I need some advice on setting a realistic goal for my weight loss.
I am presently at 147 pounds and have been on induction just since Saturday so only three days. My ultimate goal is to get down to 120, but I am not sure how long this will take. Could I realistically expect to be at this weight in three months or is that setting my goal too high. Let me know what you all think.

Well, if you are doing Atkins with a two week induction period you should lose around three pounds in induction and then 2 pounds a month or so. You might want to think about doing a 3 or 4 week induction, if you can stand it.

Normally, you lose 10% of what you need to lose in induction and then around 5% a month after that. I lost about 4 pounds in induction and I average 3 pounds a month doing OWL (ongoing weight loss) right now. It has taken longer than I thought it would or wanted it to-but I know I will keep the weight off.

Thanks for the feed back Paleoanth. You have made great progress, when did you begin? Did you suffer any major setbacks along the way? I will take your advice and extend my induction period. I feel really good right now- hope I can hold on to this feeling! This support board is great, when I feel the urge to eat, I log on instead.

Thanks for the compliment! I started September 20th with the suggestion of my doctor. I did lose the first 4 or 5 pounds doing low fat, but that took 4 months. So, I started lcing at 160 pounds-7 months ago. 25 pounds in 7 months is certainly not a speed record, but faster than the low fat way was. I am hypothyroid as well, so my weight loss is slower than lots of people here. But, I combat that with exersize, including weight lifting. That helps shrink me so I don't look as big as my scale tells me.

No real setbacks, but there are weeks I don't lose weight, but lose inches. I have been at the same weight now for several weeks, but I keep losing inches in my waist and thigh, so I don't really care what my scale says. Those who have relatively less to lose, tend to lose it slower-so patience is a must! Also measurements or a pair of pants or other clothing is useful to measure progress. I have a pair of size 8 jeans (these kind run a bit small) that I can finally get on, up and zipped but they have that flab thing hanging over them. When they look good on me-I am done! I do have a size 8 pair of pants that I can wear well-and I couldn't get them over my hips when I started out.

I only lost 1.5 lbs. on induction, and am thinking that my weight loss goals will probably take until June, at earliest. Everyone's different, though. Some of us lose it slowwwwwly.