I'm feeling hunger pangs on OWL! Is this normal?

[is thin possible?]

Hey you OWLERS! Just a quick question. Should I be feeling hanger pangs as I add back in carbs? I have added in nuts and berries. I have not had any of the hunger feelings in a long time because I stayed on extended induction for so long. I don't like them! Is this going to be a normal thing as I move toward my CCL? I know I have to keep moving up the rungs as I am nearing my goal weight and I need to slow my loss.

Any ideas?

[Desertthorn]

Re: I'm feeling hunger pangs on OWL! Is this normal?

I haven't heard of folks having hunger pangs before. Are you eating enough, what it your fat intake? Post you menus and maybe the experts can take a look. Hunger is not an option on the plan as it means your not burning fat.

[not2late]

Re: I'm feeling hunger pangs on OWL! Is this normal?

Hey you OWLERS! Just a quick question. Should I be feeling hanger pangs as I add back in carbs? I have added in nuts and berries. I have not had any of the hunger feelings in a long time because I stayed on extended induction for so long. I don't like them! Is this going to be a normal thing as I move toward my CCL? I know I have to keep moving up the rungs as I am nearing my goal weight and I need to slow my loss.

Any ideas?

Are you adding the nuts and berries like the OWL rules state or have you added them into your diet at the same time (same week, same day, etc.)? Moreover are you only eating 5 net carbs worth of these foods at a time?

The general rule is if any of your blood sugar symptoms return upon the addition of any food, then you drop that food from your menu. If you don't know what the symptoms of blood sugar instability are, then you need to re-read chapter 12 and 13 in DANDR 2002: it's too long a list for me to reprint here.

I don't know if you skipped Rungs 1 and 2 to move onto nuts and berries, but this is why I don't recommend skipping Rung 1---especially for the folks who've kept their carbs artificially low by doing an "extended Induction" for a prolonged period: it's too hard to tell if it's the carbs, the food or a combination of both that are causing your problems.

[is thin possible?]

Re: I'm feeling hunger pangs on OWL! Is this normal?

Thanks for your repsonses Not2late and Desserthorn!

I am going back and reading over my DANDR again regarding OWL. And yes, Not2late, I did jump past Rung 1, as I didn't feel I could possibly eat any more veggies per day than I already am! Having been on extended induction I was really looking forward to adding back some fruit so I jumped to the berry rung. And, Oh yea! I was not following the rules of OWL by adding both nuts and berries in simultaneously! I guess I was a little too excited about some broader food choices.

The other thing I feel I was doing wrong, was that I was cutting back on my protein, thinking I needed to allow room for the berries and nuts as to not have too many calories. Since my original post, I have upped my protein intake back to what it was on extended induction as well as allowing myself the extra 5 carbs per day. This is greatly helping with feelings of hunger. They have subsided!

Thanks so much for helping me get to the bottom of this. I realize I have got to figure this out according to the plan so that I will have long term success!

Blessings!

[Iapetus999]

Re: I'm feeling hunger pangs on OWL! Is this normal?

Calories Shmalories. Don't try to outthink the book. Where does DANDR mention calorie counting?
During OWL you will find out which foods are your "trigger foods." These are the foods that cause hunger...sometimes uncontrollable hunger.
Well if you get hungry...then eat! But don't exceed your carb count for the day. Then see if there's a pattern to when you get hungry. Is it a trigger food or an emotion? Time of day/month?
There's a bunch of food I just won't touch because they will trigger hunger.
Remember you can always back down on carbs.

[not2late]

Re: I'm feeling hunger pangs on OWL! Is this normal?

I don't count calories because I think it's futile in a way. If you listen to your body's needs, you'll find that some days you'll eat more than others---but your hunger is still satisfied.

Protein should remain the same on OWL as it did in Induction. Keep your fats the same or slightly lower ('slightly' can be as little as 1 tablespoon less butter, olive oil, heavy cream, etc. per day) Read the stickie at the top of the forum to see how little change you need to do to lower your fat percentages.

Add in only one food group at a time, as the good Dr. advised, and follow the OWL rules about foods too.