hoping someone can answer this question for me

[praire]

Hi all i am new to low carbing. I am wondering how long you can stay on induction? I have quite a bit of weight to lose so how long is to long for induction

[Georgiana]

It is safe to stay on Induction for 6 months or longer. However, just because it's safe it does not mean it's the best strategy.

After the first two weeks of Induction, you will determine your degree of metabolic resistance from the charts in Ch. 13 of DANDR 2002. Dr. Atkins wrote that those who are metabolically resistant can benefit from doing Induction longer, because it gives them time to correct metabolic imbalances they have developed from years of bad eating. Therefore, these folks might prefer to stay on Induction for longer than two weeks. Those who have a lot of weight to lose (not 20-30 lbs) might consider doing Induction a little longer too.

But food boredom or a low metabolic resistance are signs that one needs to move to OWL. Your weight loss rate will slow down as you get closer to your goal while moving up the Carbohydrate Ladder (because you'll be left with less weight to lose and because you are working to find your CCLL), but from what I've seen at ADBB, adding a few more veggie carbs won't stall anyone. On the contrary, some people who stop losing weight after doing Induction for a long time begin to lose weight again/faster when they move to OWL.

What you need is to do a clean Induction and read Ch. 12 and 13 in DANDR. The explanations, tests and charts in these two chapters will help you decide what is best for you: to move to OWL or to continue with Induction beyond the first two weeks.

[RitaCeleste]

As long as you are loosing weight, and happy with the diet, I think you can stay on induction. I stayed on it too long and ended up cheating a bit more because I wanted foods I couldn't have on induction. Plus while I was on extended induction, I was thinking I couldn't possibly eat certain things and still loose weight. It turned out that I could eat some other things and still loose weight. I wish I had of done the rungs earlier. I can eat a little of certain fruits and still loose. Most days I eat like I'm on induction and don't have any of the extra stuff. I just really like having options.

[imagood1]

How much do you have to loose? I agree with Georgiana and Rita, the best thing to do is get through the 2 week induction and see how well you do, then depending on how much you have to loose make your decision.

[WetBanana]

I have a lot of weight to lose. I thought that I would do an extended induction, but I decided against it when I realized that the first rung was an extra 5 carbs of veggies. I re-thought my reasoning behind wanting to stay in induction and decided that I really should slowly move up the ladder. I still have plenty left to lose, but I just finished my first two weeks on Rung 3 and am still losing nicely, so am starting to think about Rung 4. I just want a plan of action first.

I eat like I'm on Rung 1 most days, every now and then when I'm hankering for something a little more I take on Rung 3 (like last night I added half a cup of pine nuts to DH's and my sauteed veggies for an extra carb count of 4 net carbs). It's not only great for satiety reasons, but it's fantastic to have new textures.

[mission to lose]

Welcome Praire,

Also why don't you go to
THE SPOTLIGHT INTRODUCE YOURSELF and introduce yourself. You will be greeted with more helpful info.

And in your signature, it is helpful to put some info such as your height, weight, goals, maybe your age, so in the future when you ask questions, some of that info will be helpful when determining an answer.

[phil h]

Been on induction since middle of Feb.Have no plans to leave this woe.Not for everyone, but I enjoy it .Side benifit is going from a 42" waist to a 32". Being lean and healthy is very nice.Good luck to all.

[Georgiana]

You might want to check this thread, to read Aways2Go's experience with moving to OWL: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...too-few-2.html (carb consumption question - too few?)

And here you can read what happened to Sachet when she moved to OWL: http://www.atkinsdietbulletinboard.c...owl-great.html (OWL is GREAT!)

Some members who still have 50 or more lbs to lose have also moved to OWL and they keep losing while enjoying more food variety. I know there are more, but the first names that come to my mind now are Mizski, JulieB and imagood1 (Carole).

And remember from Ch. 17 that doing Induction until goal is not the correct way to follow Atkins. Plus, I can tell you from my own experience, that finding your CCLL when you have little weight left to lose is pretty difficult.