Hello all, I posted a reply question under another question about peanuts last week, and I think it got lost in the shuffle, but I have got some thoughts about it.

Specifically I have been a little surprised at my appetite. During my six weeks of induction I did get the natural appetite suppressent, but immediately after adding nuts and wine I seemed to notice that my appetite has grown. I don't tend to eat between meals but when mealtimes arrive I am ready to chow down. As I said, I call it "feed the beast". Coincidentally, Lent is now going on and on Fridays I spend all day hungry. So here's a thought. I was just told that Lewis and Clark, (obviously expending more energy than I am) consumed 9lbs of meat (small game etc) per day, but in their diaries are apparently starving all of the time. I think they probably had hard tack as well, which is some kind of bread variant, but probably not much. Perhaps one can extrapolate that sticking somewhat close to induction, not consuming many carbs but not being in induction or perhaps even ketosis, perhaps the body still burns at a higher rate?

At any rate, for me this diet would be impossible without meat. I tend to starve without it. (This is coming from a twenty year vegetarian until 11/03)
I am in the last ten pound range, and so I am losing slowly if at all, but I have been varying things a bit. A week ago I just added back shredded wheat and bran cereal and whole milk. Sparingly. It's about 3/4 cup and little milk. The rest of the day is Atkins, bacon and eggs, a low carb bar, meat and salad for lunch and dinner. Well, it's working, I am more satisfied and I started losing a bit again.

I am posting this because I am curious about others that are in my position. (Last ten pounds.) Also I was wondering if anyone sees any logic in my theory about appetite. Thanks for any comments.

Though I am not on my last ten pounds, I have some to go, I also starve on Fridays (Lent). I have noticed on days when I eat less meat I am definitely more hungry. I think that our bodies need somewhat of a change sometimes to kick back into gear. I just decided to get out of induction level carbs and add more by adding more vegetables. Also, beware of the nuts, I find that when I eat nuts (legal ones) that my appetite goes sky high compared to days when I dont.

I'd say the extra appitite comes form eating carbs, somewhat refined carbs at that. Cereal and milk are both higher carb and GI. It could also be that nuts and or wine are trigger foods for you. With me it's cream. If I eat cream, even when full, I will imidiatly want more and have a huge appatite. When I have dairy I get hungry for my next meal alot sooner.

Actually, I had more problems with my appetite before I added back the cereal. Now I tend to stay fuller longer. Shredded wheat and Bran is REALLY high in fiber and I think it expands in my stomach. I am trying to start to mainstream myself. I find Atkins very liveable but I don't want to stay this close to induction all of my life. I also want to eat real food again, hence the cereal. I think that it is important to find a balance with real food. If I ever get to bread again I want it to be the real stuff, no frankenbread. Something like the high fiber Arnold bread.

On the other hand I laughed to myself the other day, what other diet do I get to eat ice cream with my children every night? Albeit, mine low carb and theirs not. These last ten lbs sure are stubborn but I have a lot more energy than I used to. I do think that there may be something to the nuts stimulating my appetite, I am going to work with that, thanks!

wills, you should change your stats, they say you have 20 to go not 10.

Anyway to the point, I believe that nuts of any kind are a trigger for me. After I eat them I always want something else or more. I didn't notice being hungry on Fridays (Lent) I just eat alot of fat, butter in my hot flaxseed meal in the morning, and olive oil on my salads for dinner and supper. That usually statisfies me.

Obviously your choice, but I'd still limit my intake of low carb alternatives (bars, ice cream, etc.) if I were making the transition to lifetime maintenance. That is, I wouldn't have them daily.

Mainstream might mean you're going to find the ups and downs of eating carbs means your appetite is going to be more fierce.

I think something we'll all have to deal with eventually is how to add carbs back in without losing control of all the advantages of controling blood glucose.

Wills, I also have 10 to go and just started OWL this week, what I added was peanuts(unsalted and dry roasted) and what I am finding is EXACTLY what you are saying, much bigger appetite and not satisfied. I am finding this last 10 to be VERY stubborn, that is the whole reason I wanted to start OWL, thought I would mix it up a little but so far haven't seen a change in the scale......also TOM any day and I thought maybe that was a bit of the problem....who knows???