Question for long term owlers and maintenance

[tabekat]

i've been doing Atkins since the 1st of February. And I can honestly say that my food preferences have altered so dramatically that I never get bored with our standard menu items and I feel very satisfied with this WOL. I'm certainly eating more healthy nutritious food than I ever did before. I just love it.

I see some people post that they are tired of eggs. I'm not tired of them at all. I love having eggs for breakfast. Everyday.

For those of you who have been doing this WOE for a much longer time than me, does it ever get difficult for you? Are you still satisfied with the basics? I plan to stick with Atkins for the rest of my life. Any problems that could occur down the road that I should be aware of?

[not2late]

Re: Question for long term owlers and maintenance

i've been doing Atkins since the 1st of February. And I can honestly say that my food preferences have altered so dramatically that I never get bored with our standard menu items and I feel very satisfied with this WOL. I'm certainly eating more healthy nutritious food than I ever did before. I just love it.

I see some people post that they are tired of eggs. I'm not tired of them at all. I love having eggs for breakfast. Everyday.

For those of you who have been doing this WOE for a much longer time than me, does it ever get difficult for you? Are you still satisfied with the basics? I plan to stick with Atkins for the rest of my life. Any problems that could occur down the road that I should be aware of?

My Induction foods form the core of my menues. I have the OWL foods as "extras"---fruit for dessert, pinto beans for garnish on chili or salads, nuts for toppings or coatings, the lower carb veggies as sauces, etc.

I'm used to having a variety of foods to choose from, so I try to push my limits on that. OWL has made it easier.

If you want to continue eating the Induction foods, go for it. But, I suggest moving up the carb ladder to find your CCLL (critical carbohydrate losing level) and trying out foods you will eat during Maintenance.

The only problem that can occur is the development of a food intolerance (see the Food Intolerance chapter), which can interfere with weight loss. That's the main reason why Dr. Atkins said to eat a variety of foods.

[sadie147]

Re: Question for long term owlers and maintenance

i've been doing Atkins since the 1st of February. And I can honestly say that my food preferences have altered so dramatically that I never get bored with our standard menu items and I feel very satisfied with this WOL. I'm certainly eating more healthy nutritious food than I ever did before. I just love it.

I see some people post that they are tired of eggs. I'm not tired of them at all. I love having eggs for breakfast. Everyday.

For those of you who have been doing this WOE for a much longer time than me, does it ever get difficult for you? Are you still satisfied with the basics? I plan to stick with Atkins for the rest of my life. Any problems that could occur down the road that I should be aware of?

By the basics are you including the OWL rung foods or do you mean induction level foods?

In maintenance i'm more than happy with the food choices i have, i eat strawberries almost daily, tons of veggies, the occaisional starchy veggie or legumes, nuts (i love them but have no portoin contol) rarely. I do not eat sugar and refined startches and really don't miss it. I find it very easy to stay on plan, i don't really even have to think much about it anymore..it just comes naturally.

If it's exented induction foods you are asking about..I had to move onto OWL to broaden my food choices. I did become bored with my choices on extended induction, and was in a stall, moving onto OWL really helped. I think giving myself more variety helped me stay on plan, and boosted my weight loss.

[tabekat]

the basics

By the basics I mean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, cheese, cream cheese, whipping cream and veggies.

i'm doing the rungs, but I've only added 4 items since starting owl. I have added spaghetti squash on the veggie rung, dannons carb control yogurt on the dairy rung, (3 grams), 1 tbsp of carb options peanut butter on the nut and seed rung, (3 grams) and atkins advantage bars. sometimes i will have a bar instead of a meal.

i've lost 2 more pounds, i'm now 183, and seem to be stalled. however, i'm experiencing signs of weight loss in other ways. my face is thinner and i've lost another inch by the tape measure even though it doesn't show on the scale.

it is my intention to avoid bread, potatos, and sugar for the rest of my life. right now that seems very easy to do. maybe it seems too easy. i guess that why i'm wondering if it gets harder down the road.

[sadie147]

Re: the basics

it is my intention to avoid bread, potatos, and sugar for the rest of my life. right now that seems very easy to do. maybe it seems too easy. i guess that why i'm wondering if it gets harder down the road.

Actually avoiding the bread and sugar for me has been really easy..I've been doing this since march of 2004 and it hasn't been an issue for me yet, I've actually found it has become easier and my tastes have changed. I have bought l/c bread in the past but only really for the convenience of it. ended up sitting in my freezer for 3 months. I'd rather make my own flax bun with whole grains and know what's in it.

I have had pototos once or twice and it really wasn't that big of a deal..and i didn't really care either way whether I had one or not.

It is still very easy for me, I jsut have to be careful of boredom. I love to cook so i like to try new recipes/ingredients, to keep it different.

As far as OWL foods the ones i really enjoy are my whole grains, soy flours, wheat bran etc. I find they add alot of variety as far as cooking/baking goes. and are very high fibre, which i think is very important. But other than them, which i have once a day, my basic menu still consists mainly of inductions foods. I usually average about 30-40 g of carbs a day (i can have up to 80 or 90 but nornally don't).

You mention youare stalled now? becareful that it's not something you've added into your diet, especially the bars. I know alot of people have issues with them. I have had them on occaision i like to bring when when on a long car trip and not sure if i will be stuck w/o an option, they've never really bothered me. Though I found when i stalled cutting back on cheese/cream really helped.

[joeschmo]

i too have found that my dietary preferences have changed dramatically due to atkins, and also felt that i could eat that way for life. however i have become concerned that most nutritional experts recommend a dramatically different diet then atkins. now that i am in pre-matenance phase i am trying to find a happy medium between atkins and more commonly recommended dietary intakes.

basically what i have decided to do is to limit as much as possible saturated fats and cholesterol while still keeping my carbs low. i've found this can be easilly accomplished by eating white meat instead of red meat and limiting egg yolks.

there is no doubt that losing weight on atkins is healthier then being over weight so definately stick with it but at the same time i'd recommend trying to do atkins as healthy as possible.

[higgies]

I love the basics! I have eggs almost every morning. I usually change it up a little so it's a little different (omelets, add pepperjack cheese, veggies, bacon, sausage, etc.).

I usually have a salad in the middle of the day for lunch with chicken or something on it...I find it easier to stick with a routine as I know what I'm getting myself into!

[2big4mysize]

as long as you don't allow yourself to feel you are depriving yourself of foods you like you shouldn't have any trouble.

Try one of the natural Pbs as that carb otion has transfats in it.

Branchout and try some of the other veggies on the induction rungs as a part of your OWL foods too. having spaghetti sauce to go with your squash is great too. And as Dr Atkins said veggies are a very big reason we are successful when we hit maintenance. I was shocked when I saw him saying 6-8 cups a day were part of his eating plan but yeppers it is about right for me too.

As to the cholesterol well since over 755 of the stuff we have is sefl produced it is more inportant to cut down on the raw materials that are the builsing blocks for it so eat the healthy fats Dr Atkins recommends and other stuff too and you will be amazed at how healthy your pbody gets following the entire Atkins plan.

the only thing that causes some concern is when you are in pre you lose the appetite suppression of deep ketosis and that can be scarey the first time you experience it while late for a meal. Keep practicing all the good things he taught you about portion size and timely eating and how to correct any blood sugar cravigns you have and you will be a big loser on Atkins. happy low carbing.

[tabekat]

back at ease....

thanks everyone for your candid responses and good advice. it is really wonderful that you help us newbies out all the time.

:yes :icondance

[not2late]

i've lost 2 more pounds, i'm now 183, and seem to be stalled. however, i'm experiencing signs of weight loss in other ways. my face is thinner and i've lost another inch by the tape measure even though it doesn't show on the scale.

Repeat after me:

SCALES ARE EVIL, SCALES ARE EVIL, SCALES ARE EVIL!
Dr. Atkins wrote that the loss of inches represents fat emptying from your cells.

Don't force me to keep you in OWL detention writing "SCALES ARE EVIL" 100 times.
:guns
()

it is my intention to avoid bread, potatos, and sugar for the rest of my life. right now that seems very easy to do. maybe it seems too easy. i guess that why i'm wondering if it gets harder down the road.

For me, it got easier. When I began OWL, my intention was to skip the starchy veggie rung because I was a potato/rice/pasta addict. But then I decided that there were alot of other veggies on that starchy rung so I went ahead with it. I tried out potatoes with alot of caution because I was afraid it would trigger something and I'd go on a potato binge. Well, that binge didn't happen. I ate some potato and it wasn't as wonderful as I had remembered them. Now I stuck with a 4 fingerling potatoes and I'm trying to figure out what to do with them. I think that once you get your food attitudes re-adjusted, your battle is 99% won.