Am I ready for OWL???

[myquest2shine]

I'm on extended induction and I plan to move to OWL after my b-day(Oct.25). Though I was thinking of staying on extended induction for a while to lose more weight ( 40 lbs) I believe it will be best for me (and as per Georgiana's advice) to move on to OWL, in order for me reach the atkins maintenance phase and help me meet my goal and maintain it..

Am I ready to do OWL? What are my food choices? Macadamias,almonds and walnuts are luxury nuts and are quite expensive here in our country.. and as much as I want to buy them, I can't afford it...Is it ok if I don't eat those? Will It be a problem?

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by myquest2shine

Am I ready to do OWL?

Not without reading the stickies in the OWL forum: Ongoing Weight Loss (OWL) - Atkins Diet. But aside from knowing the "how to's", only you can say if you are "ready".

What are my food choices?

This is the OWL Carbohydrate Ladder: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...te-ladder.html (The OWL Carbohydrate Ladder). You should add foods in that order.

Macadamias,almonds and walnuts are luxury nuts and are quite expensive here in our country.. and as much as I want to buy them, I can't afford it...Is it ok if I don't eat those? Will It be a problem?

Nope. It's fine to skip a rung. Or you could maybe choose different foods from that rung. What about seeds? Pumpkin seeds? Sunflower seeds? Sesame seeds? Are flax seeds expensive too? Is shredded coconut expensive? Or cocoa?

[myquest2shine]

[QUOTE]Nope. It's fine to skip a rung. Or you could maybe choose different foods from that rung. What about seeds? Pumpkin seeds? Sunflower seeds? Sesame seeds? Are flax seeds expensive too? Is shredded coconut expensive? Or cocoa?

Sad to say seeds are expensive too except for pumpkin and sesame seeds I guess..There are no available flax seeds in regular grocery stores, only in health stores in big expensive malls..I'l be out of budget.. Is fresh coconut allowed? shredded is expensive... Local cocoa brands are cheap but not as good as imported ones

[Georgiana]

Originally Posted by myquest2shine

except for pumpkin and sesame seeds I guess..

Those are good. You can eat pumpkin seeds as such, or you can use sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds in recipes.

Is fresh coconut allowed?

Fresh is fine. Coconut milk is fine too.

[myquest2shine]

Thanks so much Georgiana. I appreciate your help

[mizski]

There is much more to OWL than nuts & seeds. First, you would have additional veggies and then move up the rungs to add dairy, nuts/seeds, berries, etc. The link Georgiana provided on OWL will give you more ideas.

[myquest2shine]

thanks mizski..I will surely check the link

[chinadoll]

Olivia--curries with coconut milk. Mmmmmm.

[myquest2shine]

Ohhhh..I love that Jill, thanks for the tip... and there's this concoction of coconut milk with flavored gelatin cubes (may be sweetened with splenda)a refreshing beverage that we make here in the Philippines, yummm