14 days - continue with Induction or move to OWL???

[kpoll19]

Tomorrow my 2 week induction is over. When I tried Atkins before, I stayed in Induction because I have soooo much to lose (140 pounds!). How much should I strive to lose before going to OWL? I don't want to get too frustrated by doing Induction too long that I cheat. Don't feel that way at all yet though. What are some expert opions on this?

Thanks,
kelly

[FightingTheFight]

Heres what my experience has taught me.

Dr. Atkins says we can stay on induction for up to a year if we have to. Most people don't start moving up until they are 10-20lbs within their goal range.

Its up to you. Can you tolerate the limited amount of foods choices?(which I don't really think there is , but most people think so.) and faster weight loss, or have more foods to chose from and have a little bit slower loss.

Then we can't forget those who just stop losing on Induction and move to O.W.L. and begin to lose again.

Its going to take experimenting.

Since I am going for the fastest most healthiest, I going to be on induction for a while, then as I am closer to goal, I shall move up.

[CathyR]

you said it well, dont stay on induction too long in case you get bored and stray. I am no expert, but My thought is stay on induction maybe for a week or so more, or until you feel yourself start to get bored. Then move to OWL. Its been said here over and over that when many move to OWL their weight loss picks up....

[not2late]

Re: 14 days - continue with Induction or move to OWL???

Tomorrow my 2 week induction is over. When I tried Atkins before, I stayed in Induction because I have soooo much to lose (140 pounds!). How much should I strive to lose before going to OWL? I don't want to get too frustrated by doing Induction too long that I cheat. Don't feel that way at all yet though. What are some expert opions on this?

Thanks,
kelly

Congrats on your weight loss. :icondance

If you look at the Metabolic Resistance chart in Chapter 12, you'll see that you have a low metabolic resistance to weight loss. Dr. Atkins wrote that the folks who have a high metabolic resistance to weight loss can benefit by staying on Induction longer.

But it's really up to you.

You didn't say if you went through the 4 phases of Atkins the last time you were on. If you stayed in Induction and fell off, you might want to figure out why that happened.

The most common reason I see on ADBB for falling off the extended Induction wagon is the limited food choices. Let's face it, the choices are limited in that you can't eat fruit, some other veggies, legumes and grains. Some people can exist on a diet without those things and Induction won't be boring for them. Some people need variety. If you need variety, you'll have to ask yourself if you are willing to sacrifice lack of variety for a relatively faster weight loss

If you do choose to stay on Induction, I suggest that you ask yourself the 4 questions in Chapters 13 about moving on. Do this weekly or monthly because your priorities and needs on Day 15 might be different than your priorities and needs on Week 14.

Also, some people do a "Modified OWL" in which they stay below 20 net carbs daily, but move up the OWL carb ladder. They follow the OWL rules when they do this. That's another option you might want to consider.

[kpoll19]

Re: 14 days - continue with Induction or move to OWL???

Also, some people do a "Modified OWL" in which they stay below 20 net carbs daily, but move up the OWL carb ladder. They follow the OWL rules when they do this. That's another option you might want to consider.

Is the modified OWL recommended by Atkins? And is that staying below 20 carbs and just changing the different way you get carbs?

Last time I tried to just do induction and did not have the will power or determination to see it through the stages :sadblinky But this time is different. I want to do whatever it takes to get this done. I will have to revisit the book about my metabolic resistance.

Thanks for all the advice :wave
Kelly[/quote]

[not2late]

Re: 14 days - continue with Induction or move to OWL???

Also, some people do a "Modified OWL" in which they stay below 20 net carbs daily, but move up the OWL carb ladder. They follow the OWL rules when they do this. That's another option you might want to consider.

Is the modified OWL recommended by Atkins? And is that staying below 20 carbs and just changing the different way you get carbs?

Last time I tried to just do induction and did not have the will power or determination to see it through the stages :sadblinky But this time is different. I want to do whatever it takes to get this done. I will have to revisit the book about my metabolic resistance.

Thanks for all the advice :wave
Kelly

When Dr. Atkins was still alive, if you called the 1-800 Atkins number, you were connected to his private medical practice and were able to speak with one of his nurses. So, if you had a question the nurses couldn't answer, they could run down the hall and ask Dr. A. or one of the other doctors in the practice for the "definitive" answer to your question. Some of our old timers here got most of their answers to their questions this way. Anyhow, doing a "modified" OWL was one of the options the Atkins Center allowed.

It's a little tricky because you have to stay below the 20 net carbs and as you progress up the carb ladder the portions that make up 5 net carbs are relatively small (ex. 2 tablespoons of rice)

[Jurgita]

Hi, kpoll19!

My advice for you would be to go to OWL phase for a couple of weeks and then come back to induction phase. I think this way you will not be bored of Induction food.

Good luck!

[not2late]

Hi, kpoll19!

My advice for you would be to go to OWL phase for a couple of weeks and then come back to induction phase. I think this way you will not be bored of Induction food.

Good luck!

Your Induction menu serves as the base for your OWL, Pre-Maintenance and Maintenance phase menues. OWL is the addition of 5 net carbs of other food groups to that Induction menu. Pre-Maintenance is the addition of 10 net carbs of the OWL foods. Maintenance is the Pre-Maintenance phase but your carbs are limited to your CCML (Critical Carbohydrate Maintainence Level)

In other words, your Atkins menues will look like this.

Induction: the foods on the Induction Acceptable Foods list
OWL: your Induction menu + your OWL foods
Pre-Maintenance: your Induction menu + your Pre-Maintenance Foods

The only time there is a need to go back to Induction, after you have moved on, is if you have a major falling off and leave ketosis. Otherwise, you just pick up where you left off.

The goal here is to progress through the Atkins weight loss phases, not to take one step forward and one step back.