New to OWL

[Tactical Cat]

I pasted this from my post in the OWL section. We've been on Atkins since last August and have had some success. I've lost 20lb and been stuck at the same weight for several months now. My wife initially lost 5-6lb then has gained some back. After a long induction, we're starting OWL.

Typical bkfast:
3 fried eggs
4 bkfast sausages, or 3 slices bacon, or a ham steak

Lunch:
3 baked chicken thighs, or
taco salad (ground beef/turkey with cheese & sour cream)
2 cups salad with blue cheese dressing

Dinner:
pan-friend fish, or
broiled sirloin tips, or
ground beef/turkey with cheese, or
pan-fried pork chops, or
egg/cheese/sausage quiche
smashed cauliflower w/cheese

Minor variations of the above, we sometime add sour cream for the fat content. On paper it kinda looks like we're in a food rut, and I'm not sure if the fat/pro/carb %s are correct. Are we screwing this up completely?

[liv]

Re: New to OWL

So what are you drinking?
Taking supplements?

Have you been counting carbs? How many carbs do you eat every day?
It looks low on veggies.

[boonie stomper]

Re: New to OWL

As Liv said, veggies look a bit low, however you are genalizing too much to be sure of that, much less your ratios. I suggest you go to Fitday, where you can enter quantities of the foods as you have plans to eat, including how they are put together, before eating them, and see the potential in terms of carbs as well as ratios, nutrition, etc.

For instance, your taco salad could have only a tbsp shredded lettuce on the meat or it could have 10 different ingredients, bread is another variable, as well as volume. Check it out for a whole day's worth of everything you put in your mouth and aim for 65-30-5 at the end. Good luck! Note - your favorite menu items are quick adds after the first time entered, and it tracks day to day entries.

[Tactical Cat]

Re: New to OWL

So what are you drinking?
Taking supplements?

Have you been counting carbs? How many carbs do you eat every day?
It looks low on veggies.

4 16oz bottles of wate daily. Supplements are a multi-vitamin and 2 tbsp of EVO daily. The carbs have been limited to the 2 cups of salad and 1 cup veggies so far.

[Tactical Cat]

Re: New to OWL

Check it out for a whole day's worth of everything you put in your mouth and aim for 65-30-5 at the end.

I entered a typical day's meal into Fitday and came up with 63-32-6 @ 1906 calories. While there is a little variation from day to day, I think we're pretty consistent. When/if weight loss resumes on OWL, how quickly should I expect it to happen? Would I see the same loss rate on OWL as induction or is it a slower rate?

[Georgiana]

Re: New to OWL

When/if weight loss resumes on OWL, how quickly should I expect it to happen? Would I see the same loss rate on OWL as induction or is it a slower rate?

Weight loss continues during Ongoing Weight Loss. I understand you are still not losing weight, am I correct? Are you losing inches? You cannot schedule your weight loss -- when you will start losing again and the rate at which this will happen depend from individual to individual. Personally, I lose faster on OWL than I did on Induction (excluding, of course, the first few days of Induction).

A few more questions. How many of your net carbs come from veggies? Did you introduce any new vegetable?

[not2late]

Re: New to OWL

Another thing is the amount of food you all are eating....Does it really take 3 chicken thighs to satisfy your hunger?

While we don't necessary count calories on Atkins, they do matter. And don't forget, excess dietary protein converts to glucose according to Dr. Atkins. I've recently read a book on children's nutrition that says 50-60% of dietary protein is converted to glucose 2- 5 hours after a meal or snack.

So see if you really need to eat that amount of food. As we become smaller people, we don't require as much food.

[HappyCat]

Re: New to OWL

Thanks all.

Hi - I am Tactical Cat's hypothyroid wife who is REALLY getting discouraged. We've been doing this since the end of August, and my percents seem in range (I have been using FitDay), although some days the fats are closer to 70%. I am making changes to bring it more to the proper level. I am wondering - if I haven't lost weight (or inches) in induction after being very dedicated all this time, will it really help to move to OWL? And, what do you all recommend doing to up the carbs from the induction phase to ease into OWL.

Funny - the only time I ever see the scale change is after the very occasional times that we bagged it for a day or two (like for our wedding and the rest of that weekend). Since I have been following induction all along the rest of the time, getting back on track was never a problem. Then, a couple of days into it, the scale would stop moving, It has never been more than a 5 or 6 lb loss, then it evens back again. As of this morning, I am EXACTLY where I started in August.

I am REALLY comitted to this, but am just so disheartened at the moment. It may be that the thyroid medicine I am on needs to be adjusted yet again (I have been getting tested and increasing the dose by a small bit every 6 weeks or so - currently at .075 mg Synthroid), but you'd think that Atkins would have made a dent at least by now.

I appreciate any help you can give us.

PS - Honey - sorry to hyjack your thread.

[blubberman]

Re: New to OWL

Hi Tc

4 sausages for breakfast may be a problem . I was eating lots of sausages until I found out that each one is full of stuff other than meat and 8 g of carbs each one.

Now I only eat sausages occasionally , and I tend to eat the Mattessons boiling sausages now ( in the UK , not sure if they available in the states) because the contain zero carbs ( well according to the label anyway)

Hope this helps

Good Luck

Blubberman

[HappyCat]

Re: New to OWL

Hi B.

I'll interject (since I am the one cooking them for TC)

The sausage we selected is very low in carbs. Granted, we eat 4 instead of the 3/serving, but that doesnt bring the carbs up that much from the 1 gram. Even if it was 3g (on the outside), we should still be in a good range for the overall 20 g carbs/day.

Serving Size 3 LINKS
Servings Per Container 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 190
Calories from Fat 150
Total Fat 17g 26%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 45mg15%
Sodium 420mg18%
Total Carbohydrate 1g 0%
Protein 8g

[chinadoll]

Re: New to OWL

Well here are some random suggestions. First if you have more than 50 pounds to lose then you should be drinking more. Also if you aren't exercising, do. Even a walk after dinner is something. I don't lose when I eat sausage frequently. It shouldn't matter but it does to my body. Try not eating things for a week and see if there is a food that triggers a stall. Also, moving to OWL 1 often gets things going again. Many people break a stall by leaving Induction. The fact that you go off and on for special occasions is going to make your progress much slower as may your thyroid issues. These thing set up your resistance to loss. 1/2 to 1 kg a week may be an appropriate pace if you follow things properly and drink water, exercise, etc.

One last thing to try-- eat smaller meals and add a fourth meal a day. This can help boost metabolism a bit and you don't get a bunch of cards hitting you system all at once thereby making you less hungry.

[HappyCat]

Re: New to OWL

Thanks Jill!

I am trying to do what you said today and eat more spread out. I actually think I have forgotten to eat every 4 hours or so, as per the book. Funny what you remember to do, and what somehow gets forgotten along the way.

I am beginning to think that cheese may be an issue. I have stuck to the 4 oz or less a day for the most part, but this may be my "taboo" food (like you with the sausages). I can't even begin to tell you how much that bums me out.

Lastly - I think that after 2 more weeks with these modifications, I will also join Tactical Cat in the OWL phase.

I think he (TC) is doing great (you ARE, honey!) and just needs to realize a wee bit more success to keep him encouraged and sticking to the plan.

Side note - thanks to some nice folks in another thread here related to Thyroid, I have made an appointment with an endocronologist, and may find that a change in medication is in order.

[Jodes]

Re: New to OWL

Cheese seems to be an issue for a lot of people.
I find that the parmesan cheese is best because it is a strong flavour, so you don't need much to get that cheesy taste to omeletes, so does not seem to have the same stalling effect that other cheeses do.

[chinadoll]

Re: New to OWL

I agree with Jodes. Cheese is fine for me IN SMALL QUANTITIES. If I go over 3 ounces it becomes a problem. Glad you sound more optimistic today. Am hoping you get some answers soon.