Induction & OWL: Should I stay or should I go?

[atkins_again]

I've read the stickies and hopefully before the end of this week, I will have finished reading the chapters covering this, but I'm hoping to hear from your personal experiences.

I've been on extended Induction for a couple of months now, and the thought of moving up to OWL never occurred to me until my upcoming cruise. I read the stickies and am now considering moving up so that I can legally stay on Atkins. Also, I have lost some considerable lbs. and inches (though still not halfway to my goal), and think it would benefit me to move up.

So, what are your thoughts? What things did you consider when you made the decision to move from Induction to OWL? What things made you ultimately decide to move to OWL? Also, is it destructive/harmful if later on I decide to move down from OWL to Induction?

[not2late]

I posted my rationale for staying on Induction for 4 months then moving on in this thread:
How Long Did You Stay On Induction?

Don't be afraid of OWL. Too many people stay on Induction all the way to the last 10 pounds then they freak out because they become so carb-phobic that they cannot add 5 net carbs.

OWL is the great phase of Atkins because you lose weight and have much more variety in your food choices. Granted you still have rules to follow and it's not a license to gorge on carby foods, but you will learn what's good and not good for your body.

I agree with you it is scary and that scary feeling becomes more scary the longer you avoid moving to OWL. But once you get to OWL, you will never want to go back to something as restrictive as Induction.

[Tired of Chub]

THe move is scarey. I was worried about moving up. Im still losing on OWL and LOVE it. (blueberrys with my morning yogurt is the best!) That first rung is only 5 more carbs of veggies you are already eating so thats not difficult at all. OWL is the stage that prepares you for the real world and you get to figure out which foods are your friends, and which cause adverse reactions in you.

[2big4mysize]

read chapter 13 of yoiur DANDR and answer the questions that will help you know if you are ready to move yet or not.
Remember you are building your house of Atkins eating and induction is your foundation and OWL is the framing testing each food group (timber) for suitability in your WOE you don't want to arrive at goal weight ready to move in and have the worlds strongest foundation and shoddy built walls which allows your House of Atkoins eating to come crashing down around you at goal and you become one of those folk who lost it and regained it cause you didn't know how foods effected you other then the induction ones.

there is a built in safety net in OWL one 5 net carbs added each time you up it. appetite suppression from deep ketosis so you know rigth away if a food is triggering cravings in you, and structured food additions so you don't test out candy this week cake next week and veggies the week after that.

Happy OWLing

[Scooterjam]

I tell you what! Go for it, I was so scared....then of course, followed by a great big "Duh!" It is so much better. Your eating and experimenting with so many quality food items, that it is really fun. Don't be afraid. Have fun with it, try different recipes, I've had things like fake mashed potatoes (out of cauliflower - don't laugh....delicious!) especially with a porkchop!, Macadamia Nuts, Salmon Patties, I'm telling you, you'll laugh at yourself later for being scared. Just share your thoughts with the group and these folks will fix you right up! Read your book, and definately read the stickies in this particular forum. Good Luck! I'm getting ready to hit that next rung...Berries!! Woo hoo!

Scooter








44 Year Old Male
Start Date: 04/17/06
Start Weight: 295 lbs.
Current Weight: 261 lbs.













I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself.
A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough
without ever having felt sorry for itself.

“Self-Pity” - D. H. Lawrence