how long??

[canIdoIT]

hey guys. I'm just curious.. how long does it take until someone normally starts losing weight on owl. I lost 18lbs BAM on induction.. i've been on owl for 11 days and i've gained 4 pounds and lost it again.

I *kindaaaa* think i'm just being impatient. It's hard to go from losing so much so quick and then have it.. kinda drop off and i'm kinda getting bumbed out..

But then again.. i just started working out as i've moved to owl.. unfortunately i was too lazy to measure myself.. but a pair of shorts fit me that i could never fit into before so i've lost inches, i know. I'm doing weight work, step aerobics, walking, and roller blading. Is it possible i've just gained muscle and its kept me at the weight i'm at... how does that work?

One last thing. I'm the thinnest i've been in prolly 8 years.. and i'm a little discourged thinking this is the most i can lose- its not that i'm a pessimist- i have just always had extra chunkage and cannot even IMAGINE being thinner- and to be perfectly honest, i'm kinda afraid to let it go- does that make any sense??? can anyone relate to what i'm saying?? Anyone been there??

well.. i hope this post doesnt' sound silly- weight is such a scary topic for me when it gets down to crunch time.. i'm at a cross roads right now- i can let myself go (fatten up) ... or i can go where my body has never gone before.

i'm on week 5 of atkins

[kate58]

Re: how long??

Here's another of those things that stand for something: PISS - you have PISS!!!!

That's Post Induction Stall Syndrome.

Basically you lost a lot of weight on induction. Now your body is taking some time out to adjust to it's new reality. It's probably got nothing to do with moving to OWL, it would have happened no matter what you did. It generally lasts a couple of weeks, and then when your body is comfortable at the new weight and you are still eating right, the scale starts moving down again.

I don't know if you are measureing, but I'd recommend it. Even when the scales don't move for a while (which happens at various times along the way), inches often do, and it's very encouraging.

[canIdoIT]

Re: how long??

thank you so much. I'm soo relieved to have an answer, i really appreciate you taking the time to do that
Thanks for adding that PISS last about 2 weeks- and for defining it! lol
That makes a lot of sense. Also.. *TOM* will be approaching any day now- and thanks to the other info you gave me, i will not be bummed- because i think you may have mentioned.. not losing weight around that time, right?
Thanks again! Without this board.. there is no way i would have made it on a *diet* (way of life) this long! Usually.. when the going gets tough and i think i failed because i stop losing, i quit- but i'm 5 weeks and going strong! hopefully i'll start losing again! going on day 13 of no weight loss

[not2late]

Re: how long??

If you've lost inches, then you've lost fat.

[Adena]

Re: how long??

You've had great success so far. As you get closer to yoru goal, and smaller than you've ever been, your losses are going to slow down. Honestly, I'm not sure that 10 pounds in 7 weeks is doable at this point in your losses, but maybe. Just hang in there and keeping doing what you know works! If you consider this way of eating a new way of life, you'll start to shift your focus from deadlines to simply focusing on steady progress. And that is really enlightening for those of us who have always worried about their weight. NOW, I KNOW it's going to come off, and while I prefer sooner than later, I'm okay with waiting a bit when that's what my body chooses to do.

Just to confirm, when you say you've moved to OWL, have you just added the first rung, veggies -- or did you add other foods, too? The purpose of OWL is to see how many carbs your body can tolerate, and to add back in different types of foods SLOWLY. You should only be eating 5 extra veggie carbs per day now, 11 days into OWL. Just want to confirm that's what you're doing....

Also, when you start working out, your body holds onto water weight to repair your muscles. While you probably haven't yet gained significant muscle weight, your body is probably going "whooooaaa!! what's going on?!" and it's holding onto water to repair your newly fatigued muscles. Once it figures out that working out, and you replenishing with lots of water, will be a regular thing, it will let go of the water.

Best of luck to you!