Hi --

I've been on induction for 5 days and have lost 7.5 pounds. I'm pleased, but I have some 'issues.'

1. I've been peeing a lot. Is this normal? If so, does this mean that my weight loss is mostly 'water weight'? Can a person even lose as much as one does on induction as water weight?

2. Yesterday I was suddenly struck with a bout of very loose, watery bowels. Is this a 'normal' part of induction, or should I attribute this bout to something else? (i.e., there's a bug going around my area.)

3. Strange taste in my mouth = normal?

YES all normal and yes water weight comes off first but fat will follow!

yep, I agree-water is being lost at an incredible rate-which means you will pee. Your diet has changed in composition and you should be drinking a lot of water-the combination can give you the runs until your body adjusts. This too, shall pass!

All gets better soon please hang in there!!! This happens on any diet

Be glad! You could have the opposite problem with BM's. A little psyllium to supplement your eating can work to "tighten-up" that problem. I am always so happy to wake up in the morning to "tin tongue".

So, like others said, normal, normal and normal.

Not to worry, all this is normal. It will take a few weeks but your digestion etc will calm down. But you will be peeing all the time if you drink as much water as you are supposed to. And watch out for the chocolate made with Maltitol. It tastes heavenly but can give you terrible gas and the runs if you eat more than a few squares. (Personally, I think it's worth it, but I am a slave to chocolate)

Hi bookgurl99--

As everyone has assured you, all is normal. One note...Atkins says that no weight lost after the 5th day of Induction is "water-weight." (I'm betting that only some of your 7.5 pounds of loss up to this point was water.) It sounds like you are doing very well...keep up the good work!

Well, I guess it's a relief to hear that this is all normal.

Question -- why the water? I drank a lot of water before, and never had it run through me like this (in the clear and bowel forms). Is it that my body is burning fat and then disposing of the water that was associated with that fat?

I've read Atkins' book, but I'm still curious as to how this all works.

The water isnt what gives you the runs... it is what make you pee a lot though...

you get runs from changing your eating habits dramatically. Your body just needs to adjust.

The weird smell is ketones..means you are properly in ketosis. that wont go away until you want it to and up your carbs. I am hoping to stay in ketosis for a year.