I spent three weeks on induction...lost about 8 pounds the first two weeks, and 1 pound the 3rd week. Went off the plan for 2 days due to being sick and needing the energy of carbs (plus the comfort foods I enjoy when my body is so sick). After two days I went back on the plan, with one day of a cheat (ate bread at lunch) that was trigged by hormone changes (it was the day I ovulated). Anyway...my big question now is how bad is a regular soda? If I eat like I'm on induction and add a 30 carb soda...am I just wasting my time? I crave a soda that's made only in my home town, and it really is an addiction. I avoided it completely for 3 weeks, but now I'm really wanting it. Is it possible that my body can handle that many carbs without it being a problem? Is it impossible to consume 30 extra carbs and still lose weight? Would it be better to drink it all at once, or spread it out throughout the day (assuming I give in to the temptation)?

Also...this week I lost inches around my bra line and both thighs--but my hips and waist stayed the same. Why didn't I lose it where I need to lose it the most? Anyone else experience this?

About the soda: I think you have to have it and watch what happens - if it stalls you even if its the only carb you eat then you have to do something about your habit(what soda is this?). I know that I can have potatoes without stalling(within my carb count of course) but fruit puts me in a dead stall even if its like 10 grams of carbs...so you know everone is different. If you use ketostix its pretty easy to track what throws you out of ketosis; at least they work for me. I know lots of people find them unreliable.

Isn't it a b(&*h that your body just loses where IT wants to? My waist has hardly changed while my hips and chest have dropped a lot. Hang in there, at some point that will be the only place the weight can some off!

It all depends on what you want to accomplish. If you want to make LC into a lifestyle, eating sugar with no qualms here and there will not prevent that from happening if you are determined to do it.

If you are overcoming food or sugar addiction, it's not a good idea.

The whole point behind low carbing is insulin control. You learn to eat in a way that does not cause insulin spikes. There's a myriad of health benefits that go along with it and fat loss is just one of them. Insulin is the hormone that stores fat. Eating sugar on a daily basis may cause cravings to go out of control and you'll end up back where you started.

It's something you'll have to experiment with.

Karen