Trying To Maintain, Help!

[mnperelman]

Hi, I am new to this forum. I found it through some reading. I've been on a restrictive diet for 1 1/2 years. The basics a fruit shake in the morning then lean protein w/2 green veggies for every meal. No salt, no sugar, no processed foods, no caffeine, no dairy. I was about 10 pounds from my goal weight when I decided to re-introduce new foods because I started having a hard time digesting vegetables. By this point I lost about 80 pounds. Since being off my restrictive diet I have gained more than 20 pounds back. I suffered horrible binges on carbs. And most recently with sweets. The food doesn't even taste good anymore after not eating it for so long! I am really stressed and am looking for some help. I am so scared that I will regain all my weight. I feel like i have no choice but to eat like this for the rest of my life.


Any suggestions? or advice? I would appreciate any insight from anyone that has been through a similar experience? How do you maintain?

Thanks!

[HarleyLady]

oh it is so good to hear you say these words... i do not want to gain 20 pounds. I am too at goal 135 size 8 after a year and a half, a year losing and a half year maintianng and losing the last 10. i never gave up on the last 10 pounds. i do not eat fruits, breads, sugars, starches, yellow and white/brown veggies.... if i do i gain, do you low carb? if so do induction, just eat meat cheese and eggs and green veggies and in a week you can loose 6-7 pounds.. that is how i got my last 10 off. now i add stuff back, some carbs, i had a half of a baked potato today with steak, and i have to say it is a scarey journey. i do not eat sugar, the russell stover sugar free chocolate candies are awesome and taste as good as sugar, i always have them on me, try them out while you are getting the sugar out of your system... i have lost total 165 pounds, about half of that low carbing.
i eat high fat, i use heaving whipping cream, fatty bacon, ham etc. never had a problem, my colesteral is 148 and never got higher, i have it checked once a year, my headaches are gone, my body aches are gone, i am FIFTY years old and look and feel alot younger. my feet do not hurt, i can stand for 8 hours, i can run. it is fantastic, and i know it is hard.... i have never been a size 8 in my life, litterly... i was a chubby 6x at age 11 and went straigh into a size 12 at age 11, i never saw a size 10 much less an 8... so now no one reconizes me, they dont know who i am, they have never seen me this thin, and i look in the mirror and dont know who i am sometimes.... i hold on to the thread alot, and now i just try not to worry anymore, i get by with eating a baked potato here and there, i had some cereal (about a forth a cup with milk) and it was to die for.... rasin brand... i miss milk, but i just have a vanella atkins or low carb shake and take calisum pills,,, i still have not touched real sugar,,, i got through the holidays, no cake, no candy.. i just ate my sugar free pudding, yello and smiled to my self..... i now have planned carb cheats (still no sugar) i am craving somthing soon like white beans, or maybe some shrimp fried rice, but when i do have these cheats, i only eat a half a cup at the most and i am satisfied, and i make sure it is not in or at my house.... if i am out i leave it there.. like eating at moms every friday night,,,, i will tell her to make this or that so i can have my cheat, last week it was speggetti and i did have a half a cup and it was awesome, next day i go right back to eating under 20 carbs, (more like 6 carbs) if that,,,, i do alot of meat chesse and eggs, all kinds of meat, burgers, processed weiners, vinea sausage, low carb yourgart, all cheeses, cottage, soft, creamed, there area a lot of recipies here in these forums and i use them.. my best food are MY FRIED FOODS, yes i said fried.... i fry everying,,, IN PARMASIAN CHEESE BREADING... Z E R O CARBS...
but the parmasian cheese in a zip lock bag, add salt, pepper, any low carb spices, some times i put in a little papericka and bbq rubbing powder.. onion power and deep fry my cat fish filets, chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp... and everyone loves it and it looks just like deep friend breaded foods, i fool them all, they all think i am eating fried foods, LOL.. this way of eating low carb has changed my world and i am truely grateful....
hugs and kisses and best of luck on YOUR journey... my you find sucess and happiness

Originally Posted by mnperelman

Hi, I am new to this forum. I found it through some reading. I've been on a restrictive diet for 1 1/2 years. The basics a fruit shake in the morning then lean protein w/2 green veggies for every meal. No salt, no sugar, no processed foods, no caffeine, no dairy. I was about 10 pounds from my goal weight when I decided to re-introduce new foods because I started having a hard time digesting vegetables. By this point I lost about 80 pounds. Since being off my restrictive diet I have gained more than 20 pounds back. I suffered horrible binges on carbs. And most recently with sweets. The food doesn't even taste good anymore after not eating it for so long! I am really stressed and am looking for some help. I am so scared that I will regain all my weight. I feel like i have no choice but to eat like this for the rest of my life.


Any suggestions? or advice? I would appreciate any insight from anyone that has been through a similar experience? How do you maintain?

Thanks!

[shiNer45]

i made the fish with the parmesan cheese coating and fried it up, problem was it stuck to the bottom of the pan, i geuss i should have deep fried it?

[HarleyLady]

ewwwwwwwwwwwww girlfriend... i would do atkins induction asap, and it is hard the first couple of days but when you get the sugar and carbs out of your system there is no stopping you.... and you will feel soooo good and belive me... it works. i have been maintaing for 9 months now

Originally Posted by mnperelman

Hi, I am new to this forum. I found it through some reading. I've been on a restrictive diet for 1 1/2 years. The basics a fruit shake in the morning then lean protein w/2 green veggies for every meal. No salt, no sugar, no processed foods, no caffeine, no dairy. I was about 10 pounds from my goal weight when I decided to re-introduce new foods because I started having a hard time digesting vegetables. By this point I lost about 80 pounds. Since being off my restrictive diet I have gained more than 20 pounds back. I suffered horrible binges on carbs. And most recently with sweets. The food doesn't even taste good anymore after not eating it for so long! I am really stressed and am looking for some help. I am so scared that I will regain all my weight. I feel like i have no choice but to eat like this for the rest of my life.


Any suggestions? or advice? I would appreciate any insight from anyone that has been through a similar experience? How do you maintain?

Thanks!

[Dharma]

HarleyLady do you drink alcohol in maintenance?? Oh, and did you drink it while losing the last 10 pounds??

[SuSUN]

Hi Ladies,

I am looking for somewhere to hang. I reached goal this week, and I know from past experience that I can hover up and down 2lbs. Would like to get a handle on that and also NOT to slide back to old habits.

Great advice and good reading. Thank you all.

Susan
125#

[Maerow]

I would wait on the alcohol until the last 10 is gone. Alcohol is always burnt first by your body, then it will burn what you eat, then fat. It would make it much harder to lose weight if you are drinking it. This is my experience, YMMV.

[SuSUN]

I would rather EAT my calories than DRINK Alcohol...just MHO!

A glass of wine once in a while is'nt too bad I guess...

Susan

[BellaHMB]

I decided that I will have a glass of wine occassionally when dining out but not at home. That way I can monitor it better. Before I started in Jan. I was having a glass or two of wine at night and I feel SO much better not doing that. But I do like to have fun too sometimes! Just that when I look at a glass of wine now I think 20 grams per 3.5 ounces and

Bella

[pennylovesdarren]

Where'd you go Harleylady?

[JuliaL]

Originally Posted by mnperelman

Hi, I am new to this forum. I found it through some reading. I've been on a restrictive diet for 1 1/2 years. The basics a fruit shake in the morning then lean protein w/2 green veggies for every meal. No salt, no sugar, no processed foods, no caffeine, no dairy. I was about 10 pounds from my goal weight when I decided to re-introduce new foods because I started having a hard time digesting vegetables. By this point I lost about 80 pounds. Since being off my restrictive diet I have gained more than 20 pounds back. I suffered horrible binges on carbs. And most recently with sweets. The food doesn't even taste good anymore after not eating it for so long! I am really stressed and am looking for some help. I am so scared that I will regain all my weight. I feel like i have no choice but to eat like this for the rest of my life.


Any suggestions? or advice? I would appreciate any insight from anyone that has been through a similar experience? How do you maintain?

Thanks!

Hi there I've been maintaining for over 3 years now, and in my humble opinion your post is a prime example of why very restrictive or very low calorie diets backfire. It's so hard to feel deprived for long periods of time without wanting to binge.

All diets are by their nature restrictive of course, but you have to be reasonable about it. We all want rapid weight loss, but permanent weight loss should be the goal. Who wants to lose the same pounds over and over again?

This is the reason that Dr. Atkins wrote his diet in phases. The most restrictive phase only lasts 2 weeks, and then you can add in good, healthy carbs. This phased plan allows you to learn to eat for life, which is what will give you permanent, sustainable weight loss.

I suggest you get a copy of Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution and read it. I'm not saying that Atkins is the only diet - there are many good low carb plans that work. But if you read Dr. Atkins' book you'll understand why the diets work, and exactly what low carb eating is all about. Another really good book that deals with the psychological aspects of losing weight is Dr. Phil's Weight Loss Solution. The all or nothing mentality is what causes so many people to start the cycle of yo-yo dieting.

Most importanly - don't beat yourself up. You've managed to lose 80 lbs. and keep most of it off, and that's quite an accomplishment! Celebrate yourself and be kind to yourself. Give yourself positive messages about who you are and why you deserve to be fit and healthy. Keep coming here to post and read - the support you receive will really help you on your journey to a healthy weight.