Just found this helpful...

[Chihuahua Luvin Gurl]

There are a lot of people (including me) that don't know how long to stay in Introduction - this helped me to understand more. Maybe it will help others too?

My husband and I are severely metabolic resistant, so we will be in the Introduction for a very long time.

Are You Metabolically Resistant?

Here's how this information can be helpful to you as you proceed with your weight loss efforts:

• If you have high metabolic resistance and have a lot of weight to lose, it would be advisable to stay in Induction longer.
• If you have average metabolic resistance and a lot of weight to lose, you may also want to stay in Induction longer.
• If you have low metabolic resistance and a lot of weight to lose, the choice is up to you. Move to OWL and slow down your weight loss in exchange for more variety in your meals or stay in Induction until you have shed more weight.
• If you have low metabolic resistance and have just a little weight to lose, you should definitely move on to the Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) phase so that you can move through all the phases before reaching your goal weight.
• If you have little or a moderate amount of weight to lose and low or average metabolic resistance, the choice is also up to you.
• If you have not much weight to lose but high metabolic resistance, you can also choose to move to OWL if you are willing to lose weight more slowly.

[not2late]

Re: Just found this helpful...

Additionally, you should check your weight loss results on Day 15 and compare them to the charts in the book. That's the only way you'll know what your degree of metabolic resistance is.

I'm only writing this because over the years, we've had folks who have 100 pound weight loss goals, lose 12 pounds in the first 2 weeks and think they have a high metabolic resistance to weight loss because they should have "lost" more. In reality, they should have checked the charts in the book.

[ChristyAL]

Re: Just found this helpful...

Thanks! I always have the hardest time deciding if I will move to OWL or stick with Induction. I always end up sticking with induction. However, this time I am seriously considering moving to OWL about a month into Induction.

[not2late]

Re: Just found this helpful...

Thanks! I always have the hardest time deciding if I will move to OWL or stick with Induction. I always end up sticking with induction. However, this time I am seriously considering moving to OWL about a month into Induction.

You have an 80 pound weight loss goal and you've lost 10 pounds. You have average to low metabolic resistance.

Also, that bit about weight loss slowing when you move to OWL Phase.....that "slow down" may mean losing 3.5 pounds a week rather than 4 pounds per week. If you read the OWL forums some OWLers lose more consistently and "faster" than they did languishing on extended Induction.

[ChristyAL]

Re: Just found this helpful...

You have an 80 pound weight loss goal and you've lost 10 pounds. You have average to low metabolic resistance.

Also, that bit about weight loss slowing when you move to OWL Phase.....that "slow down" may mean losing 3.5 pounds a week rather than 4 pounds per week. If you read the OWL forums some OWLers lose more consistently and "faster" than they did languishing on extended Induction.

Yes, I've been comparing my loss to the degree of metabolic resistance in the book, so far I'm on day 7 and according to the book I have a low metabolic resistance. I hope so!! I feel as though I have cheated myself (and sabotaged myself) in the past by never moving to OWL and truely learning what my triggers are and learning how to maintain. I would stay on Induction 8-9 months get down to 160-170 pounds and then......go back to eating whatever. I now realize that OWL and maintenance are a crucial part of Atkins and I don't want to cheat myself this time.