If 20 lbs. to lose, how long each phase?

[krisanlove]

I started induction with 20 pounds to lose. If I lose 10 after two weeks, how long do I stay in each phase? I seem to remember Dr. Atkins writing that you should spend your last 10 pounds in pre-maintenance. How will this work for me?

[jsj0305]

Re: If 20 lbs. to lose, how long each phase?

Dr. A has a really cool chart in DANDR and he says that for someone who has Less than 20 lbs to lose.. HIgh metabolic. resistance..would be 4 pounds..average would be 6 and low would be 8. Since you never know how fast your going to lose, I would do the Induction for the 2 weeks and see how well you do. Some people stay on Induction and have LOTS to lose and lose very slowly, so you never know what is going to happen.

If you lose a lot, I would definately go to OWL after the 2 weeks. You want to set yourself up for success...lose the weight and keep it off. You can do induction, then go through the rungs and enter Premaintenace when you have 5 left. He says 5-10 pounds going into Premaintenance is good.

Keep us posted and let us know how you do during Induction.

Have you started yet??

[LuckyD]

Re: If 20 lbs. to lose, how long each phase?

If I were you I would go through the rungs as the book has them. Induction for two weeks, then OWL. Each rung for two weeks. This will enable you to see what foods you can eat without a problem and also get you to the point where you will have a large variety of foods to choose from. That is so important in order to make this a lifestyle change and not a diet. Also factor in that in most cases smaller amounts of weight take longet to come off.

[krisanlove]

Re: If 20 lbs. to lose, how long each phase?

Thanks for the input. I am on day 8 of induction and so far am down 5 pounds!
This is definitely a motivator! It does kind of scare me though to lose that much in a week. Don't get me wrong, I'm psyched, but everything else you read says that 1-2 pounds a week is safe and healthy. I suppose most of my 5 pounds is water anyway. I hope this is okay!

[*Emma*]

Re: If 20 lbs. to lose, how long each phase?

Yep, its not too much, it will mainly be water, just ensure you keep drinking your water!!

[surreys_princess]

Re: If 20 lbs. to lose, how long each phase?

i am in agreement about doing the rungs as prescribed in the book...

the whole point, no matter how much we have to loose, is to stop the cycle of eating, and way of eating, that got us here in the first place...that is why doing it by the book is so important....

good luck, and great job..i wish i only had 20 pounds to loose....lol