Reasons for moving into OWL?

[bigdave]

I have read several posts where people recommend others to go into OWL if they hit a stall on induction. I'm at that point right now (about 25 pounds down, but stuck at 230 for about 7 days) and was wondering why people think going to OWL is a good idea?

I'd love to hear any medical/anecdotal or book quotes describing why this is a prudent move.

Thanks!

[LuckyD]

Re: Reasons for moving into OWL?

My personal opinion is that OWL allows you to be more creative with your food choices and therefore not get bored with the same old stuff. It is also a great way to see what your body likes and doesn't. OWL is preparing you for real life. Induction all the time for me is not realistic. I like variety. I like to go out to eat. I look forward every two weeks to add something new. But thats just me. I think I may be in the minority in my opinion.

[julirama723]

Re: Reasons for moving into OWL?

Well if you want a huge reason, how about this: Dr. Atkins says that OWL is supposed to be the MAIN weight-loss phase of the Atkins plan. True, induction can be safely extended up to 6 months, but it is intended to be a 2-week period. OWL is the phase where we learn how to eat sensibly, as well as introducing or re-introducing foods into our diet. During OWL it is up to the individual to count carbs, move up rungs, watch for food sensitivities, and start the process of finding our CCLL. Induction is relatively easy--you eat the foods on the list, in certain quotas, and that's that. OWL gives you more power to eat the foods you want all while learning how your body handles said foods.

Like LuckyD said, this is for LIFE. OWL is a realistic way of eating. It's a healthy way of eating. It gives you more options and more choices, but also more responsibilities.

I have lost almost 40 pounds so far on OWL. In fact, my weight loss jumpstarted when I moved to Rung 1. Even if you're unsure of the higher rungs of OWL, I always think moving to Rung 1 is a great idea--it's just eating one more serving of veggies, the healthiest source of carbs.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Reasons for moving into OWL?

Ongoing Weight Loss

Read it again.

Ongoing

Weight

LOSS!

We continue to lose and get to add foods back in. WOOHOO

[sallyseachange]

Re: Reasons for moving into OWL?

Ditto what the others said. OWL is awesome.

[Lamby-pie]

Re: Reasons for moving into OWL?

I was afraid of moving up into owl after induction, but I absolutely love it and have no regrets. Not only to add more variety to my eating, but I think your body is almost fooled into thinking you are eating more, so it is still comfortable burning fat and avoiding the starvation mode where the body wants to hold onto everything.
I am losing a little slower in owl than induction, but I firmly believe that that would have happened, anyway. I'm heading in the right direction and am enjoying the journey immensely.

[Scooterjam]

Re: Reasons for moving into OWL?

OWL is awesome! Go for it, you'll be pleasantly surprised!

Good Luck!

[not2late]

Re: Reasons for moving into OWL?

When I was a newbie, I read a lot about Atkins, low carb diets, etc. I came across this article by Dr. Fred Pescatore. He was the assistant medical director of the Atkins Center in the 1990s. http://www.healthology.com/main/arti...content_id=917

Of interest is this blurb:

When the body is placed into ketosis, for example, for an extended period of time, metabolism becomes less efficient. Ketosis is what happens to your body when it is starving and your body begins to break down muscle protein. Your body will adapt and the ketosis becomes less effective at helping the body to lose weight.

Now Dr. Pescatore differs with Dr. Atkins in that he claims that carb levels above 25 grams (total grams) will kick you out of ketosis. I don't entirely agree with that because at 30 net carbs daily, many of us test positive for ketones. BUT I do agree with him about your body adapting to low levels of carbs, because I've seen enough people here who encounter a stall during extended Induction, only to break that stall by moving to OWL phase. And many of them break the stall with the tiny addition of 5 net carbs to their Induction level carbs.

[changing]

Re: Reasons for moving into OWL?

Ongoing Weight Loss has given me a huge gift. I have learned how to eat properly for the first time in my life because I know how a ridiculously wide assortment of food affects me. I don't feel like I'm on a "diet" at all. I feel like this is the way I eat now -- and not just because any "rules" say I "have to" eat this way -- but because I know that this is the way that my body "wants" to eat to be healthy. My foods are not going to be the same as the next person... I wouldn't even think that my foods are going to be exactly the same as any other person on this board, but they are perfect for me...

If I had just stayed on Induction until the last pound dropped and tried to wing some sort of Maintainence, well then forget it. That would have been like trying to hit the proverbial nail on the head in a dark room. Success would be possible in theory, but I wouldn't bet on it.