To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

**not2late** · July 30, 2006, 10:17 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

Re-read Chapters 12-14 in the book. You'll see a chart that will allow you to figure out your metabolic resistance to weight loss. Use that and your own preferences to see if you should stay on Induction longer or move to OWL.

The only things you have to remember are:
1. You still lose weight during OWL. I'm writing this because there's a myth that your weight loss slows to a crawl during OWL and that's simply not true.

2. You will learn to eat in the real world during OWL, so don't skip that phase entirely. You will also learn about your body's reactions to foods and you'll learn about yourself in terms of your food attitudes and food habits.

3. Your last 5-10 pounds must be spent in Pre-Maintenance Phase. Pre-Maintenance is where you learn to eat for your smaller body and how to eat to maintain that smaller body.

**kkat55** · July 30, 2006, 10:22 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

Here's a thread for you and anyone else trying to decide: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31457&page=1&pp=10

**1poundatatime** · July 30, 2006, 11:25 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

Jenna,

Like you, I have a lot of weight to lose. (In the 130 pound range). I went on extended induction and after a week decided that if I was going to have success with this WoE and NOT go nuts and binge on carbs, I had to move to OWL. I've passed the first rung and am starting week two of the dairy rung. I'm still losing, and not at an incredibly slow pace either.

It's my personal opinion that OWL gives you more choices, while setting you up to re-learn how to eat properly. I'm all for it!

If you feel you need to stay on induction for awhile longer, that's perfectly fine, but don't stay on for so long that you feel frantic to put something other than induction friendly foods in your mouth. If you're still having cravings, I suggest moving up as soon as you can.

**2big4mysize** · July 30, 2006, 12:33 PM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

when Dr Atkins says your weight slows he is talking about compared to 14 day induction and even extended induction is going to slow compared to that.

read the questions in chapter 13 and answer them that will twell you if it is time to move or not. if you do all you are going to add back is 5 more net grams of those yummy induction veggies for your first addirion since you have a lot to lose you don't have to race up the rungs you can squat on a rung for several weeks or even months and move as you feel the need to add more variety. I know I stayed low total carbs with only nuts ansd more veggies for the first 6.5 months. I wanted bread so I climbed to grains to get it.

If you do decide to stay extended ionduction don't set a time limit. every day ask yourself those questions and if you answer yes then move to OWL.

happy low carbing.

**Heidi3** · July 31, 2006, 05:38 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

personally I think if you are asking it is time to start adding food you have the rest of your life to do this take your time and enjoy yourself

**Scooterjam** · July 31, 2006, 06:26 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

Jenna,

Several months ago I was right where you are. I was sooooo scared to move from induction to the OWL. If you take it slow, and do it by the book. It is not scary at all. Actually, several weeks from now you'll be looking back, shrugging your shoulders and saying, what's the big deal, why was I scared.

The one thing I noticed when I went to rung one, was the variety of veggies I had. Of course my carb counts creeped up quicker than induction, but it was good carbs. More broccoli, more caulifower, I made a mock mashed potatoes with Cauliflower and was blown away. Now I still use that.

There is no reason to be worried. If you run into trouble at a particular rung, (for example nuts)....if you find your portion control is getting out of hand, pre-measure, or simply cut it out completely. I love sunflower kernals on my salad. I still only use them 2 - 3 times a week, but I still and always will pre-measure them. I love almonds. Roasted almonds, I do myself. But I noticed I was eating an ounce, another ounce, a few more here and there....then I got a grip. No more almonds. At least not right now.

You can do it!! Oh yes, most importantly, congratulations on your wiegh tloss so far! Great job!!

**kislandmom** · July 31, 2006, 06:40 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

Ok - I re-read the book and one of the things they mention is that if you have fewer pounds to lose move up but if you are a slow loser stay on induction. I have been at this since the beginning of may with a total of 35 pounds to lose. I have only lost about 14 pounds so far. To me that feels slow but with 20 pounds less I am not sure what to do.

I don't think that emotionally, I can lose any slower and still stay strong. I am already getting all of my will power through this site.

I fell of the wagon a week ago and have had one week clean induction since then. I think I will finish my second week and then try to come up with a solution.

**kkat55** · July 31, 2006, 08:35 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

Hey Jenna!

I just weighed for my first week on OWL Rung One - Veggies and lost four pounds!

All it does is give you five more grams of veggies to eat throughout the day. Not much different than Induction.

Today I start OWL Rung Two - Dairy. I'm excited!

(I thought that if I remained the same or gained, then I'd stay at this point for a while until I started losing again. I will see Monday when I weigh again.)

**ValidRouge** · July 31, 2006, 09:17 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

kkat, congrats on the 4 lb weight loss on rung 1 of OWL!

See everyone, you CAN lose weight on OWL...you might even lose at a FASTER pace than if you'd stayed on extended induction...how's that for incentive???

**not2late** · July 31, 2006, 09:24 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

Originally posted by kislandmom

Ok - I re-read the book and one of the things they mention is that if you have fewer pounds to lose move up but if you are a slow loser stay on induction. I have been at this since the beginning of may with a total of 35 pounds to lose. I have only lost about 14 pounds so far. To me that feels slow but with 20 pounds less I am not sure what to do.

I don't think that emotionally, I can lose any slower and still stay strong. I am already getting all of my will power through this site.

I fell of the wagon a week ago and have had one week clean induction since then. I think I will finish my second week and then try to come up with a solution.

The "slower" loss can mean losing 4 pounds per week rather than 4.5 pounds. Also read through the OWL forum. Some folks there experienced a weight loss boost when they moved from Induction to OWL.

What I've noticed is that people who do not have a high metabolic resistance to weight loss and hang around Induction longer than 1 month, eventually hit a stall---a real stall of no loss of inches or pounds. And only break out of that stall when they move to OWL.

You might want to re-examine what made you fall off the wagon. Food boredom is one of the things that get alot of people.

**kkat55** · July 31, 2006, 09:40 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

Originally posted by ValidRouge

kkat, congrats on the 4 lb weight loss on rung 1 of OWL!

Thanks!

**kislandmom** · July 31, 2006, 10:16 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

Not2Late - I will definitely be checking out the OWL forum. Thanks for the advice. I will let you know what happens.

**DragonflyMoon** · July 31, 2006, 11:45 AM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

Thank you, everyone, for your wonderful advice! I really appreciate it. I am still a bit torn... but i am not as nervous about moving to OWL as i used to be! So that is good. I think i'll stay on extended induction for a little while, but certainly not as long as i used to. I'll evaluate it each week, and see how i am doing! Right now i feel great and i am not bored yet with what i am eating. In the mean time, i will start reading the OWL forum for information.

Kat ~ congrats on the loss! That is awesome! Way to go!

Again, thanks everyone! You all rock and i love ya!

**ValidRouge** · July 31, 2006, 01:45 PM

Re: To OWL or not to OWL... that is my question...

I think had I stayed in extended induction and then waited to climb the rungs (what I did the first time) by the time I figured out that I was seriously bored and weak to the temptations that surround us all the time, climbing the rungs then (remember the first week is just more veggie) would NOT have been enough to keep me from getting side tracked.

Since we can stay on any of the rungs as long as we like, I would suggest to ANYONE to go ahead and move into OWL rung 1 and park yourself right there just as you would have for extended induction. Then, when you get the crave for variety...you can move up into Dairy, then nuts, then berries, etc.

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