Questions and Answers About Atkins OWL Phase

Questions and Answers About Atkins OWL Phase

The second phase of the Atkins diet program is called Ongoing Weight Loss or OWL. After the rapid weight loss of the 2-week Induction phase, you'll be slowing your weight loss down just a bit. You'll include in specific carbohydrates that will make your diet program a little easier and your weight loss just a bit slower. Yet, you will continue to lose weight at a steady even pace without any problem.

During the OWL phase you will supercharge your body's ability to burn fats. Although you'll be adding carbs slowly, you'll still stay in the state of ketosis. You will continue to use your extra fat as fuel for your system, and the pounds and inches will continue to come off.

The OWL phase will also teach you to make better carbohydrate choices. The recipes and directives for OWL will improve your knowledge about nourishing food. You'll replace the poor carbohydrate alternatives that you relied on in the past with new and better alternatives.

Questions and Answers About Atkins OWL Phase

You'll also learn how many carbohydrates you can consume and still lose weight. The process of the OWL phase is an experiment in what your specific body does with carbs. During the OWL phase, you'll gradually improve your daily carb intake from the 20-gram level that you used in induction. Every week you'll try adding another 5 grams of carbs and then take heed of what happens. When weight loss slows too much, you'll know that you've exceeded your own personal carb limit.

OWL also prepares you for your permanent weight management program (called maintenance). The habits and practices that you develop all the while OWL will go quite some distance toward your long-term success. Treat this period of your food intake as training for the real "test" - your post diet life.

During the OWL phase, you'll still be getting most of your carbs from vegetables (just as you do during Induction). It's important to continue to eat a wide variety of vegetables, as they're good for your overall health and beneficial to maintaining intestinal health during the Atkins diet program. You will be able to add more portions of vegetables, and then gradually be in a position to add nuts, seeds and even berries. Although, the principle focus of the diet program will still be protein.

In a way, the Induction phase is simpler than any of the other phases of Atkins. The strict plan always works and always produces weight loss. As you enter the OWL phases, you'll need to be more mindful of your carbohydrate count and keep better track of your weight. You'll have more choice and that might result in more temptations, which might run to a stalling of your weight reduction or even weight gain.

Counting carbohydrate grams is critical in your OWL success. If you do not count, you will finish up consuming more carbs than you ought to. Still, the're a great many tools available that can be of help you with counting. There are lots of handy, portable books that will let you know the amount of grams of carbohydrates in particular foods. Over time, you'll be aware the "carb count" for your favorite foods instantly.

Counting carbs is in addition essential during the OWL phase as you are playing detective. You are investigating to find your own personal carb count, the volume of carbohydrate grams that you are able to eat daily and still slim down. During the first week of OWL, you'll move from 20 carbohydrate grams to 25. It is advisable that you add this in the type of more vegetables, like asparagus or cauliflower. You'll hold on to at the 25-gram level for a week, and then move up to 30 grams a day.

As you grow your carbohydrate gram level, watch your weight closely. If you go through too a good deal of slowdown, you know you've gone high. You'll find your maximum carbohydrate gram level when you stop losing weight at all. When this takes place, you'll know you've arrived at the country your limit. Once you discover your own personal carb count, drop down below that number if you prefer to continue losing weight.

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