At Goal For At Least Six Months? Please Come In!

[portdevoix]

I was wondering about those who have reached their goal and maintained it for an appreciable amount of time...

How long did it take you to reach your goal?

Did you count calories, or only carbs on your way to goal?

Do you find that you have to noticeably restrict your intake or increase your exercise in order to maintain?

[smiley]

I first apologize that my reply will be quick, but I didn't want you not to get any responses!

To reach goal: about 6-9 months. (I kept changing my goal weight till I fit into my goal size, which is a comfortable size 10) I started low carbing over 3 years ago.

I have never in my life counted calories. I read the atkins book, referred to it often and monitored carbs. I never measured a single food. I just kind of "eye balled" it.

I tried to increase my exercise (1 BFL challenge) in order to "re-shape" my body better. HOnestly, it didn't work. I still have problem areas. I definitely don't have to be supper strict in order to maintain. I have found what works for me. It's a combination of Atkins, Sugar busters, Protein Power, CAD and Suzanne Summers. I've made this a lifestyle change and I definitely "choose" to eat some high carb foods at times. I am able to keep my control (so far). I know this doesn't work for everyone, but I definitely wanted to comment here that not everyone has to count calories and stay below 20 carbs in order to reach or maintain a goal. I currently don't exercise at all except to care for my two small kids.

I must give a small disclaimer: I reached my goal prior to my first pregnancy, returned to goal after my first pregnancy and now am about 5-8 pounds from goal since my second pregnancy. IT's not coming off quite as easily this time (I'm 3 months post pardum), but I think thats the case for most second pregnancies. I low carbed via my own maintainence during both pregnancies and during breastfeeding.

[Jennie64]

I reached goal within about 6 months, and have stayed there within a pound or two for a year and a half. I do have to exercise, or I start looking bigger even if I don't gain pounds.
Good Luck

[portdevoix]

Bumping for more answers.

[HappyHealthy]

How long did it take you to reach your goal?

It took me 13 months to lose the last 40 pounds. I lost the other over the course of several years, but not by low carbing.

Did you count calories, or only carbs on your way to goal?

I’m terrible about counting either. After getting a good feel for low carbing I quit counting all together.

Do you find that you have to noticeably restrict your intake or increase your exercise in order to maintain?

I rarely exercise though I’m a pretty active person. Right now I’m amazed at how much fruit I am able to eat and still maintain. I have not added in any wheat products or potatoes and don’t plan to. I am enjoying corn on the cob now though.

[portdevoix]

Another shameless bump for more answers.

[JosieL]

1. It took me 8 months to lose 65 pounds. Started Atkins November 1999.

2. Never counted calories while I was losing....never counted carbs to any great detail. I was able to keep a "ballpark" total going in my head each day. I just ate foods that I knew were legal. I also lost the weight long before all these low carb products were availiable, such as SF candy, bars, cereals....frankenfoods. I lost my weight eating REAL food only.

3. I discovered on maintenance that my body could not handle the calories at 145 that I could at 215. So now I do "ballpark"my calories each day at about 1500-1800 per day. I don't obsess over it. With me it is mostly about portion control and I have cut back on the fat a little bit, for calorie sake. I haven't changed my food choices. I do not exercise and I'm sure I could eat more if I did.

The hardest part of maintenace is staying sharp and paying attention every day even though you are at goal. When you are at goal, you tend to be more comfortable which for me lends itself to carb creep and a slight weight gain. I catch it right away!!!! Today I was at my lowest weight. Low carb is definately for a lifetime. Never to go back.

I really don't cheat and I have never gone off plan. Maybe I don't worry about sauces at restaurants etc. as much or a little breading on occasion...I'll pick most of it off.

I do eat a lot of Blue Bunny SF yogurt.

Josie

[ShellyNC]

Originally posted by portdevoix
I was wondering about those who have reached their goal and maintained it for an appreciable amount of time...

How long did it take you to reach your goal?

Did you count calories, or only carbs on your way to goal?

Do you find that you have to noticeably restrict your intake or increase your exercise in order to maintain?

1. I started Atkins August 12, 2002 and reached goal in January 26 2003. So it took me about 22 weeks.

2. I counted mostly carbs.

3. Exercise is important but I eat almost the same as I did when I was losing with the exception of certain fruits, low carb breads and grains. I think what has helped me to maintain is portions. Because of the weight loss, my appetite isn't like it used to be. I can eat a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, low carb bread of course, and drink a cup of coffee in the morning and be satisfied till late morning. For lunch, a tossed salad, chicken leg quarter and fresh cantaloupe are plenty. Dinner is similar.

Finding what works for you as an individual is important. Once low carb has become a way of life, staying on track is possible and easy to do.

[JosieL]

Shelly and Kim...you both look fabulous!

Josie

[WannaCaboBody]

those posts were very inspiring - thanks

[DixieDreamer]

Great posts. Heading to maintenance myself and it is good to hear from the "experts" out there.

[portdevoix]

In addition to real curiosity, I asked the question because I've always had a conviction about how this WOE works. All those who have replied have, without exception, confirmed my conviction.

Anybody else?

[Dana114]

Carolina, I was at goal in 4 months [40 pounds] and have been for 4.5 years. I did it by only restricting carbs. I probably ate at least 2000 calories a day. I exercised 5X a week, HOWEVER, I exercised the same amount of time on my low fat diet and didn't lose a thing.

It is a myth that you can lose weight from exercise after a certain age. It is no magic bullet. It certainly can change your shape but contributes very little to weight loss after a certain age.

[portdevoix]

Originally posted by Dana114
It is a myth that you can lose weight from exercise after a certain age. It is no magic bullet. It certainly can change your shape but contributes very little to weight loss after a certain age.

Dana,

It is also a myth that losing weight will make you thinner. Only losing fat will do that.

[Dana114]

lol! And fat don't weigh nothing, Carolina??

[portdevoix]

Originally posted by Dana114
lol! And fat don't weigh nothing, Carolina??

It does. But it can be outweighed by growing amounts of lean mass, no? So, you CAN get SMALLER, and still get no LIGHTER? Right? Magnolia_petals? Right?

[Dana114]

Did you mean you don't have to lose weight to get thinner? If that is what you are trying to say, I agree! I went down 2 more sizes after I lost my weight just from exercise.

[portdevoix]

Originally posted by Dana114
Did you mean you don't have to lose weight to get thinner? If that is what you are trying to say, I agree! I went down 2 more sizes after I lost my weight just from exercise.

And, did you get any lighter, or only smaller?

[Dana114]

Just smaller. I weighed the same.

[portdevoix]

Originally posted by Dana114
Just smaller. I weighed the same.

So weight loss isn't the only thing that matters.

[Callan]

I agree with Dana -- I currently weigh 148 (at 5'7") and wear a size 8. I walk four miles a day and do weights three times a week. Before, when I weighed 148, I wore a size 10 - 12. I've lost a lot of inches from low-carbing and daily exercise. I just wish I could let the number on the scale not bother me .

[Loretta V]

Interesting reading gals.

It took me 6 months to lose 30/35 pounds. I did not count carbs or calories. I started withthe Sommersize plan. I started in July of 2001 and got to my goal by Dec of that year. Then came the hard part, maintaining. I was so worried about that because I have lost weight before only to put it back on. I used to follow the low fat woe and I have been exercising since 1980. Exercise is just a part of my life. That and now drinking at least 100 ounces of water or more a day. I do try to be alert for portion control and read nutrition labels frequently. I love the lc baked goods made at home. So many good things to eat.

I have recently started to jog and my weight has been the same for the past 6 months. I am curious about the size loss and not weight loss. I seem to be the same size, an 8 also. But gang I am a lot older than you young chickens.

I concur Shelly and Kim you look fabulous.
Carolina you are doing a GREAT job. KUTGW

Good idea for a topic.

[LoveMontana]

It took me about 7 to 9 months to lose 40 some lbs. Maybe a little more.
I don't count calories or even carbs now. I just won't eat processed flour, sugar, or any processed food.

I hate exercise but force myself to walk two miles a day and use some light hand weights.

congrats to all who are maintaining.

[shawneesioux]

I lost 42 pounds in around 7 1/2 - 8 months...too casual about it to be a scale watcher.....also too casual to follow a specific program, ( I HATE rules, cause one person's ideas might not be agreeable to me)...just cut out the worst of the BAD Carbs. I knew "diet" Obsession and Denial (for me personally) about LCing would set me up for FAILURE.

Most of the LC authors offer useful info, along with some I totally disagree with.( for instance, SOY will never again screw up this ol Hypothyroid's levels) I chose the ones that made sense to me.

I am 58, and am pleased with my Bloodwork.......started Curves 2 months ago to tighten up some of the sags, strengthen my bones and work out arthritic kinks. I'm honest with myself that I can't recapture that body I had 10years years ago, before the blubber piled on...

My weight hasn't really changed since I get more exercize, but I am more firm.
In other words, I'm in damn good shape for the shape I'm in

Shawnee

[OrchidCactus]

Hey!

Let' see...I was introduced to Atkins in Sept of 97, and on the 2 weeks of induction lost 15 lbs and went from a snug 14 to a 10. Then after a job change in January of 98 I dropped the rest for a net of 25 lbs gone. I am now a size 8 and maintaining @ 125 lbs. I basically just changed the way I ate and eliminated the junk. Every so often I'll eat some major no-no's and this last time it really struck me how awful I felt when I didn't eat right. Since eating LC, I have been much happier and healthier, and I reckon this last excursion into the carbladen foods (we had potluck at work a week and a half ago followed by our anniversary, then DRoomie did some goodbye cooking before he left for home--tasted great but sure felt yucky!) has really shown me that how I used to eat pre LC was so very hard on my body and psyche!

I'm not really a carb counter, just do the 'eyeball' thing and ballpark most food I eat. Never counted calories. I'm really pretty laid back about food, and since I don't have as low of a carb threshhold that many have I don't have to be really strict. I do realize as you age it does take longer to recover tho!

So, here I am, maintaining for 5 1/2 years. Granted, my weight loss is no where near the numbers that some have done, but I'm sure proud of myself for having gotten to a good weight and staying there!

[Kate1]

Is there a thread for 6 month or more, maintaintainers?
It would be very educational for people nearing goal and are terrified of gaining it back, as I have done so often in the past.

[catman]

Originally posted by portdevoix
I was wondering about those who have reached their goal and maintained it for an appreciable amount of time...

How long did it take you to reach your goal?

Did you count calories, or only carbs on your way to goal?

Do you find that you have to noticeably restrict your intake or increase your exercise in order to maintain?

Reached goal after 5 months of induction. Started Feb 2000.

Only counted carbs.

Never had a problem with intake. Did the treadmill 4- 5 days a week during induction.

Did BFL last summer and got to an all time low of 164 (53 pounds lost) Been maintaining plus or minus 6 pounds since.

[AngelaL]

Took me 15 months to lose 50 pounds.

Never counted calories, just carbs.

Never obsessed about the carbs, either. I might do 20 one day and 50 the next (we have LOTS of dinner meetings, etc) to "average out"

Exercise when I can. Exercise makes no difference with my weight, but can mean a couple of inches on or off my waist..!!

It's definitely something that can't be done "for" anybody else. The inspiration has to come from YOU.
For me, DH and I started just to "see" how much weight we could lose for his HS reunion. We wound up both feeling so much better right off the bat that we're hooked for life.

Sometimes it's easy, sometimes it's hard. almost worse now that I'm at maintenance. Nobody where I work knew the "size 22" me, so I get that "just one piece won't hurt" stuff all the time. It's much easier to indulge when you're a size 10 than when you're a size 22, but really the temptation to just keep on indulging is always there. Have to watch those who will (knowingly or unknowingly) undermine your efforts, and you have to remember that "It's a poor choice to trade what you want most for what you want now"