how long are you doing induction?

[atkinsgal08]

You can find out about your metabolic resistance by looking at Chapter 13 in your DANDR.

[Georgiana]

The reason why I asked about your metabolic resistance is because Dr. Atkins advised those who are not metabolically resistant (and you don't seem to be since you are losing 2-3 lbs per week) and have only 20-30 lbs to lose to move to OWL immediately after the 14-day Induction. Reading Chapters 12-14 in DANDR will help you evaluate your progress and make the transition from Induction to OWL.

My opinion is that you should move to OWL. You have 20 lbs left to lose. The last 5-10 lbs should be lost in Pre-Maintenance. So you have at most 15 lbs to lose in OWL. You will be adding a new food not more than three times a week. Think how many new foods you want to add, while also increasing your carbs and moving up the Carbohydrate Ladder. If you want to do this properly, it takes more time that you think.

[Elizellen]

OWL is easier to do if you are still losing at a rate of a couple of pounds a week. Once you are closer to goal and losing at a slower rate of maybe 0.5 pounds a week it is much harder to tell if you are still losing or if the foods you are adding are affecting the losing process!

[JulieB]

I did induction for 3 weeks.

A lot of people on extended induction seem to think they need 8-9 weeks to do OWL...but that just isn't true. You need a week for EACH FOOD on each rung! Thats is a week each for cottage cheese, ricotta, extra sour cream, milk, almonds, peanuts (or PB), cashews, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, honeydew....that's 13 weeks right there, and just examples for rungs 2, 3 and 4!
Good luck!

[bellajgw]

I've been on Induction for 6 weeks, but I had planned on doing about 8-10 weeks. I have a lot of trouble with cravings, sweet tooths, and addictions to sugar so I wanted to feel solid on 20 grams of carbs a day before starting to move into OWL. I know that once I begin to add more carbs, fruits, nuts, etc, it will be important for me to have a full grasp on my addictions. The fact that I've cheated 3 times in 6 weeks shows me that I made the right decision.

But then again, I have a lot more to lose than you do. I'm looking at 80 pounds or so and I've lost 18 in the past 6 weeks (with cheats and all). I'm not complaining though. I think 8-10 weeks is still my goal, perhaps by November I will begin OWL, and do it slowly.

Has anyone done OWL two weeks per rung? Its been a little while since I read the book and have to find it again, but I think spending a little extra time on each rung would be better for me. Is there a specific reason why I should not take a little extra time in each OWL rung or would that be fine?

[liv]

Two weeks? I think I spent more than 2 months and on this last rung I have been just about 6 months. As Julie just said in the post above you, if you like you can dwell a long time on each rung and try out one item per week and do lots of items. This is what I have done.

[atkinsgal08]

>> Has anyone done OWL two weeks per rung?>>

OWL isn't about "weeks".

Two weeks may not be enough for some rungs ... and it might be too long for others!