question about extended induction

[Julie_IL]

Are folks choosing to stay on extended induction and doing it totally following induction? I mean are you only choosing foods from the induction categories or is it being considered extended induction because of carbs remaining under 20?
I am just trying to figure out what to do here... Thanks for your input.

[blueberrylady]

Have you read the stickies in the 'how to do Atkins' section. I think it's in the Introduction to Atkins on the main menu. I think people who have a lot to lose choose to stay on induction but not all. It's up to the individual. Good luck!

[liv]

Extended induction should be just like induction - eating carbs mostly from veggies from the allowed list and not eating other foods.

[Julie_IL]

Thanks for replying. That was really my question...if it was strictly like the 14 day induction or more just 20 carbs. Thanks Again!

[Elizellen]

Some people like to stay to a lowish carb count but move on up the OWL rungs by swapping out the 5 net carb additions as they try the different foods. Here we describe this method of adding other non-induction foods as 'Modified OWL'.

You still would need to make sure you have at least your 'more than half' of your net carbs from your induction vegetables, but could add 5 net carbs of more veg the first week and see if you still lose, then drop the extra 5 net carbs of veg and try 5 net carbs of dairy.

Then if all goes well (no cravings or other blood sugar problems and still losing weight) drop the dairy and try nuts/seeds - on this rung Dr Atkins said to add just one ounce of most nuts instead of a whole 5 net carbs.

Then try berries, then alcohol, then legumes and so on up the carb ladder, each time dropping the lower rung foods in place of the new rung foods.

Thus you could expand your food choices while still eating up to 25 (or whatever low level you decide to stick at) net carbs.

Of course at some time you would need to start adding carbs in order to find out how many carbs you can eat and still lose weight.

Also Dr Atkins did expect us to have done OWL phase and be ready to move to premaintenance phase when we have 5-10 pounds still left to lose so we can lose those last few pounds 'almost imperceptibly' over a few months and be prepared to stay at goal weight when we segué into maintenance phase of Atkins.