ketosis in maintenance?

[liv]

Sounds like a good plan.
Don't forget to educate yourself on the fact that protein and fat are healthy too. Our boides do very well on both those macro nutrients.

[mitzimarie]

Originally Posted by Louisea

I "stopped" atkins, by which I really mean the induction phase, introduced more "good" carbs back into my diet

To all newbies, and the not-so-newbies who are confused, please note:

Atkins has four phases:
1) Induction
2) OWL
3) Pre-Maintenance
4) Maintenance

The main reason that Atkins gets a bad reputation, is that most people assume that the 2 week Induction period is the entire "diet".

So when you move off of Induction and start adding healthy carbs, you do not "stop Atkins"... you move onto OWL.

Originally Posted by ShannonK

I was wondering about this. Do you remain in ketosis even through to the maintenance? It seems to me that ketosis is what keeps the cravings at bay.

Shannon, my understanding is that you go in and out of ketosis in the Maintenance phase. Having said that, I know that for myself, I have been in Maintenance since November 2007 and know that I am rarely in ketosis (if ever). And yes, this becomes quite tricky for me, as the appetite suppression factor is non-existant. So that makes it all the more important to carefully progress through the rungs and phases to find your CCLL and CCLM, and to determine which foods pose a problem. Unfortunately, I have many, many foods that pose problems. Thankfully, most non-starchy veggies are completely safe for me, and as long as I make most of my net carbs come from them, I can eat up to 40g net carbs to maintain.

[sallyseachange]

Originally Posted by Louisea

...i don't feel, in my opinion, that being in a state of ketosis is good for my body for a long period of time. I was severely limiting my carb intake to 20 g a day for 2 months, and my periods stopped. I "stopped" atkins, by which I really mean the induction phase, introduced more "good" carbs back into my diet, and after 3 days, my period returned (it was 3.5 weeks late).

As I understand it from others' experiences (and my own), weight loss can, and often does, have an effect on hormone levels and causes changes in ones cycle. It's quite normal and it levels out in a short time.
I had just entered menopause when I started Atkins, and suddenly got several periods again. After a while they stopped for good. Many others have had cycle changes too.

[atkinsgal08]

>>i don't feel, in my opinion, that being in a state of ketosis is good for my body for a long period of time.>>

Why not?

"Ketosis" is just shorthand for "fat burning". The opposite of fat burning is "sugar burning"? Do you think that using sugar for fuel is better for your body?

That's the question Dr. Atkins asks.

And perhaps if you move to OWL, you will find that you are eating more "good" carbs.

Progressing up the OWL ladder is how Atkins works.

What complex carbohydrates did you add back in?

J.