Afraid to move to OWL

[cranberry]

Well, I am one of the many who have been in EI and are hesitant to move on. I am now re-doing a clean induction, and am considering moving on to OWL after my two weeks. I am going to re-read the chapter, and go through some posts in here for helpful tips.

I really want to skip the veggie rung for now. As I understand it, I can continue with my 3 cups, and go back to that rung at another time to add a 4th, correct?

Also, another problem is that I do not weigh. At least, I won't be over the next few weeks as I am doing the SI6 program.. adding mucho muscle which will likely deceive the scales. I assume if I were to measure and use that as an indicator that I am continuing to lose, that will suffice.. or, am I wrong?

[not2late]

Re: Afraid to move to OWL

Well, I am one of the many who have been in EI and are hesitant to move on. I am now re-doing a clean induction, and am considering moving on to OWL after my two weeks. I am going to re-read the chapter, and go through some posts in here for helpful tips.

I really want to skip the veggie rung for now. As I understand it, I can continue with my 3 cups, and go back to that rung at another time to add a 4th, correct?

Also, another problem is that I do not weigh. At least, I won't be over the next few weeks as I am doing the SI6 program.. adding mucho muscle which will likely deceive the scales. I assume if I were to measure and use that as an indicator that I am continuing to lose, that will suffice.. or, am I wrong?

Hi and welcome.

Just a question...if you were on Extended Induction, why would you need to do a "clean Induction" again? Extended Induction just meant you were still following the Induction Rules, eating the Induction foods in the Induction amounts and maintaining the Induction level carbs. So unless you got really sloppy (ie: eating non-Induction foods, not following the Rules, eating over 20 net carbs daily), there is really no need to "re-do" Induction---especially when you never left Induction.

Anyhow, if you plan on skipping a rung, don't plan on adding that food again until Pre-Maintenance (see the sticky thread "how to OWL"). I don't recommend skipping the veggie rung for a number of reasons, but beyond the added vitamins, minerals and fiber those additional 5 net carbs of Induction veggies will provide, you also know how these veggies affect your body from your experience with them during Induction. So if your weight loss stalls during this veggie rung, you can more or less eliminate that cause of the stall was due to your body's reaction to the food, but it's more likely due to the carb level.

Weight loss (ie: fat loss) can be measured by the scales or by the measuring tape. The measuring tape is by far more accurate than the scales (see Moochie's sticky in the Induction forums about Weight loss isn't linear).

Just remember, don't be afraid of carbs. When you completed your first 14 days of Induction, you should have figured out your degree of metabolic resistance to weight loss (the charts in Chapter 13). That degree would have given you an idea of how many carbs your body can tolerate. Only those people who are severely metabolically resistant to weight loss will need to eat between 15-20 net carbs daily in order to lose weight. Those of us who aren't severely metabolically resistant, will be able to eat more. And if we exercise, we can have even more.

The diet wasn't designed for us to lose all or the majority of our weight on Induction and you're cheating your body of nutrients---vitamins, minerals and other nutrients-- by staying on Induction for longer than need be. I know, the EI folks say the book gives an example of someone losing all their weight on Induction. But what they fail to mention is that person was a "tortoise" and lost weight very slowly even on 20 net carbs daily.

[cranberry]

Re: Afraid to move to OWL

thanks for the advice and clarification, not2late... I get it now

And, re-doing induction b/c I have been a bit of a cheater over the last few months, on and off, so I am starting again clean for 2 weeks and then moving on

[Peytonn]

Re: Afraid to move to OWL

I know how you feel.... induction was safe.. simple... but then I messed up.... I ate low carb yogurt.. and loved it.....

after a big debate.... I think it was megs that said I could have the yogurt if I moved to OWL..

so.... while I"m still learning what's right and wrong .... I decided to go OWL... because that low carb yogurt was worth changing for......so I basically skipped #1.... as you said.... went straight to rung #2....

now I've added a few nuts..... and I'm still losing....

of course it's slowed from the original 2 weeks induction.... but from what I've read... almost everybody slows after 2, 3, or maybe 4 weeks....

I"m now eating a few blueberries... since they're ripe in my yard... so I guess I skipped to that rung....

anyway... I'm really happy doing it this way.... I still rely on eggs, meat (I made an awesome London Broil in the crock pot this week)... but I love the variety of the yogurt, berries, nuts....

try it... if you gain a tiny bit, you can always go back.... no big deal...

I had to stop looking at it like if I ate anything not on induction ... I'd self-destruct...

I'm not that disciplined... I don't measure things well... don't have the time or the motivation to enter every morsel on fit-day.... I have to LIVE with this thing...

and so far... common sense (in measuring portions of the foods I know are allowed)... has worked out for me....

I don't MIND that I'm losing an average of a little more than 2 pound a week... that's fine with me....

NOW... who knows.. in a month... I might be back in the induction forum... starting over.... but i doubt it..

go for it!!! I love being and OWL!!