Induction beyond 2 weeks?

[kelly]

Hey all... i have been wondering about something. I have read studies on the good doctor's web site about induction being safely followed for up to 6 months. However, I have read posts here about being caught up in a low daily carb allowence for OWL and maintenance if you stay on induction too long. So my question is.. for those of us needing too lose 100 or more, what is a safe amount of time to follow induction?

tia,
kelly

[Rhalvahn]

Kelly ,
Best term to learn is YMMV (Your mileage may vary). I've been doing Atkins for almost 6 months, and my daily carb count varies. Somedays I barely hit 20, somedays I'm up to 40. I did 2 weeks of induction, then faithfully added back in the 5 carbs per week. That lasted for about 3 weeks of faithfully counting, but once I learned what I could 'live' within (and still lose), I stopped keeping strict count. I try to vary my carb count - high one day, low the next, low the next, medium the next, etc etc - keeps my body guessing what I'm doing, and it seems to be working faithfully.

As of this morning, I've lost 39 pounds in 20 weeks, which averages out to about 2 pounds a week . I incorporated excercise fairly early on, and highly recommend an activity (physical) of some sort.

Make sure that you watch what you are eating... I faithfully eat at Quizno's - the flat bread rocks - and would get brocolli cheese soup (doesn't that sound Atkins friendly?) - and it ISN"T. I still lost weight, but slowly! Darn sneaky hidden carbs!

Good luck!
Dee

[CushieButterfield]

Atkins does say for metabolically reisistant people more than 2 weeks of induction could be necessary. I had thought of staying on it longer but just kept around 35 and I was golden losing 3 pounds a week. Of course after five months that stopped then there was a month of nothing then losses again. (I'm hoping to repeat that with my re-start whenever that really happens.)

It's easy when you have a great deal to lose to want to do it as quickly as possible but don't try and push yourself too hard because in the long run it rarely works out. Whereas if you lose the right way, you are more likely to keep it off.

Stick with it (yes, I need to follow my own advice) and you should do well. If you fall off (as I have done) you can always come back (though for me not as easily as the first time).

[kelly]

Dee, sounds like you have a great plan going and that you are listening to what your body needs. congrats! that is awesome and i hope to be there one day soon. i guess the old saying "slow and steady stays the course" is approapiate here. i know this is true but i guess sometimes it is easy to get in a rush and want the pounds to fall off yesterday! 2 pounds a week is a great pace.. better than my gaining 2 pounds a week, lol.

thanks for the advice

[kelly]

Noel, thanks for pointing out what Dr. A said about staying longer... i need to re-read his book and refresh my memory i might be able to go 4 weeks on induction, but it is so restrictive it would be hard to stay on for a really long time. i think you are right about "losing the right way" instead of losing fast. I really feel motivated like i can stick to it this time and reach my goal--thanks to so many encouragers here on LCE. I have not yet started, my family and I will be traveling over the upcoming holiday.. so I am looking to start on 5/31 if all goes well.

thanks again Noel, your success to date is very inspiring!

wish me luck

[kelly]

PS- Noel, your little guy is a doll!

[CushieButterfield]

Thanks, Kelly. I think so too.

I think waiting until the traveling is over is a great idea. The first week is hard and you'll probably do better waiting and concentrating on it when you are in a familiar place.

This weekend I have no plans but lounging by the pool. I'm really trying to get back on track. No more messing around!

[kelly]

ahhh... sounds like a perfect weekend. i'd love to join you! lol

the mental part is just as important.. the right mindset really goes a long way when you are changing a lifetime of bad eating habits. this is where/why i have fallen off so many times before. i think i'm ready in every way this time.

[hdyhouse]

Kelly, I have been following the Atkins plan for almost 21 months now. I wanted to lose over 100 pounds and did induction level carbs (20 or less) for 9 months before I started OWL and had no adverse effects. I found doing induction level was a lot easier than trying to hit a specific carb levels for OWL. I had stalls on induction and am having one now after 115 pound loss. However, a low carb WOE is a lifestyle change, not a diet, so I continue following the Atkins plan and am not worried about when I will reach by "right" weight. I figure my body will let me know.

[kelly]

wow! congrats on the loss hdyhouse! may i ask what your daily carb level is now and if you are increasing by 5 every week?

[hdyhouse]

I began this stall at 50 grams at the same time an injury prevented me from continuing the exercise schedule I was maintaining. I am now able to resume the exercise routine and I am now doing no more than 40 grams of carb a day until I start losing again, then I will increase by 5 grams a week.

[kelly]

i hope your injury has healed. sounds like you are doing an awesome job! i guess i will see how it goes with induction for me. if i can keep my menus interesting and control cravings, it would be nice to speed the weight loss up a tad by staying with induction. thank you for sharing... very motivating results!

[hdyhouse]

Kelly, I was at 50 grms a day when an injury prevented me from continuing my exercise program. At that time I also began what is now the longest stall I have encountered. I am now able to resume the exercise regiment but have cut the carbs back to no more than 40. According to Atkins New Diet Revolution, when I went into OWL, I decided to increase daily carbs by 5 grms every 3-4 weeks, instead of weekly, since I still had 40-50 pounds I wanted to lose. That approach also allowed me to get used to the adjustment in my menu's to accomodate the increased carbs, before increasing the level again. For example, I would continue with one of my induction level menu's, but for those mornings when I had an omelet, I would add 1/2 cup of onion to the omelet or I would increase tomatoes in my lunch or dinner when I did not have the omelet for breakfast. While I had variety on Induction at 20 grms or less, being able to increase daily carbs to 30-40 really opened up my menus. When I had stalls during induction, I continued at the same level and eventually continued losing. That is the approach I am following now. When I begin losing again, I will increase my carbs by 5 grms every 2- 3 weeks, rather than weekly. I suspect that the lack of exercise caused me to lose what I saw referred to on other web sites as the "silver bullet". That is the effect of losing weight more easily the first time you go on a low carb eating and exercise plan, than going on and off. I suspect that is the result of the body saying you can fool me once, but not twice. For me, it is no longer critical that I lose weight as I have been off blood pressure medication for 8 months (current bp 118/62) and my total cholesterol is down to 157 (HDL 56, LDL and Triglycerides both so low they are outside the measuring parameters of the testing machine). The Atkins approach does work, but it is up to you to make it happen. Good luck.

[Goddess]

kelly-of course as others have said, your milage may vary and people address it different ways.

i personally like to see people go into owl around week 3 because most of the time, the additional menu choices are helpful to keep from being bored or feeling deprived, their bodies really _aren't_ metabolically resistant to loss, and the drive to continue induction is more about being in a great big hurry to lose it. people often cling to induction out of fear, not realizing that for many, up'ing the carbs can sometimes get losses restarted.

which i understand, but can trip you up if you're not careful. how fast you lose it doesn't matter: only that you have a lifestyle you are happy and comfortable with, and thereby you can KEEP it off.

i think of it this way, for me: i need to know how to eat to maintain my losses and incorporate it into my life. if i'm happier with my food choices available and don't feel deprived in any way, then i don't care if it takes an extra 6 months or a year or whatever, to help me stay thin and healthy for LIFE.

i think i know how you're feeling, and i know when you have 100+ to lose, you do count minutes at first because it seems like it will take forever and all that. but it's not the speed, it's consistency. i lost over 100lb in about a year by being consistent, averaging around 2lbs a week. i didn't stay in induction, but during that time, i DID develop the kind of habits that will let me maintain my losses forever. and how cool is that?

[kelly]

goddess (or should i say SUGARFREE lol)- that is very cool! you and so many others here on the board are such a great inspiration. i have been lurking and posted only a few times. i love reading the posts!

i have tried and failed a few times, but i have my mind set this time! I agree that it is not a race to lose and i certainly know that i did not gain 120 pounds over night. it'll take some time to get the weight off. as long as i feel good and my health improves-that is the most important thing to me.

i guess it's the ole "american mentality".. if a little is good, a lot is better! hehe i started induction today, a week after i planned, but i kicked the caffeine habit last week and started upping my water intake. i can get to about 80-90 oz so far. but, man... i get up all night long to pee!

so far today i have had

3 eggs - scrambled with cheddar cheese
3 slices of chicken (lunch meat)
60oz of water <-----I may make my goal of 130 oz today

thanks to everyone for the advice on this, you all are the greatest!