawberries and whipped cream......just go together like Black & White...haha.

Validrogue -Joy - talked me into going on OWL my first time around and boy was it ever a great idea. You can't stay on induction for ever, sometimes you just have to give variety a try!! Maybe reallly reallly minimize your carb intake, don't make it so drastic (5 each week). Right now I'm sticking to 25 carbs or less and I'm still slowly losing 1 - 2 pounds a week.

Oh yes, when I first did this (I keep saying that, I was only off six weeks...yikes....!!!) anyway, I lost the majority of my weight on OWL, it was just spread out more evenly, the way it should be.

Best of luck. Life is good!

[CookieDoughLover]

Re: Scared about moving on to OWL

You all give awesome advice!! I will BE SURE take it slow and ask for help when I need it!
You guys rock!!

[attek]

Re: Scared about moving on to OWL

The biggest change I've made this time around with OWL is to measure and record everything I eat. I lost weight last time without doing that. But I have already found it very useful in determining my CCLL, in tracking the amount of fat/carbs/protein, in determining whether or not I am getting the proper nutrients and steering my food choices towards more nutritious ones, and in seeing what has stalled my weight loss. OWL is wonderful - you get to enjoy a lot more foods!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Scared about moving on to OWL

Don't be scared of OWL, especially the veggie rung. There is a specific reason for the "rungs" on the Ongoing WEIGHT LOSS phase. Dr. Atkins laid it out in a specific order so that we add foods back slowly and in an order based on the impact those foods have on your blood sugar and the resulting insulin response. Vegetables (rung one) have the least amount of impact on blood sugar, Dairy (lactose) has a slightly higher impact, Nuts and seeds slightly higher, berries and melon slightly higher, etc. all the way through the rungs.

OWL is the appropriate place for you to CUSTOMIZE Atkins to fit YOUR life and YOUR body's needs. What works for me, might not work for you. During induction, the rules are pretty specific. In OWL, they are specific as to the order and amount we add back in, but it really is very flexible.

[Outback Jess]

Re: Scared about moving on to OWL

Cookie, girl great way to use this board...Voicing your fear, and listening to advice...Thats what is here for. There are those who have gone before us, and who understand....the trick is, facing our fears with NEW COPING MECHANISMS....
Joy and Juli are pro's at rungs...they have found great joy in learning their boundaries and they enjoy a variety because they faced their fears and found new ways to cope.
This is really what Dr.A had in mind, He didn't want us to stay trapped in restrictive eating, but to eat and learn our bodies tolerances...there is alot of responsibility with each rung and phase, but with responsibility is also FREEDOM, and it's meant to be freedom we can handle! I like that!