Taken from a response to someone working on that decision.

regarding induction and owl-to me the decision is best made on where you're at and what you're trying to accomplish. if you're staying on induction out of a sense of obligation--i.e. you haven't fulfilled the "rules" yet so you don't want to count it as done--and that's the only reason, i don't know how helpful it really is.

induction serves several purposes from my perspective, anywho:

• detoxing your body from sugar. this is job one and explains the "induction flu" many people get the first 3-4 days. once you get that out of your system, you feel ten times better.
  
• kick your body into fat-burning mode. once those carbs aren't available to burn for energy, your body turns to attack the fat instead. this is when you're in ketosis. you get the weird taste in your mouth, the energy surges, and your appetite dramatically decreases. added bonus: exercise during ketosis is much more effective than "regular" exercise. normally, your body will burn the carb-juice you got first, and then move on to burning fat. you get to fast-forward to the most effecitve part of the exercise when low-carbing. less work for the same results. how cool is that?
  
• change your tastes. a couple of weeks without sugar, an apple slice with taste like the most decadent dessert you've ever had!
  
• getting a sense of control over your eating. having a fairly regimented start, and getting those induction perks you get when you're working the program goes a long way towards feeling like you're ruling your eating instead of your eating ruling you!
  
• get those losses going. i list this last for a reason: it's the least important! (to me, anyway). but it's the one we almost always focus on, too. having solid losses is a good way to keep your motivation and enthusiam up to make the habit changes you need to make to integrate lc into your life.

so regarding moving on, i would ask you this: have you experienced all or most of these results? and regardless of your weight loss rate, are you losing inches? (you did measure, right? ) are your clothes looser? do you have more energy and less appetite? how do you feel physically?

the tough part about eating off-plan during induction is, depending on what you're eating and how often, if it's enough off-plan eating to kick you out of ketosis (fat-burning mode), you miss some of the most helpful benefits of low-carbing we just talked about. ketosis is the "magic" of low-carbing.

if you feel you've experienced the benefits/helpful parts of induction to your satisifaction, then you may well choose to move on to owl. if you haven't yet, then consider continuing induction for a little while longer. i wouldn't demand 2 full weeks of yourself, but maybe one week or even 3-4 days, as long as you do try to stay on-plan for the period you have decide on. that way, you're maximizing your benefits and minimizing the induction restrictions.

and that's also why i often encourage folks to follow the plan more strictly, especially in the beginning. many people sort of pick and choose the parts they want to follow and then wonder why it doesn't work for them.

i would suggest that you take stock of where you're at, and how well your induction has done it's work so far, and decide from there. ultimately, of course, it's up to you what feels right and what you can best live with. a "strict, full induction" means nothing if you get discouraged and chuck the whole way of eating because you don't feel successful.

but whatever you decide, remember: you are making improvements! that makes you a success. it's not about compliance with rules or whatever. it's about finding a way of eating that supports your long-term goals and fits into your life. it's so important to celebrate all your successes, big and small, and know that by continually moving forward at whatever pace works for you, you can't help but reach your goals!

good luck, and peace out from the somewhat long-winded goddess.

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Fat Baggage- Is Yours Packed?

As always an excellent post Goddess.

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Libby

2004 174/142/138

Begin Again 2007

164/159/142

This could be said of every stage. The longer I spend on LC, the more I realize there's no "typical," no timetable, no formula that guarantees results for everyone equally. Although I consider myself in maintenance, I never stop finding ways to keep the LC lifestyle fresh and livable. Otherwise, it's just another diet--and I'll be back where I started in five years.

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Bravo, Dix, Bravo!!!!!! Standing ovation!!! You are one of the WISEST people I know, on this planet!!!!

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