[firefly68]

I'm reading more about OWL now in Dr. Atkins' book, and I'm just wondering about all the rungs. I suppose that essentially, OWL is about experimentation, with us being our own Guinea Pigs. We slowly add more carbs back into our lives and see how many we can handle while still losing weight.

Theoretically speaking, if one were to continue eating only 20 or less carbs a day, wouldn't she still continue to lose weight regardless of which OWL items she added back into her diet?

And wouldn't that weight loss still continue pretty much at the Induction rate or something still more rapid than the phase 3?

[honeybjones]

I think the rate would slow down regardless because that's just the way it goes. You always lose quickly right after a dietary change and also when you have more to lose, you lose it faster. <shrug> I am a little ambivelant about the rungs because I don't really care about too many of those items. I said somewhere else the only thing I really wanted to add in was beans, which are some of the best carbs you can get. Oh and little powdered donuts.

[JerseyGyrl]

The purpose of OWL is to add more variety to your daily eating. Most people (not all) get tired & bored with the limited food choices on Induction. OWL permits you to add more veggies, nuts, fruit, starchier veggies and eventually grains. And as you mentioned, it allows you to determine your carb level for continuing to lose or to maintain, whichever the case may be. We are all different so, everyone's individual carb tolerance level is going to be different. I personally keep my carbs low but, don't necessarily eat Induction only foods. I believe through trial & error we all find what works for us

[firefly68]

Thanks, both of you make a lot of sense. I remember reading that post of yours, honeybjones; I'm with you about not really caring for many of the items that can be added back in.

Like JerseyGyrl, I also don't feel a need for more carbs. I'm very happy with my 20 or less -- and most days in Induction, I haven't succeeded in getting 20 carbs into my day. I'm now thinking of just playing a little with what those 20 carbs are made of.

[janus]

am i right to assume that once we reach that magic number then if we eat below it we lose and if we hit the number we dont lose or gain but stay the same - what if say you wanted a item from rung 3 or 4 but your ccl was only 10 net carbs above induction do you have to climb the ladder in the way atkins suggested or could i have items from rung 3 or 4 if i felt i was having enough veg