going to a conference...

[ShannonK]

Yes, I am still in induction, but by the time the conference rolls around, I should be in OWL. I have to plan far ahead because I live in The Netherlands and I cannot always locate the products that I may need.

I am going in March to a week long conference in Malta. I will be flying with a carry on so I am certain that I will not be able to bring liquids or agriculture items. Does anyone have suggestions?

I certainly expect that I will eat at restaurants that should have Atkins friendly items, but maybe not always. A lunch buffet may not have enough to fill me up!!

I thought that I might could bring some nuts individually wrapped with an appropriate size of one per day. What else?? Beef jerky? Should I order Atkins bars? I would love your thoughts!

[not2late]

See, how far up the Carb Ladder you get before you go to the Conference and make your food plans accordingly.

You'll be amazed that even adding a 5 additional net carbs of the Induction vegetables opens up your food choices immensely.

[ShannonK]

That is a good idea. I like that a lot actually. The last time I did this way of eating, I reached goal weight by strict induction the whole time. I am determined to do it exactly by the book this time and move through all of the rungs beginning at the 14 day mark. (No extended induction)

I have truly read the book four times (once recently) , but I still have a question for you. Do you have to hit every single rung and in the recommended order? Does that really work best?

In other words, I could do with less cheese, but some nuts or a glass of wine. I do not mind slow losing this time around.

[not2late]

That is a good idea. I like that a lot actually. The last time I did this way of eating, I reached goal weight by strict induction the whole time. I am determined to do it exactly by the book this time and move through all of the rungs beginning at the 14 day mark. (No extended induction)

Good for you. Staying on Induction to lose all your weight is really self-sabotage because once you get to goal, you haven't learned how your body reacts to food and so maintaining goal will be harder.

I have truly read the book four times (once recently) , but I still have a question for you. Do you have to hit every single rung and in the recommended order? Does that really work best?

I would say yes. If you look at the Rung arrangement, you'll see that the earlier rungs are generally lower glycemic than the upper rungs and the food portions of the lower rungs are physically larger than the lower rungs (1/2 cup pumpkin puree as compared to 1 tablespoon of oatmeal.)

And the lower rungs are generally less allergenic than the upper rungs. Nuts and seeds are the lower rung exception. Also, in the US, 1 in every 200 Americans are wheat gluten allergic or sensitive---I don't know what it's like in other countries. So the rungs are arranged so that the less problematic foods are introduced first, which gives you a better chance of continued weight loss when you begin OWL Phase.

In other words, I could do with less cheese, but some nuts or a glass of wine. I do not mind slow losing this time around.

That's the beauty of OWL. You don't have to eat cheese daily or even nuts daily. As you go through the Rungs and discover how foods affect you, you'll be able to personalize your menues. Induction really doesn't allow you to do that.

[ShannonK]

Thanks for such great responses. I am on day seven now and I feel so much better this time around. When I lost the weight before by staying on induction the whole time, I was so stressed about eating in restaurants, etc. I am much more in a place where I feel like I can do this for my whole life. I will bring a couple bags of nuts with me!

[not2late]

And once you've gotten through the rungs, you're food choices are incredibly wide. I went to a 3 day seminar and didn't stress out at all during the meals. I had my choices: scrambled eggs or boiled eggs, fresh berries, melon, rice, root veggies like carrots, etc.

I was able to pick what I could eat at the buffets and didn't have to worry about it because I'm at the point in my Atkins where a berries and even potatoes are completely okay for me to eat.

OWL truly makes eating out or eating in very easy.