My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

[shari_dawn]

Okay, now that I have your attention I have a question about starting the OWL portion of this diet. I've been on this diet since sept 1st and I've lost 26 1/2 lbs. I know whoo hoo for me right? Well I guess. My problem is I want to stick to the way of eating and I also want to lose weight fast. I've rarely been over 20 carbs in the entire time I've been doing the diet. (thats my dirty little secret) Most times I'm not even getting 15 carbs. I know this is not really good but so far its worked for me as far as I know. I only weigh once a month. Maybe twice if I am feeling particularly weak. Plus its that TOM and I'm craving more carbs anyway. I've made some great atkins recipes, and they help. I've been making a concentrated effort into putting 'good' carbs back into my diet... its hard... but it should not be. Today was the first time I made it over 20 carbs.. I actually hit 25. I've heard that people tend to lose weight rapidly when they enter the 1st OWL rung. Is this true? I'm committed and I'm dedicated. I exercise regularly... walk (uphill) briskly 4 times a week and do tae bo 2. Some times I mix it up but I try to exercise 6 days a week. Please take the time to help and respond. I need the support and help. Thanks for your time.

[VGrace]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

I understand where your coming from. I started at the begginning of Aug.07 and am still around 15-25 carbs a day. I am just afraid I am going to screw it all up by going over board on my carbs. I have lost about 16lbs so far in 2 months. I mainly lost all of it the 1st month,the 2nd month I have only lost about 2 lbs. I really think maybe its time for both of us to move up in Rungs. I do hear that moving up in Rungs can help jump start weigh loss. Moving up now will help in the long run anyways it teaches us how to be on the WOE for the rest of lives.

Congrats on 26lbs thats AMAZING! you should be really proud of yourself!!

[Hoping]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

if you're on extended induction you should only be consuming up to 20, but if you're starting OWL than it's okay that you hit 25 carbs. You're supposed to be adding 5g carbs into your diet.
Some people lose weight MORE rapidly at this stage of their diet. It's not lightning speed or anything. For example, I think one person told me that on ext. induction they would lose maybe 1lb a week, but on OWL they lost 2-3lbs.
You have to be patient with your body. It knows what it's doing. You didn't put those however many pounds on in lightning speed (even though it seems like it, doesn't it? ), so you have to give your body time to adjust and lose weight at its own pace.
Have patience.

[shari_dawn]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

Thanks for the support! I hope lots more people answer too!

[shari_dawn]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

I had to post another reply because for some reason the new posts keep getting erased. Its totally annoying and I'm getting really tired of it. I wish whatever administrator who is doing it would knock it off. Nothing I hate worse than posting a question only to have it removed or MOVED less than two hours later.

[Evermind]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

First of all, you need to relax. You are not in a race. You are involved in a long-term change in the way you relate to food and in the way your body processes food.

You will never again lose like you did in induction. This applies whether you stay in extended induction, or you move to OWL. It's just not going to happen.

You are not required to eat 20 grams of carbs. You are allowed to eat UP TO 20 grams of carbs. Less than that doesn't make a bit of difference. Dr. Atkins chose 20 grams because he found that all people lose weight at that rate.

Do not fear carbs. I stayed in extended induction twice - for 4 months and 6 months, respectively. I lost just fine after the post-induction stall. This time, I moved immediately to OWL, and have continued to drop about 2 lbs a week since then.

The first rung of OWL is just more veggies - very safe. If you normally consume 14 grams, then you'd go up to 19. If you decide to try dairy after a few weeks, you can, or you can just keep adding veggies.

But the most important thing is to expect small drops in weight from now on, and some pauses. Have you been keeping track of your weight on Fitday? if not, you should - you'll be able to graph it and see the patterns and know what to expect.

[shari_dawn]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

Evermind,
Do you think its helpful to stay on the extended induction? Thanks for your helpful post.

[shari_dawn]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

I know people say its not a race and that is true but I am on a time schedule. You see I'm trying to lose weight prior to becoming a surrogate sometime early next year. I'm trying to take off as much baby weight as I can from my own babies before I become pregnate with someone elses child and put on baby weight again!! My ideal goal would be to lose the remaining 49 lbs in approximately 6 months. I know it is not impossible but I'm working my tushie off to make sure it happens.

[Shaemess]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

Wow, that's a big decision being a surrogate. I admire that you're doing that for someone.

I completely understand where you are coming from. I have something like 150# to go and if I had to do it at a rate of a pound a week, well just shoot me now! I understand that my body knows what it's doing and it's not a race but you never feel like you're getting there fast enough, whether you need to lose 10 pounds or 300.

I'm wary of giving advice simply because everyone is different and what worked for me might not work for you. So keeping in mind DANDR, you need to do what feels right for you. If you're healthy, happy and the pounds are shedding at a speed you want them to be that's great. However if you're feeling a wee bit peckish then perhaps it's time to add some more veggies to your diet.

Whatever your decision, good luck on your journey and the future little one.

[shari_dawn]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

The surrogacy decision was a very hard one to make. I have two children of my own and know what a blessing (sometimes curse, LOL) they can be. One thing is for sure... my life is never boring! anyway... it will be good for the parents and I think good for me as well. I just want to get a physically fit as possible before I even get inseminated to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. You wouldn't believe everything I'm going through to achieve that. This WOE is just onething, but the cornerstone of it all. but it helps to have specific goals and rewards in place.

[*Emma*]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

Were all here to get the weight off and we all want it quick, i for sure was most successful on rung one so i would certainly suggest doing that... i stumbled up thru dairy and nuts, which slightly slowed me down as did alcohol, but then the higher rungs i sped up again, my body loves good carbs, where as most were at the speediest at the low point in the ladder i was better at the top, this just proves that what works for me probably wont work for you,

i would definitely get yourself onto rung one, you can stay there as long as you like, but i would try about 3 weeks then step up a rung, chances are you'll do great!

[shari_dawn]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

you know, I've been thinking about that a lot and I think that is exactly what I will do. I don't know if I'll get over the 20 grams of carbs but like you said, I can have UP TO 25 on the first rung and I think that is what I will do. I love veggies anyway and I eat a lot of fresh salad, i.e. spinach, ect. It will be nice to add turnip and things to it. Thanks so much for all the help and support. I weighed this morning and I've lost another 4 lbs, Its that TOM so I figure when its over I will have at least lost another 2-3 lbs in water.... maybe more. Plus this is only the middle of my second month.. so I've still got 16 days to go. I was really worried this month was going to be a flop but so far so good!!!

[*Emma*]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

you dont have up to 25, it doesnt really work like that

you eat what you were eating on induction and you add 5net carbs, if you were only eating 15net carbs, you push this to 20 but that extra 5 is JUST from veggies... after a coupla weeks if this was working okay for you then you could add another 5 net carbs of veggies, or you could move up to the next rung and take the 5 net carbs from there.

your loss is absolutely fantastic, you'll do great on OWL

[shari_dawn]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

You've been the biggest help to me Emma, thanks so much!

[*Emma*]

Re: My Dirty Little Secret! HELLLPPP

You're welcome!