How long on each rung?

[ShannonK]

I am excited to start OWL in the next few weeks. I have reached goal doing Atkins before, but I didn't do it properly. I basically stayed on induction the whole time.

I am already planning to move onto OWL at the two week mark, but I was wondering how long is best to stay at each rung?

Thanks!

[ShannonK]

Re: How long on each rung?

I should also add that I would like to stay as short a time as possible to increase the likelihood that I will not get bored. I do not mind losing slowly. It is more important to me to learn how to keep the weight off!

[Georgiana]

Re: How long on each rung?

It depends how many foods you want to try on each rung. You should be adding not more than a food (not food group) per week, so if you want to try milk, yogurt and cottage cheese in OWL Rung 2 for e.g., you'd have to do Rung 2 for at least 3 weeks. I say "at least", because it is sometimes a good idea not to increase your carbohydrate level the week you add a new food, so that if you stall, you'll know what the cause is.

This is how I do it. Let's say I add a new food this week, so I keep my carb level fixed. If the food doesn't stall me (i.e. I lose some weight/inches), I either add a new food next week or increase my carb level. If I don't lose weight or inches, then I keep eating that food for another week, just to make sure it's the food and not some random reason that caused my weight loss to pause (plus I'm a slow loser and don't have much to lose, so I don't see differences every week). If I gain weight/inches or the food is causing me any blood sugar symptoms, then of course I drop the food.

So the time one spends on a certain rung is a matter of preference, reaction to certain foods, number of foods one wants to try, TOM (I "freeze" everything during TOM -- no new food or increase in carbs), etc.

[ShannonK]

Re: How long on each rung?

Thanks for the information and advice. As you can see on my signature, I went through each rung and made notes for myself on what I will try with each rung. I can see that it might take awhile. I am anxious to get to goal correctly this time. I believe I mentioned that I made it completely to goal last time by staying on induction the whole time. I will not make that mistake again!

[liv]

Re: How long on each rung?

I bet you'll have fun trying this out in a safe environment of 5 carbs. Good list.
You can actually have tofu on induction. I know it is weird but it is in the book.

[ShannonK]

Re: How long on each rung?

That is great! I love tofu!