Does weightloss slowdown with OWL?

[penniedo]

I'm a little nervous thinking about moving onto the OWL Phase. I am loosing weight in induction really really slowly, like 2.5 lbs a week. I'm afraid if I move into OWL I will loose even slower which will make me discouraged. I'm now going into week 4 of induction. Any advice??

[Moochiecat]

Give this a read first.
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5090

You have a modest weight loss goal of 22 pounds.
I started out with 70 pounds to lose and began losing around 5 pounds a week and now that I'm within 25 pounds of my goal (which puts us in a similar situation...I just saw that we're the same age as well) I've noticed that the weight loss has slowed down. This is normal, this is natural, this is just the way it is.


Being so close to goal and losing 2.5 pounds a week is GREAT! It puts you right about where you should be and according to DANDR you have a normal metabolism.
If you were currently 285 and only losing 2.5 a week, then there would be cause for concern, but at a starting weight of 140, you are right on track.

This is where patience, dedication and trust in the plan comes into play. You will lose in OWL, but keep in mind that as you have less to lose, it comes off slower.
Don't be scared of OWL...it helps you become prepared to maintain this way of eating for life once you hit your goal.

As 2big4mysize said:
You have done a great job on the foundation of your House of Atkins but build those walls now so your roof stays up when you get to goal.

[not2late]

Originally Posted by penniedo

I'm a little nervous thinking about moving onto the OWL Phase. I am loosing weight in induction really really slowly, like 2.5 lbs a week. I'm afraid if I move into OWL I will loose even slower which will make me discouraged. I'm now going into week 4 of induction. Any advice??

Do you know what most health experts consider to be a "good" rate of weight loss? 1-2 pounds per week.

That's the double-edged sword of Atkins. You lose sight of fact that the 4-7 pounds per week losses is really "rapid" weight loss and you begin to think that "normal weight loss" is "slow".

As you get closer to your goal weight, your weight loss will slow down---Dr. Atkins mentions that in the book. But the trick with OWL is you add 5 net carbs incrementally until you stop losing weight. Then you back off by 5 net carbs and see if you lose again. You can eat close to your CCLL or you can eat below it. Eating below it doesn't mean you'll lose weight faster, eating close to it doesn't mean you'll lose weight slower.

Whatever you decide, just remember the last 5-10 pounds are to be spent in Pre-Maintenance, per Dr. Atkins. Also each phase of Atkins teaches you valuable lessons about your body that will help you maintain your goal weight.

[penniedo]

Originally Posted by Moochiecat

Give this a read first.
http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5090

You have a modest weight loss goal of 22 pounds.
I started out with 70 pounds to lose and began losing around 5 pounds a week and now that I'm within 25 pounds of my goal (which puts us in a similar situation...I just saw that we're the same age as well) I've noticed that the weight loss has slowed down. This is normal, this is natural, this is just the way it is.


Being so close to goal and losing 2.5 pounds a week is GREAT! It puts you right about where you should be and according to DANDR you have a normal metabolism.
If you were currently 285 and only losing 2.5 a week, then there would be cause for concern, but at a starting weight of 140, you are right on track.

This is where patience, dedication and trust in the plan comes into play. You will lose in OWL, but keep in mind that as you have less to lose, it comes off slower.
Don't be scared of OWL...it helps you become prepared to maintain this way of eating for life once you hit your goal.

As 2big4mysize said:
You have done a great job on the foundation of your House of Atkins but build those walls now so your roof stays up when you get to goal.

Thank's Moochicat, You make a ton of sense. I read all the posts of people loosing 8lbs in their very first week and I start to wonder why not me?? Thanks for helping me think about this in a clearer way. Hey, are you a cat lover too?? Another thing we have in common?? Haha! You should be very proud, you look absolutly fabulous!!

[Moochiecat]

Oh good, glad it all made sense to!
Yes, my bf and I are big-time cat/animal lovers as well...it's kind of sad..lol
Ty for the compliment, and all the best to you!

[penniedo]

Originally Posted by not2late

Do you know what most health experts consider to be a "good" rate of weight loss? 1-2 pounds per week.

That's the double-edged sword of Atkins. You lose sight of fact that the 4-7 pounds per week losses is really "rapid" weight loss and you begin to think that "normal weight loss" is "slow".

As you get closer to your goal weight, your weight loss will slow down---Dr. Atkins mentions that in the book. But the trick with OWL is you add 5 net carbs incrementally until you stop losing weight. Then you back off by 5 net carbs and see if you lose again. You can eat close to your CCLL or you can eat below it. Eating below it doesn't mean you'll lose weight faster, eating close to it doesn't mean you'll lose weight slower.

Whatever you decide, just remember the last 5-10 pounds are to be spent in Pre-Maintenance, per Dr. Atkins. Also each phase of Atkins teaches you valuable lessons about your body that will help you maintain your goal weight.

Thanks Not2late! I was convinced that since I'm loosing the weight so slowly that I must be either at or very close to my CCLL and I would never be able to eat above the 20 carbs. Your explaination made me feel 100 times better!! Thanks!

[2big4mysize]

we actually have two current OWlers who lost faster in OWL then in induction.

Just remember each pound lost represents a % of your needed to lose weight. 10 pounds for somebody needing to lose 100 pounds ia the same as 1 pound for someone needing to lose 10 pounds.
You are doing great.

Happy low carbing