Hi:

I am about 180lbs., so I would like to loose 50lbs. How long should I stay on the induction? I started 6/1/03 and I have lost 3lbs.! And are those test strips a good idea? Thank You for your time Sarah

Hey Sarah-I am also a scaper!

The standard induction time is two weeks. You can think of it as a detox. I actually did three weeks, but many of us choose to stay on a bit longer. Eventually, you will need to move on to OWL so that you can figure out how many carbs your body can handle and still lose weight. Plus, induction can get boring and you might want to expand your food choices. How about trying 2-3 weeks and see how you feel? If you are bored with your foods, move onto OWL-if not, give it another week.

and I can tolerate the same menus day after day after month after year, so I may be here in my version of induction for a good long while. I have a neighbor who's been on induction since Thanksgiving. He had a LOT of weight to lose.

At some point, I will have to deal with the problem of figuring out how many carbs I can tolerate before going off into cravings again, but I just decided that's not today's problem.

Haven't bothered with them myself. One, haven't been in a drugstore to look for them--not on my normal shopping route. Two, I'm tight with my dimes. Three, don't care. I'm losing weight. My cravings are gone. Don't need to know any more.

Other people have told me it's encouraging to see the sticks change color. Whatever works.

Im also new to the low carb diet and i feel the same about the induction i might stick w it until i get bored mabey about 4 weeks or so but good luck and about the test strips i bought them last night and took one i was clearly in the purple and they were bout 15 dollars it made me feel good to see for my own eyes that i was doing ok but i guess some times they may not work i read somewhere... good luck.! i want to loose 50 also