Clarification Please

[Mutantmom]

Ok, in the book I am reading it really does not outline in detail OWL. Ok, so each week 5g of carbs are added to our diet every day until we find that level at which we stall. What I don't see is which foods should be avoided early on (I understand that each 5g increase is considered a rung) so in 7 days I could be on rung 7 or I might still be on rung 1 because that is where I stall...I also have read here that there are certain foods to be eaten at certaint times while moving through OWL, veggies first (which ones I don't know and grains last) but what is inbetween? I am looking in the section Typical Ongoing Weigth Loss (OWL) Menu, it lists 2 carbo grams of bran crispbread...WTH is that?

It states on page 175 that 13 average strawberries is a five gram increment, what does he qualify as average?

Does it really matter what I add and when? Maybe one of his other books is better at outlinging this.

thanks,
mutantmom

[Mutantmom]

Re: Clarification Please

Ok, I did a little research on this site and found the OWL Ladder List...where did it come from?

mutantmom

[mizski]

Re: Clarification Please

We go by DANDR 2002ed. That is where the OWL ladder came from. I'm not sure what book you are using. You would NOT be on Rung 7 in seven days.

[Elizellen]

Re: Clarification Please

Here is a link to the OWL forum
Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) - Atkins Diet

Maybe start with the thread 'How to do OWL' first then read some of the other sticky threads to get the idea of how to get started?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: Clarification Please

>>where did it come from?>>

The book, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution, Chapter 14.

>>in the book I am reading it really does not outline in detail OWL.>>

What book are you reading?

>>so in 7 days I could be on rung 7>>

Not really.

>> It states on page 175 that 13 average strawberries is a five gram increment, what does he qualify as average? >>

Good question. That's why a lot of us weigh our food.

[Elizellen]

Re: Clarification Please

>> It states on page 175 that 13 average strawberries is a five gram increment, what does he qualify as average? >>

Good question. That's why a lot of us weigh our food.

I weigh out 4 ounces weight of strawberries which according to the nutrition panel on the pack I buy is roughly 5 net grams. It was not 13 in number but 2 very big ones, some medium and a couple of small ones

Had them with some fullfat greek yogurt last night

[Mutantmom]

Re: Clarification Please

Thank you for all of your responses, I think...on Monday...I am going to move my carbs back up to twenty daily and after two weeks of that I will move into OWL...I know I keep dragging this out but I am still scared of moving on. I am, however, craving other foods in the evening, not sweets, but my dh brought in strawberries last night, I know I'm not at that rung yet, but I sure would have liked to at least considered them for the future.

So I am going to do what I've not done in 10 years...moving out of Induction...

So scared
mutantmom

[Elizellen]

Re: Clarification Please

Good for you for deciding to take that scarey step into the unknown world of OWL
Remember, we are here to hold your hand if needed

[Mutantmom]

Re: Clarification Please

Good for you for deciding to take that scarey step into the unknown world of OWL
Remember, we are here to hold your hand if needed

Thank you so much for the offer!!! I am SURE to take you up on it. I won't start until Monday, I will take the weekend to prepare foods, figure out menus on Fitday and just get ready, I will be at 20g on Monday and will do that for a week, if I continue to lose I will move onto Rung 1 on Saturday...

Again, thank you so much for the response.

mutantmom

[not2late]

Re: Clarification Please

OWL is a wonderful place. It is when Atkins becomes individualized. And the Diet becomes easier to do because your food choices increase.

[WetBanana]

Re: Clarification Please

I am enjoying OWL. I was worried at the beginning too...thinking that because I had SOOOO much weight to lose that I should stay on induction indefinitely, but then I realized that if I wasn't going to move on, how would I learn what my body needs?

I lost a fair amount in my two weeks of induction so I knew I wasn't one of the very few people who have bodies that resist weight loss, so I took the plunge.

83 lbs down (still not even halfway yet) and I am really enjoying myself. I'm learning about indulging too much, I'm learning what foods don't agree with me, what ones make me stall, etc., etc. I've had my share of going off plan, but I jump right back on and make the commitment to keep going forward because I know this works.

Moving forward is good It brings you that much closer to your goals.

[forbey]

Re: Clarification Please

Ok, in the book I am reading it really does not outline in detail OWL. Ok, so each week 5g of carbs are added to our diet every day until we find that level at which we stall. What I don't see is which foods should be avoided early on (I understand that each 5g increase is considered a rung) so in 7 days I could be on rung 7 or I might still be on rung 1 because that is where I stall...I also have read here that there are certain foods to be eaten at certaint times while moving through OWL, veggies first (which ones I don't know and grains last) but what is inbetween? I am looking in the section Typical Ongoing Weigth Loss (OWL) Menu, it lists 2 carbo grams of bran crispbread...WTH is that?

It states on page 175 that 13 average strawberries is a five gram increment, what does he qualify as average?

Does it really matter what I add and when? Maybe one of his other books is better at outlinging this.

thanks,
mutantmom

Unfortunately, I believe the rung concept is confusing for many.

If you are on Induction, limiting your carbs to 20 net carbs per day and you choose to move to the "next rung" or begin OWL; the first day you would bump your carbs to 25 and and maintain that level for whatever period you choose. To me, I would probably make the jumps on whatever I consider the first day of my diet week. So for the first wekk (or period) on rung 1 you would stick with 25 net carbs per day.

If you moved up to the next rung(s) each Monday until you left lypolisis, theoretically you would reach rung 7 on the 6th Monday following the first change to OWL.

Example:

Induction : 20 grams
OWL Rung 1: 25 g
OWL Rung 2: 30 g
OWL Rung 3: 35 g
OWL Rung 4: 40 g
OWL Rung 5: 45 g
OWL Rung 6: 50 g
OWL Rung 7: 55 g
etc.

Depending on your progress, your activity level, your specific metabolism, you might never make rung 7, you might choose to move faster or slower through the rungs and you might actually go higher than rung 7.

As your weight loss continues and you close in on your goal, you might choose to extend the rung time frame to more than one week. If you experienced a stumble, you might elect to drop back a rung or two or go back to Induction.

There are lots of variables effecting how an individual progresses through the phases of OWL, pre-mainenance and maintenance. That what makes Atkins work for so many, but always a tad different for each member.

forbey

[Mutantmom]

Re: Clarification Please

Thank you all! Ok, I'm not quite ready to do 25g daily, so starting Monday I will get myself back to 20g (I'm much less than that right now).

I think what I've done was necessary for me, I really needed to retrain myself to eat clean, eating as low carbs as I have been has really focused my intake.

Over the weekend I will build the menu for the next week (or two depending on how I feel at the end of the 20g week) and stick to that menu, I am not going to really add anything shocking...I am as bare bones as one can be right now on this woe...so adding the salad veggies will make a great difference. I will be sure to stick strictly to the induction veggies for the next week or two, after this time is up I will go to 25g and so on.

Forbey, thank you for really taking the time to explain, I do understand much better now. This is not so scary, I am actually getting excited about moving on.

That is a huge step for me

mutantmom

[nat11]

Re: Clarification Please

Could you tell us which edition of the book you are reading?

[Mutantmom]

Re: Clarification Please

Hello, I am reading DANDR 1992. I've read the new book The New Atkins for a New You and will eventually get to the 2002 book as well as the '72 book (if I can find it).

mutantmom