Starting Extended Induction

[Lucy]

Hello Everyone,
Today was my first day on Extended Induction. I lost 11 pounds on Induction and I will remain on extended induction for quite a while. I am hoping to continue to lose about 3 lbs a week. I would like more, but 3 is probably attainable. For those of you who have done or are doing an extended induction do you remain as strict on the foods you eat OR do you just stick to the 20 grams of carbs each day? Also, I was wondering about the Atkins bars, they say only 2 grams net carbs but I can't figure out how they get to that total because the total carbs minus fiber leaves about 16 carbs? Does anyone understand their calculation. I don't plan to eat these all the time, just when time is short and I might be tempted to cheat or when others are having sugar filled goodies then at least I could have something too.....

I would love any helpful hints or other suggestions for sticking to this plan from my fellow Atkineers.

[Elizellen]

Re: Starting Extended Induction

Extended induction just means you are doing induction longer than the 14 days, so the rules stay the same - eat only from the allowed foods list!

You will see some members posting they also added some nuts (one ounce only) when they had been in induction for a long time, but this is a personal interpretation of part of Dr Atkins advice, which some people feel gives permission for this addition and others don't.

You will not necessarily lose weight faster by restricting your foods to the induction list and keeping your carbs below the 20 grams with most of them from your veggies, and several current OWLers have posted frequently that they experienced a weightloss plateau/stall on a long induction which they 'cured' by moving to OWL, where their weightloss increased dramatically.

One advantage of moving to OWL is that you can start to introduce more choice to your available food items, so if you find that you are getting fed-up with the restrictions of induction eating and are likely to 'cheat' with non-induction foods then make sure you rethink your decision before you fall off the Atkins wagon!

There is a good thread about making the choice here
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...ead.php?t=5780 with references to the chapters in DANDR covering the situation which you ought to read carefully every few weeks while on induction in case it is time to reconsider.

[Elizellen]

Re: Starting Extended Induction

Also, I was wondering about the Atkins bars, they say only 2 grams net carbs but I can't figure out how they get to that total because the total carbs minus fiber leaves about 16 carbs? Does anyone understand their calculation

I didnt notice this question at first,

The manufacturers say that sugar alcohols used to sweeten their 'low impact carb' bars are not processed by our bodies so can be ignored!! BUT I have seen many posters on Lowcarb boards who have found that their body does react to the sugar alcohols - diabetics who test their blood sugars report a surge after eating them.

So personally I always count ALL the carbs in them, making them an 'expensive' (carbwise) choice.

Also you must follow the usual rules of Atkins - make sure ALL the ingredients are allowed on your Atkins phase.

So if the bars contain milk, nuts, seeds, fruit, soya , starches or wheat products they are NOT allowed on induction and should be saved till you reach the correct rung/level of OWL.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Starting Extended Induction

I stay away from the bars and shakes. In fact, I avoid everything with sugar alcohols in them...I even avoid diet sodas. I rarely have problems with cravings. I rarely have problems with stalling. Note I said rarely have cravings or pauses, not never.

With that said, I've noticed on the board over and over and over of people who have problems staying the course...and they are using these products. There is a thread called the cephalic insulin response and it's an interesting read about how just the TASTE of something sweet (not necessarily containing sugar) causes your body to have an insulin response which triggers cravings.

Then when you get the cravings for something sweet, you drink more sugar free soda or eat more sugar free sweet treats...and more insulin is released.

It's just self torture and so not worth it. IMO.

[Desertthorn]

Re: Starting Extended Induction

Well actually if you need a laxative, eat some sugar alcohols...They will clean you out completely. LOL

Great post, by the way. Good questions. Take Elizella's advise, if you get bored with induction, think about heading up the OWLadder. You will quickly learn what you can and cannot tolerate.

[Lucy]

Re: Starting Extended Induction

Thank you all so much! This board is an amazing place, it is such an inspiration, I think it is what is keeping me on track. I am actually doing really well on the induction foods, but before this I was a major sodaholic. I haven't given up soda completely, still have a diet one each day but that is down from 2 regular 16oz regular Pepsi's each day and I drink a ton more water. I am dissappointed about the bars, but I will wait to try those until I am much closer to my goal. I feel so much better already it is incredible. I was really beginning to think I had something wrong with me because I was so tired all the time, now I feel bright eyed and my energy level is gigantic compared to what it was just a couple of weeks ago. If I stall though I will cut out that diet soda. I have learned so much here and thank you for your advice, you motivate me so much. Last night I even made brownies for my daughter's birthday and didn't even taste the batter, now that's will power. They smelled so good, but not good enough to have to start over. Today my daugher told me I looked skinny, imagine that , I still have almost 100 lbs to go. But it sure was nice to hear.

[Elizellen]

Re: Starting Extended Induction

Congratulations on your loss!!

Also well done on cutting down your soda intake and not eating the brownies!!