Hi. Tomorrow marks 1 week of Atkins for me. I am down from 176 to 168 - woo-hoo. 8 down, 40 to go.

Couple questions if you have a minute

1) Caffine - what do you do? I do not drink coffee or tea, but am a coke/diet coke addict. I have not had one all week, but am wondering as I go on, would a diet coke a day be that bad? Any thoughts or opinions appreciated.

2) OWL - as I am tracking my carb intake, I am finding that I am well under 20 g of carbs. I am planning on 4 weeks of induction, then OWL. When I start OWL, should I jump to 25, or should I do 5 more than my average on induction.

Thanks!

Hi Bailey

Here is my opinion Id stay away from the diet coke, diet sodas in general. The aspartame may cause a stall or spike your sugar cravings. Some of us here have found that aspartame does this to us. If you have licked the diet coke habit, You would probably be best to stay away from it. Use it as a "treat" once in a while maybe? Thats what I do with diet vanilla coke, once every 3-4 weeks (during pms)

As for your OWL, do what works best for you. I increased an average of 5 carbs per day compared to what I was eating, which was usually around 15-18. You might find that if your only eating 15 and you have increased to 25, you may trigger sugar cravings. Then again you might not. It would with me, so just remember that everyone is different and do what is best for you.

Hope this helped

Thanks Robin!

Not what I wanted to hear on the diet coke front, but I do know it needs to be done. Just needed a little reinforcement of that! (I almost put one in the fridge last night...

As for OWL, good advice. I may continue where I am and then try to get up to 20 before moving on to OWL, we will see.

Again, thanks for the input. I feel myself weakening a bit only one week in...

I still have Diet Coke. I have cut WAY back to like one or two a day, but I still have it. I know several people who have lost 70+ with Atkins and without having cut back on Diet Coke at ALL so I'm thinking a little can't hurt. IF I reach a point where everything else is right and I"m not losing, then I'll consider cutting out the CD but as for now, I LIKE it. I ENJOY it. I like the taste. I don't plan to give it up.

Dead on, Nicole. I never gave up coffee either. We do have to have some semblence of a real life!
That being said, there are some folks who find their weightloss slows or stops from caffeine and/or artificial sweeteners.

OK - I am drooling as the two of you say that it might not be so bad to have a diet coke - sad, huh?

Think this is what Dr. Atkins referrs to as addiction?

Still, I think I will finish my second induction week out with none, then maybe add 1 a week and track my weight and menu the next couple days?

Thanks for the responses.

Sounds good Bailey, I didnt give up my coffee either.