confused about my CCLL

[bannock_powered]

Hi Folks,

I have to say, i really appreciate the quick and informative responses i've been getting to my newbie questions. I have another: i'm a bit confused about what my carb level in OWL is. I weigh in tomorrow for the end of my two weeks of induction. In looking at the chart from p. 173 of DANDR, it tells me what my metabolic resistance will be based on what i lost in the first two weeks (i assume i'll be average or low because i'm already down 2 pant sizes). However, it also says that if I exercise, my CCLL range should be 60-90 grams of carbs. Is this 60-90 grams of carbs REGARDLESS of what my metabolic resistance turns out to be? I.e. if i'm working out vigorously 5-6 times a week, do i eat 60-90 grams of carbs (60 if it turns out i have high metabolic resistance, 90 if i'm low)? Or, in the end, is this simply a trial and error/check my weight and measurements weekly kind of deal?

any advice would be much appreciated.

cheers,

Chris

[Bettestress]

Re: confused about my CCLL

Those charts are "guesstimates", what you can EXPECT your CCLL to be. You still have to go through the routine to find out what your's really will be.

[not2late]

Re: confused about my CCLL

Hi Folks,

I have to say, i really appreciate the quick and informative responses i've been getting to my newbie questions. I have another: i'm a bit confused about what my carb level in OWL is. I weigh in tomorrow for the end of my two weeks of induction. In looking at the chart from p. 173 of DANDR, it tells me what my metabolic resistance will be based on what i lost in the first two weeks (i assume i'll be average or low because i'm already down 2 pant sizes). However, it also says that if I exercise, my CCLL range should be 60-90 grams of carbs. Is this 60-90 grams of carbs REGARDLESS of what my metabolic resistance turns out to be? I.e. if i'm working out vigorously 5-6 times a week, do i eat 60-90 grams of carbs (60 if it turns out i have high metabolic resistance, 90 if i'm low)? Or, in the end, is this simply a trial and error/check my weight and measurements weekly kind of deal?

any advice would be much appreciated.

cheers,

Chris

Did you weigh yourself at all? The metabolic resistance charts are based on weight.

If you didn't and you are going by pants size, why do you think losing 2 pants sizes in 2 weeks is only "average" metabolic resistance? It's most likely "low" metabolic resistance. Don't sell yourself short! I almost want to reach into the computer and strangle some folks because they post messages like "I'm sooooo depressed. I only lost 12 pounds on Induction. I feel like crying!" and I doubly want to strangle the folks who post messages like "I know I have a high metabolic resistance because I only lost 10 pounds of the 40 pounds I need to lose. Looks like I'll do Induction longer."

Don't sell yourself short!!!!

Those estimates are estimates. They only give you an idea of what your CCLL might be. And if you look at them, the range is quite wide. So you might have a low metabolic resistance to weight loss but your CCLL could be 40 or 45 or 50 or 55 or 60. If you are a regular exerciser it could be higher---but it's no guarantee.

So go up the rungs and see how your body reacts. OWL is the time when the Atkins Diet becomes very individualized.

[bannock_powered]

Re: confused about my CCLL

Hi Not2late,

Sorry if I came across negative; I'm actually quite pumped! I weighed myself when i started and i weigh again this morning - induction is over! I just guestimated an average to low resistance because I was sure it wasn't high. My only issue was that i was feeling tired and thought perhaps it was because in eating the 20 carbs per day, i might not have been getting enough for my exercise level. Now, moving to the OWL phase, if i'm supposed to be moving from 60-90, that's a huge jump from 20. On the other hand, should i be moving up 5 grams per week until i hit the 60 (-90). That was my only issue - the difference between eating the 60 starting today or working up to it over 8 weeks. I think the 'try it on for size' method is probably the only way to go - i was just curious if anyone else had made such a big leap (as reading Dr. Atkins book might lead one to do).

Chris

[ValidRouge]

Re: confused about my CCLL

You are only supposed to go up in 5 gram increments per week. So, if on induction you ate 15 net grams, then your first week of OWL is 20 net grams. The additional carbs come from vegetables. The foods get added back in a certain order. There are some stickies at the top of this forum that you should read on how to do it right.

[kate58]

Re: confused about my CCLL

You don't jump from 20g straight to 60 or 90 or any number. The book does not say that - those numbers are what you MAY eventually be eating, but you'll work up very gradually to whatever number is right for you.

During OWL you spend at least one week - though most people here would suggest longer than that - at each rung. During each week you very carefully add another 5g of carbs from whatever choice of food you wish on that rung.

You add foods slowly and deliberately, finding out what your individual reaction to them is. Everyone is different, everyone reacts differently to different foods.

The order of the rungs of OWL is deliberate and important to follow. So the first week (or 2-3 weeks) after induction you are on rung 1 and eating 5g of carbs extra from the "other vegetables" list you used during induction. That's not a great leap, just a tiny step!

Read the chapter on moving on and the one on OWL again - I think you picked it up wrong somewhere along the line! Moving straight from 20 to 60 carbs certainly would be alarming!

[sallyseachange]

Re: confused about my CCLL

Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution (2002 edition) is the book you want (if you haven't already read it). It explains Ongoing Weight Loss and it's phases very clearly.
You'll love OWL... it's really nice to have those extra food choices and the experimentation to find how various foods affect you can be very revealing.