How long does it take to finish atkins

[Rennie]

So i went on atkins for 3 months, lost 2 stone or more and then christmas came along. I was planning on going on induction and then slowly going off of it after christmas day but lazyness set in and couldn't be bothered to go through all that time coming off. Ive now put all the weight back on . This time ive learned my lesson and only going on induction for 1 month and then coming off before i get bored.

How long does it take to come off? What foods will i be eating and what experiences have you had with this stage?

[rebapuck]

Sounds like you are using Atkins to lose the weight, but not to maintain the weight loss. If you go back to your old eating habits, no diet is going to sustain your weight loss.

[Tril]

There is no "finish"ing Atkins. It's kinda like asking, when do I finish eating? You don't. You'll eat the rest of your life. If you use Atkins as a weight loss diet and you don't intend to eat this way FOREVER (the last phase, called MAINTENANCE) then you'll lose the weight only to gain it back. You can't eat like you did... that's what caused you to gain weight in the first place. Eat to lose... eat the same way to maintain that loss.

Now... were you asking, How long does INDUCTION last? If so... two weeks. Or longer IF you choose. The 2nd phase is called OWL, which stands for Ongoing Weight Loss. Phase 3 is Pre-Maintenance. Phase 4 is Maintenance.

[scottie mike]

I was asking the same question -- but let's rephrase it.

For a lot of people -- myself included, the weight-loss is important. Before I can get to
maintenance, I need to lose that initial weight.

In looking at the progress forum, there is a lot of people reporting their loss of 25-30 lbs in anywhere from 1 month to 5 months. After that is is a bit more difficult to determine what is typical, just not enough people ( data points)

I have heard that losing 1-2% body weight per week is healthy. Obviously this equates to different amounts depending on your body weight.

So after to rephrase, what is the typical weight lose on Atkins ( in lbs, kg, stone or %) after the initial 25-30 lbs is lost? Does this depend on which phase you are in? Is there a reason to try and draw out the various states to improve the weight lose?

[Tril]

"what is the typical weight lose on Atkins ( in lbs, kg, stone or %) after the initial 25-30 lbs is lost? Does this depend on which phase you are in? Is there a reason to try and draw out the various states to improve the weight lose? "

Weight loss rate depends on many factors...

age
height
gender
muscle vs. lean percentage
activity level
hormone issues
diet history
adherance rate to diet
water intake
plus others... plus those unknown

And this one I don't understand what you're asking: Is there a reason to try and draw out the various states to improve the weight lose?

Do you mean the stages (not states)?

So often people miss the whole point of weight loss. They think the weight loss phase is more important than anything else... they "just need to lose X number of pounds" when, in reality, it's not the weight loss that's difficult nor important. It's keeping the lost weight off. People lose weight all the time. It's keeping it off that's the true/real challenge. So if you meant "stages"... the reason you should follow the stages (Induction, OWL, Pre-Maintenance, Maintenance) is that these stages/phases teach you what to do to keep the weight off. Learning how to lose weight (Induction) is like only teaching someone how to take off in an airplane. OWL is learning how to fly the plane once airborne. P-M and M is teaching them how to LAND the plane. If you can't land... all the skill in the world at taking off and flying will be worthless when you try to land (maintain).

[FlorayG]

Also it depends entirely on how much overweight you are. I think it comes off much more quickly if it is serious excess and even if you stay on induction the whole time weight loss slows as you approach ideal weight

[Tril]

Good point, Flo.... the larger the person (whether from muscle, bone or fat) the more that person can eat. Once that person reduces his/her size, he/she needs less food. So weight loss slows exponentially.

[scottie mike]

I still like to plan for that "finish" -- After all, I think in terms of my target weight, I compare my efforts to get to that weight, etc. I would assume others are thinking the same. That is basically my primary goal. It might be nice to be able to plan when one might expect to get there. Granted it will take a long time.

In looking through the Atkins book, it really never states much about the rate of weight loss except for pre-maintenance being imperceptibly slow.

Is there anyway to guess at the rate of loss -- or given the numerous variables eg BMI, age, gender is the best guess done off one's personal weight loss tracking?


Similarly, most of us pick a pretty arbitrary target weight. Mine is the high end of the average BMI. It was the about what I weighed in my late 20's. Is there a wrong value? If too high or too low, does your body correct it? Does the Atkins diet cause one to level out as your body reaches its target weight?

[Tril]

Weight loss is not predictable. It is also not linear. It is what it is... and that depends on too many variables to be able to set any kind of timeline for weight loss. BEST CASE, 2# per week. That would average out to nearly 10# per month. Of course, the last 10# could take 3 months! If your goal is on the upper end of "normal", you will reach your goal sooner, of course.

Your weight will "level out" based not on the Atkins Diet, but on what/how much you're eating... plus all of the variables we've discussed. But there IS a point where your weight loss will naturally stop. At that point, if you're at goal... lucky you! If you still want/need to lose more... you'll have to adjust your intake/activity to keep losing.

[FlorayG]

Yeah, it stops of its own accord. I am down to 8st 3lb and wanted 8st but it won't go. The only way now would be to reduce calories as well and, to be succinct, bugger that for a game of soldiers, I'd have to give up all the nice stuff. I've been on less than 20g carbs the whole time so I guess that means I'm on induction the whole time? Dunno, I'm not following Atkins and I think I eat a lot more fat than Atkins allows. I think your body reaches a 'normal' weight and maintains it, I have to say I'm still changing shape and looking better and better while not losing any more weight.

[Shrinkin'Sue]

Diets don't FINISH! I started mine in 1965 when I started University, and with a few breaks to regain what I lost, have been on a diet ever since!

Reshaping your eating habits for life is the only way!