What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

[PrinceJeff]

I have heard this term before but am unsure what it means. It obviously does not follow 2002 DANDR to the letter, so could someone please explain it to me?

[womanpraised]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

Hmmm...

It could depend on the context, or from speaker to speaker....

To my understanding, a modified owl is moving up the rungs, but staying at induction level carbs. Some folks skip certain rungs, for personal dislikes, allergies, etc. They may say that they are modified.

Modified can also mean that there are those who dont count veggies by cup measurements, but by carb grams, and still on the approved list, and under the net carb level.

I have also heard this phrase used by someone who decided to do 30 net carbs on induction, instead of 20.

As always, a way of eating is a HIGHLY personal, and often personalized, thing.... but this board is geared towards Atkins by the Book, because tweaking the plan can tweak your results, and unless you are a trained professional, you should not try it at home...

Hope that made things clear as mud for you. I am sure after the weekend, someone else will have input on it.

Kimberly

[PrinceJeff]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

That does make sense to me. I appreciate the explanation.

[Chris]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

Kimberyly, what a great explanation! Unfortunately, in addition to those things you mention, you'll often hear folks, outside of ADBB, say that they're doing a modified Atkins diet. Usually, that means that they've heard a little bit about Atkins, usually incorrect info, and have further modified that incorrect info so that they can pretty much eat anything they want to eat. Of course, they'll then proclaim to anyone who'll listen that Atkins doesn't work -- when, in reality, they've never even been on the Atkins program, at all!

Dr. A tweaked the program over the years to make it as successful as possible for the most number of people. Those who are serious about weight loss -- and the ensuing good health -- won't do any modifications, at all!

[not2late]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

Hmmm...

It could depend on the context, or from speaker to speaker....

To my understanding, a modified owl is moving up the rungs, but staying at induction level carbs. Some folks skip certain rungs, for personal dislikes, allergies, etc. They may say that they are modified.

Modified can also mean that there are those who dont count veggies by cup measurements, but by carb grams, and still on the approved list, and under the net carb level.

I have also heard this phrase used by someone who decided to do 30 net carbs on induction, instead of 20.

As always, a way of eating is a HIGHLY personal, and often personalized, thing.... but this board is geared towards Atkins by the Book, because tweaking the plan can tweak your results, and unless you are a trained professional, you should not try it at home...

Hope that made things clear as mud for you. I am sure after the weekend, someone else will have input on it.

Kimberly

And that's why ADBB has very specific definitions about what constitutes Induction, OWL and Pre-Maintainence: to avoid confusion. Chris probably remembers the days when people would write "I'm doing Atkins Induction" but when you read their menu it was more along the lines of a Pre-Maintainance AND they would get upset when they were told they weren't doing Induction properly.

Induction is following the Rules of Induction and eating off the Induction Acceptable Foods List. This means staying within the 20 net carb limit. Eating above the 20 but eating only the foods on the Induction Acceptable Foods List puts you into OWL because the only foods you'd increase would be veggies (OWL Rung 1) and dairy (OWL Rung 2).

Extended Induction just means you are following the Induction phase longer than the minimum 2 weeks. It still means you are following the Induction Rules and the Induction Acceptable Foods List. So if you're eating strawberries or whole wheat bread during your "extended Induction", you aren't doing "extended Induction".

OWL is following the OWL Rules and eating off the OWL CARB Ladder. The people who choose to do the "modified" OWL follow the OWL rules and eat off the OWL Carb Ladder while maintaining Induction level carbs. As for skipping ladders in OWL, that's perfectly acceptable and not "modifying" OWL at all. I mean, if you are allergic to nuts, why would you go through the Nut and Seeds Rung or if you don't like berries and melons, why would you go through the Berry Rung? OWl is where you learn to eat in the real world because you learn about your body's individual tolerance to carbs and food in general. Don't skip it, imo.

But I also agree with Chris: typically the folks who claim they are doing a "modified Atkins" are doing their own low carb diet, but need to drag Atkins into it. These are usually the same folks who run around saying Atkins doesn't work, when their version fails. My brother-in-law did a "modified Atkins" that involved eating 4 bags of pork rinds daily, 6 cans of Diet Rite, 2 cans of Slim Fast shakes (the regular kind) and half a club sandwich (using regular carb bread). Needless to say, he didn't lose weigh and tells anyone who listens how Atkins doesn't work.

[2big4mysize]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

yep what they said.

Now when somebody on ADBB says I'm doing induction we know they are 14days by the book
extended indution they are still following the chapter 11 rules but per Dr Atkins in the section on nuts in DANDR saying after the 14 days are up nuts are the first thing I tell them to add back they are also having an ounce of nuts if they want like Kent and I did.

Modiifed OWl is for those who are big and need to rapidly for health reasons lose weight but are bored with induction foods and know they are going to fall off. So they climb the OWl carb rungs while keeping thier Carb level artificailly lowwer then their CCLL some folk staying at 20 while others do it at 25 or even 30.

I really get hot when I see folk introduce themselves here and tell us they are doing a modified Atkins cause they need fruit or dairy when it is obvious to anyone reading their post that the poster never read DANDR cause we all know you get fruits and daiory back after the 14 days in a controlled manner IF your body can handle it.

[Zuki]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

Of course, they'll then proclaim to anyone who'll listen that Atkins doesn't work

Funny isn't it...People are quick to blame everything else except themselves for failing...

Atkins works...but you must work it!

[womanpraised]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

See... I knew this would draw vehement replies!

[not2late]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

Where's the vehemence????

[womanpraised]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

Vehemence isnt bad... folks feel really strongly about this! That is good...if everyone were wishy washy, there wouldnt be much support or success round these parts, would there?

[Analog6]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

I am one of those following a 'modified' OWL. I am sticking to 30 carbs per day until I lose a fair bit more weight. I have some nuts and some berries occassionally for a little variety. Yes, it slows the loss a little but I found Induction easy but B O R I N G! (But it wasn't boring losing 11 kgs - 24 lbs - in 14 days.)

All these great replies should mean it now really is as clear as mud for you. Stick to the book if you can - it's much easier!

[not2late]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

I am one of those following a 'modified' OWL. I am sticking to 30 carbs per day until I lose a fair bit more weight. I have some nuts and some berries occassionally for a little variety. Yes, it slows the loss a little but I found Induction easy but B O R I N G! (But it wasn't boring losing 11 kgs - 24 lbs - in 14 days.)

All these great replies should mean it now really is as clear as mud for you. Stick to the book if you can - it's much easier!

At 30 grams of carbs and adding in OWL foods like nuts and berries, you're really not "modifying" OWL at all. Some of us have CCLLs of 30, but choose to add higher rung foods for more variety while staying within their CCLLs. That's not modifying OWL, that's doing OWL.

[2big4mysize]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

Megs if 30 grams is well below her CCLL then she is doing modified if she added no more rungs or carbs but coiuld metabolically handle more.

[cleochatra]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

Modified OWLer here as well. I like using the OWL as a rotation diet. While still being without cravings I can add in a new food on the appropriate rung three times per week and know whether it's something I'll be able to keep in my way of eating or something I'll have to nix due to food intolerances or blood sugar reactions. It's been an excellent choice for me.

[not2late]

Re: What the heck is a "modified" atkins diet?

You have a point 2Big, but she's moved over Induction level carbs and is into OWL level carbs.

If she's still losing weight at 30 carbs, then she is either at or below her CCLL. And she won't know if 30 is her CCLL or far below it, until she ventures up 5 net carbs at a time to find out. Most likely she is well below it because her 24 lbs loss during Induction indicates that she has low metabolic resistance and her CCLL is probably between 40-60 per the chart in Chapter 14.