Should I extend Induction?

[Gendoyle]

Hey everyone.

I am not sure if I should extend my induction or not and what that actually means. Will I lose quicker if I stay on the induction eating plan? Are we aloud to vary by using atkins bars etc?

[Brook]

You *can* do an extended induction for up to 6 months, according to Dr. Atkins, if you have a lot of weight to lose. If you're not having issues with the food choices and can do it for the long haul, more power to you.

It's hard to say if you'll lose faster - YMMV- I don't lose faster on an extended induction. I lose faster when I move on to OWL.

The Atkins bars and other low-carb junk food are not allowed until you've climbed the ladder to where all the ingredients in them are acceptable for you. I know the crap foods say they're induction friendly, but it's the collective experience of low-carbers most everywhere that not only are they not induction friendly - they're known stallers and trigger foods. The difference between Atkins Nutritionals and ADBBers is that Atkins Nutritionals wants your money, we just want you to be a success story! Low carb junk food is still junk food.

A lot of people choose to do a modified extended induction meaning they stay at or below 20 grams of carb, but climb the OWL ladder.

It's really up to you. Me? I'd suggest doing your two week induction and moving forward to OWL. It's there for a reason.

I wish you success!
~Brook

[not2late]

Congrats on your 9 pound loss!

Check the metabolic resistance charts in Chapter 13 of the book (DANDR 2002) to see what your degree of resistance is. Dr. Atkins wrote that

People with high metabolic resistance can benefit from doing Induction longer than two weeks because it gives them time to correct the metabolic imbalances they may have developed over time.

I agree with Brook (by the way, Welcome Back, LADY!!!!) that your mileage may vary in terms of "losing faster". It's been my experience as the OWL Forum moderator only the folks with a very high metabolic resistance find any benefit (continued weight loss) staying on Induction. Everyone else does better if they move to OWL Phase.

[sallyseachange]

I'm with Megs... extended induction is good for those with metabolic probs. Others seem to do better on OWL. The first rung particularly, which is more veggies. You can take OWL at a very leisurely pace too, unless you're close to goal.

[not2late]

Oh, I didn't realise you wanted to know what "extending Induction" means. It means you are following all the Induction Rules and eating the foods on the Induction Acceptable Foods list beyond the initial 14 days of this Diet.

It doesn't mean:

1. You eat more than 20 net carbs daily.
2. You eat/drink foods not on the Induction Acceptable Foods list, like berries, fruits, starchy vegetables, grains, alcohol, legumes, etc.
3. You pick and choose which Induction rules you want to follow and which ones you don't.

It only means you are extending your Induction phase beyond the minimal 14 days. Once you start increasing your carbs, adding on foods not allowed by the Rules/Foods list, etc. then you aren't doing Induction and you aren't doing extended Induction.

[Gendoyle]

WOW... I keep hearing the same things. Even a few girls at work who are also on Atkins suggest moving to OWL. OK... I think I can do this! LOL

Thank you everyone and I will start on OWL tomorrow... Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!

[*Emma*]

Good choice!!! OWL Rocks!

[sallyseachange]

Originally Posted by *Emma*

Good choice!!! OWL Rocks!

Ditto!

[ShannonK]

OWL is cool, I agree. Especially now that I have re-read the chapter and i realize that graduating to OWL does not mean that I can now have the atkins bars and it sure does not mean BEER!!