I've decided to enter maintenance

dae_tona · 11-30-2007, 07:41 AM

although I know I could potentially weigh even 12 lbs less. But deciding to maintain my weight has in itself been very liberating.

The scale is pushed aside until next Thursday when I get on to see how I am doing mantaining. I no longer think about the numbers on it or how much I can lose by then, etc. Once a week will be enough for me to get on the scale. (I picked Thursday because Thursday was the day I decided that it was time to just start maintaining)

Of course, I'm not too sure how many carbs I can eat to maintain so the next few months might be a trial & error period for me. But I'm okay with that. I'm keeping in my one day of eating higher carb/higher calorie (not junk food but wholesome, healthy foods).

And after deciding to go gluten-free, I'm looking forward to how I'll be feeling within a month or two. I've been told I'll feel fantastic without gluten in my diet. And I've got a wonderful dh who supports my decision to go gluten-free & to decide to follow Atkins forever. In fact, we went shopping yesterday & found some gluten-free, organic soups that I could eat (always nice to have those on hand for winter-of course, those will be part of my higher carb/higher calorie day on Saturdays).

So any advice or tips while entering the maintenance phase would be grateful & very helpful.

And one last question-have any of you experienced weight loss after you entered maintenance? I know weight gain has been experienced but what about weight loss? And if you did experience it, did you increase your carbs so you would't lose more?

Dyan

BellaHMB · 11-30-2007, 09:19 AM

Welcome Dyan and congrats!

When I hit goal I started to add in some carbs and the scale went up, so I cut back out of fear! I then lost more weight. Now I work on keeping my carbs and calories balanced- if I start to gain a little, I cut back.

Bella

Loretta V · 11-30-2007, 06:08 PM

Dyan nice to meet you.

When I first reached goal I was scared. I wasn't sure I could handle maintaining my weight. But it is a trial and error system. Some foods I keep and others I elimlinate. You will gradually find what works for you.

Hang in there and don't go back to the white flour and sugar land.

LaurieRobo · 12-01-2007, 04:12 AM

Welcome Dyan!!!!

It's all about trial and error and what works for you.... I really think eliminating the gluten will make a big difference for you...

Maintain for a while and see how you feel, you may or may not want to buckle down again for a few more lbs... and you may find that you may lose a few in maintenace, once the focus is off the scale...

Good luck... keep posting and keep asking questions. This is such an individual phase for everyone.

dae_tona · 12-01-2007, 08:25 AM

So how many carbs grams are you guys at that are maintaining? Or do you even know for sure? I think I'm doing around 40 g right now & I'll know next Thursday if that's too much or too little.

Dyan

BellaHMB · 12-01-2007, 08:31 AM

Hi Dyan

That's about what I am doing also...amazing when you think the average American diet
is upwards of 300 carbs per day!

Bella

speedymagee · 12-01-2007, 06:23 PM

Hey congratulations!!

I find maintenance harder than weightloss

I wish you luck, even though I don't have any good advice, maybe some long timers will speak to that.

I wish there were a secret trick to it.

Kissa · 12-02-2007, 07:21 AM

Trial and error, yes that is where it is.

We almost all have to test the way our bodies react to food. Maintainance is hard in some ways, but can set you free too.

I have just spent 2 weeks in Italy and was so worried that I would have difficulties. Not at all. I have only gained 1.5 lbs which means I haven't really gained at all.

I had one planned pizza, which was frankly not that great, otherwise I found wonderful maintainance foods everywhere I went.

Enjoy your new freedom, and well done!

Texoma · 12-03-2007, 07:29 PM

I haven't changed anything in my eating since moving to maintenance. What is nice is not stressing over losing more weight. I eat and enjoy then if the scale is up I know it is just a fluctuation and will come down again because nothing has changed in my plan.

It feels more relaxed and I am enjoying myself.

If I had to guess my carbs I would say around 50 because of fruits and yogurt but I have never really counted. I know that I can polish off 25 carb at a time and still feel on plan. My nightly fruit and yogurt is around 18. I don't even want to know how many carbs are in a half a bottle of wine...

Kissa · 12-04-2007, 03:44 PM

Texoma, I share your style! I guess we will never agree about GG Crispbreads, but I think that makes me the odd one out, not you!

I am so glad that I have found a way of life that keeps my weight manageable and me skin smooth and my husband happy!

I no longer agonise over every mouthful as I did for years, and still grew fatter. I love LC eating.

2big4mysize · 12-04-2007, 08:31 PM

congrats on declaring goal.
my maintnance levle carbs cause I did Atkins 2002 is 1 carb over my CCLL.

However that changes with my active lifestyle changes as Dr Atkins calls exercise and stuff.
When i workout in the gym doing BFL lifitn and HIIT treadmilling I can easily handl well over 100 net carbs ( total minus fiber) but when i don't my carbs drop back to 45 net.
I could drop my cals and eat more carbs but Since I am a carboholic and in control right now I will not do that.

happy low carbing

11-30-2007, 07:41 AM	#1
dae_tona MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Soon to be AZ!!!!!!!! Posts: 2,022 Gallery: dae_tona Stats: Size 18/Size 4 WOE: LC	I've decided to enter maintenance although I know I could potentially weigh even 12 lbs less. But deciding to maintain my weight has in itself been very liberating. The scale is pushed aside until next Thursday when I get on to see how I am doing mantaining. I no longer think about the numbers on it or how much I can lose by then, etc. Once a week will be enough for me to get on the scale. (I picked Thursday because Thursday was the day I decided that it was time to just start maintaining) Of course, I'm not too sure how many carbs I can eat to maintain so the next few months might be a trial & error period for me. But I'm okay with that. I'm keeping in my one day of eating higher carb/higher calorie (not junk food but wholesome, healthy foods). And after deciding to go gluten-free, I'm looking forward to how I'll be feeling within a month or two. I've been told I'll feel fantastic without gluten in my diet. And I've got a wonderful dh who supports my decision to go gluten-free & to decide to follow Atkins forever. In fact, we went shopping yesterday & found some gluten-free, organic soups that I could eat (always nice to have those on hand for winter-of course, those will be part of my higher carb/higher calorie day on Saturdays). So any advice or tips while entering the maintenance phase would be grateful & very helpful. And one last question-have any of you experienced weight loss after you entered maintenance? I know weight gain has been experienced but what about weight loss? And if you did experience it, did you increase your carbs so you would't lose more? Dyan __________________ "If you think you can or you think you can't, then you're right."-Henry Ford Last edited by dae_tona : 11-30-2007 at 07:43 AM.

12-01-2007, 08:31 AM	#6
BellaHMB Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern California Coast Posts: 3,189 Gallery: BellaHMB Stats: 210/143/140 original goal met 5.27.07 WOE: Maintenance Atkins Start Date: 1-16-07	Hi Dyan That's about what I am doing also...amazing when you think the average American diet is upwards of 300 carbs per day! Bella Last edited by BellaHMB : 12-01-2007 at 08:33 AM.

12-03-2007, 07:29 PM	#9
Texoma MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 1,073 Gallery: Texoma Stats: 183.5/145/140 WOE: Atkins Maintainance /Pregnant Start Date: 3/29/07	I haven't changed anything in my eating since moving to maintenance. What is nice is not stressing over losing more weight. I eat and enjoy then if the scale is up I know it is just a fluctuation and will come down again because nothing has changed in my plan. It feels more relaxed and I am enjoying myself. If I had to guess my carbs I would say around 50 because of fruits and yogurt but I have never really counted. I know that I can polish off 25 carb at a time and still feel on plan. My nightly fruit and yogurt is around 18. I don't even want to know how many carbs are in a half a bottle of wine... __________________ 11/20140lbs GOAL Last edited by Texoma : 12-03-2007 at 07:32 PM.

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11-30-2007, 09:19 AM	#2
BellaHMB Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern California Coast Posts: 3,189 Gallery: BellaHMB Stats: 210/143/140 original goal met 5.27.07 WOE: Maintenance Atkins Start Date: 1-16-07	Welcome Dyan and congrats! When I hit goal I started to add in some carbs and the scale went up, so I cut back out of fear! I then lost more weight. Now I work on keeping my carbs and calories balanced- if I start to gain a little, I cut back. Bella

11-30-2007, 06:08 PM	#3
Loretta V Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Kentucky Posts: 14,098 Gallery: Loretta V Stats: 140/120.5/120 WOE: Low Carb & Low Fat Start Date: July 2001/ Low Carb Friends 9/2001	Dyan nice to meet you. When I first reached goal I was scared. I wasn't sure I could handle maintaining my weight. But it is a trial and error system. Some foods I keep and others I elimlinate. You will gradually find what works for you. Hang in there and don't go back to the white flour and sugar land.

12-01-2007, 04:12 AM	#4
LaurieRobo Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 757 Gallery: LaurieRobo Stats: Pregnancy High 237 175/155/150-155 WOE: Fueling my workouts and running with plenty of FAT Start Date: March 2002	Welcome Dyan!!!! It's all about trial and error and what works for you.... I really think eliminating the gluten will make a big difference for you... Maintain for a while and see how you feel, you may or may not want to buckle down again for a few more lbs... and you may find that you may lose a few in maintenace, once the focus is off the scale... Good luck... keep posting and keep asking questions. This is such an individual phase for everyone.

12-01-2007, 08:25 AM	#5
dae_tona MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Soon to be AZ!!!!!!!! Posts: 2,022 Gallery: dae_tona Stats: Size 18/Size 4 WOE: LC	So how many carbs grams are you guys at that are maintaining? Or do you even know for sure? I think I'm doing around 40 g right now & I'll know next Thursday if that's too much or too little. Dyan

12-01-2007, 06:23 PM	#7
speedymagee MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Calgary, Canada Posts: 1,585 Gallery: speedymagee Stats: 176/145/original goal 150(5'6') WOE: BFL Week 12/Diet Cure Supplements	Hey congratulations!! I find maintenance harder than weightloss I wish you luck, even though I don't have any good advice, maybe some long timers will speak to that. I wish there were a secret trick to it.

12-02-2007, 07:21 AM	#8
Kissa Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 3,289 Gallery: Kissa Stats: 184/132/125 - 130 5' 4" WOE: Atkins Maintainance/Intuitive Eating Start Date: January 2001 restarted 1 September 2006 at 139 lbs	Trial and error, yes that is where it is. We almost all have to test the way our bodies react to food. Maintainance is hard in some ways, but can set you free too. I have just spent 2 weeks in Italy and was so worried that I would have difficulties. Not at all. I have only gained 1.5 lbs which means I haven't really gained at all. I had one planned pizza, which was frankly not that great, otherwise I found wonderful maintainance foods everywhere I went. Enjoy your new freedom, and well done!

12-04-2007, 03:44 PM	#10
Kissa Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 3,289 Gallery: Kissa Stats: 184/132/125 - 130 5' 4" WOE: Atkins Maintainance/Intuitive Eating Start Date: January 2001 restarted 1 September 2006 at 139 lbs	Texoma, I share your style! I guess we will never agree about GG Crispbreads, but I think that makes me the odd one out, not you! I am so glad that I have found a way of life that keeps my weight manageable and me skin smooth and my husband happy! I no longer agonise over every mouthful as I did for years, and still grew fatter. I love LC eating.

12-04-2007, 08:31 PM	#11
2big4mysize Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 4,970 Gallery: 2big4mysize Stats: 313 to current goalie 169-173 WOE: Atkins 2002 Start Date: june 1 2002	congrats on declaring goal. my maintnance levle carbs cause I did Atkins 2002 is 1 carb over my CCLL. However that changes with my active lifestyle changes as Dr Atkins calls exercise and stuff. When i workout in the gym doing BFL lifitn and HIIT treadmilling I can easily handl well over 100 net carbs ( total minus fiber) but when i don't my carbs drop back to 45 net. I could drop my cals and eat more carbs but Since I am a carboholic and in control right now I will not do that. happy low carbing