Do you struggle to maintain your weight?

dae_tona · 07-19-2009, 10:36 AM

If I was at a lower number than I am now-I probably would-unless it came off S-L-O-W-L-Y...

But now that I'm at a comfortable number, I no longer struggle. And being more flexible in my LC plan has helped a lot, too.

Dyan

PaleoRainy · 07-19-2009, 01:58 PM

I've just started maintenance, but at the moment I don't find much difficulty, honestly I found more difficulty in losing the weight. That must be because I started my plan as a *diet* but I like it, the cravins settled, and now I am not attracted by going off plan, so it became a *lifestyle* and that makes things easier.
See, I've planned to have a cheat food once per week, up to now I've not yet had it because there's no cheats I'd like to have, call it grains, sugar or dairy, I don't want it, so maintenance becomes easy.
On the opposite, I see I'm being more strict now in maintenance rather than back in weight loss, lol, who knows how my mind works, but I like it anyways.

SmileySue · 07-19-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaleoRainy

I see I'm being more strict now in maintenance rather than back in weight loss, lol, who knows how my mind works, but I like it anyways.

I'm doing the same thing - I'm a lot more strict with myself. So far, I'm not having any trouble maintaining.

NWLoser · 07-19-2009, 10:19 PM

I am more strict now than when I was losing and was at a much higher weight. I realize that I cannot eat as many calories as my body doesn't need the amount it did when I was over 200 lbs. I don't think it is too hard to maintain at this point. I have kept over 100 lbs. off for 15 months. I do attend TOPS weekly and that helps me keep accountable. I will continue to go for the rest of my life. I never ever want to lose this weight again!

I also want to add I enjoy this way of eating so much that I will never change.

homestretch · 07-21-2009, 02:42 PM

Well I did not struggle much the first year but after that I began to let myself gain a little and eat some carbs. Then the struggle began and I am up 9 pounds from goal so that is not good. Back to VLC for me and lesson learned.

Recluse · 07-21-2009, 03:30 PM

I will be maintaining 5 years come November. Hasn't been a problem at all for me. I guess I had an advantage to begin with - have never been a sweet or dessert eater. And I seem to require much less food than pre Atkins. Used to be stuffed and just keep forking it in. Now the most uncomfortable feeling for me is to be very full!

Rick-g · 07-22-2009, 06:54 AM

I KNOW I could gain 50lbs in a heart beat if I went back to stupid eating! Anyone who has been huge knows how to stay huge, I weigh every morning and never let myself go too far from goal weight. What a waste it would be. physically and emotionally, if I slipped back to the dark(fat)side.LOL
I have all the tools, I have all the knowledge, I just need the courage!

mcarr36 · 07-22-2009, 08:49 AM

I have to work at maintaining. Well, I guess it really is not "work" because after 7 years of living the low carb life it has become my way of life. I do weigh myself daily. I do not get upset if I am up a couple of pounds. However, I do something about it immediately! I maintain at around 20 carbs. Sad, I know. If the scale is up, I drop the carbs to under 20 and I have to cut out LC packaged products. Also, I have no clothes that would fit me if I gained weight. Gave away the "fat pants" years ago.

fischdeb1 · 07-27-2009, 07:55 PM

I constantly worry about gaining weight. I'm worried right now. I've been on vacation for 1 week. I've never gone that long without weighing myself. I know I didn't eat poorly, but I still have this fear of gaining weight. I ate very clean the last 2 days and I will weigh myself tomorrow. I'll post my weight on the maintenance thread tomorrow event though it's not Fri. I'll post again on Fri.

I've been maintaining for about 1 year. I don't know if I'll ever be relaxed about my weight! I so don't want to gain again!

Deb

sugarless4life · 07-29-2009, 01:24 PM

No struggle here. This is my lifestyle of choice and I refuse to ever eat carbage again.

Betty

mcarr36 · 07-30-2009, 02:37 PM

I don't worry about my weight. I am confident that I can continue to maintain at my goal forever. It has been many years of maintaining for me and maybe that is why it is easy for me not to worry. I have changed my diet very little over the years. I continue to eat low carb everyday. I weigh myself daily. I never let my weight go up more than a couple of pounds without taking care of it. I love being trim and fit!

vli1127 · 08-12-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarless4life

No struggle here. This is my lifestyle of choice and I refuse to ever eat carbage again.

Betty

ITA Betty. It has been pretty easy so far. I have only been maintaining for about 2-3 months though. I still only weigh once a week when I weigh in at my weekly TOPS meeting. I find that and being the leader, makes me accountable.

Keptewe · 08-12-2009, 02:58 PM

I haven't been maintaining very long but I find that going shopping and trying on clothes ALWAYS gives me a boost of motivational energy. It reminds me of how much I love being the size I am now and how I never want to dread trying on a pair of jeans again!

ladyathome · 08-13-2009, 10:06 PM

Well, I don't really struggle. However I will say that while maintenance is simple, I don't always find it easy, if that makes sense.

My main issue is not allowing myself to become complacent and eat too many things that I should not eat. If I allow myself a little off plan item here or there, it seems like I start to allow it regularly. I have been up a couple of pounds in the last week or two and I really believe it is from my own complacency.

At least I am aware of it and am going to change it before I get in trouble with the scale.

Candee McKee · 08-19-2009, 02:18 PM

it's a daily unending struggle. Now that I've lost 60 pounds, i really never want to see that again, but...

steady · 08-19-2009, 02:33 PM

No, I maintain my weight because I eat the same way as when I was losing weight. During the weightloss phase I focused on created a WOE that I didn't feel like I was dieting. I learned how to incorporate the foods I wanted to eat into my diet and also made changes to my eating habits to a way I could live with for the rest of my life. I let my weight settle naturally with my new WOE.

SmileySue · 08-19-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steady

No, I maintain my weight because I eat the same way as when I was losing weight. During the weightloss phase I focused on created a WOE that I didn't feel like I was dieting. I learned how to incorporate the foods I wanted to eat into my diet and also made changes to my eating habits to a way I could live with for the rest of my life. I let my weight settle naturally with my new WOE.

That's me exactly.

sugarless4life · 08-20-2009, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladyathome

Well, I don't really struggle. However I will say that while maintenance is simple, I don't always find it easy, if that makes sense.

My main issue is not allowing myself to become complacent and eat too many things that I should not eat. If I allow myself a little off plan item here or there, it seems like I start to allow it regularly. I have been up a couple of pounds in the last week or two and I really believe it is from my own complacency.

At least I am aware of it and am going to change it before I get in trouble with the scale.

I agree; there's quite a difference between simple and easy. Worlds of difference.

IMO, as a 7+ year maintainer, it boils down to accepting the fact that you will never eat "normal" again (what was normal, anyhow?

) and recognizing that carb addiction is never cured. Vigilance, diligence, and discipline are the new rules for the rest of your life. Doesn't mean you can't have an OCCASIONAL endulgence; it just means that when you do, recognize that its an exception not the rule. Then be prepared to WORK IT OFF. (you knew I'd say that, didn't you?)

Betty

Keptewe · 08-20-2009, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sugarless4life

I agree; there's quite a difference between simple and easy. Worlds of difference.

IMO, as a 7+ year maintainer, it boils down to accepting the fact that you will never eat "normal" again (what was normal, anyhow?

) and recognizing that carb addiction is never cured. Vigilance, diligence, and discipline are the new rules for the rest of your life. Doesn't mean you can't have an OCCASIONAL endulgence; it just means that when you do, recognize that its an exception not the rule. Then be prepared to WORK IT OFF. (you knew I'd say that, didn't you?)

Betty

I totally agree with Betty here. Very well said!

07-19-2009, 10:36 AM	#1
dae_tona MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Enchanted Desert Posts: 2,337 Gallery: dae_tona Stats: 186/124 5'0 size 2 in misses/sz 7 in juniors WOE: Eating like a thin person Start Date: Feb 2002/Maintaining since May 2004	Do you struggle to maintain your weight? If I was at a lower number than I am now-I probably would-unless it came off S-L-O-W-L-Y... But now that I'm at a comfortable number, I no longer struggle. And being more flexible in my LC plan has helped a lot, too. Dyan

07-19-2009, 01:58 PM	#2
PaleoRainy Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: it matters more where we go Posts: 272 Gallery: PaleoRainy Stats: Goal reached (33 lbs) - New goal: 182/175/165 WOE: Paleo Diet Start Date: First 24/09/08 - Restart to second goal 24/08/09	I've just started maintenance, but at the moment I don't find much difficulty, honestly I found more difficulty in losing the weight. That must be because I started my plan as a diet but I like it, the cravins settled, and now I am not attracted by going off plan, so it became a lifestyle and that makes things easier. See, I've planned to have a cheat food once per week, up to now I've not yet had it because there's no cheats I'd like to have, call it grains, sugar or dairy, I don't want it, so maintenance becomes easy. On the opposite, I see I'm being more strict now in maintenance rather than back in weight loss, lol, who knows how my mind works, but I like it anyways. __________________ Please don't mind the typos, I type too fast and am not a native speaker. From *Vegetarian* to Velociraptor. http://paleorainy.blogspot.com/ Paleo diet YES to: meat, fish, seeds, fruit and vegs NO to: dairy, grains, starchy vegs, processed foods and all kinds of sweeteners (artificial and so-called natural).

07-19-2009, 10:19 PM	#4
NWLoser MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Beautiful NW Posts: 2,015 Gallery: NWLoser Stats: 235/115/115 WOE: LC/Atkins Start Date: 12/06 Final Time!	I am more strict now than when I was losing and was at a much higher weight. I realize that I cannot eat as many calories as my body doesn't need the amount it did when I was over 200 lbs. I don't think it is too hard to maintain at this point. I have kept over 100 lbs. off for 15 months. I do attend TOPS weekly and that helps me keep accountable. I will continue to go for the rest of my life. I never ever want to lose this weight again! I also want to add I enjoy this way of eating so much that I will never change. __________________ Weight Loss Since Dec. 2006 = 120 lbs. I AM NOW LESS THAN HALF OF MY FORMER SELF!! Dianne A proud TOPS member - became a KOPS on 4/24/08! Join us over at the lowcarb TOPS thread. http://www.lowcarbfriends.com/bbs/ot...wcarb-way.html

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07-21-2009, 02:42 PM	#5
homestretch MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,179 Gallery: homestretch Stats: 206.5/155 WOE: Low Carb Start Date: 5/26/06	Well I did not struggle much the first year but after that I began to let myself gain a little and eat some carbs. Then the struggle began and I am up 9 pounds from goal so that is not good. Back to VLC for me and lesson learned.

07-21-2009, 03:30 PM	#6
Recluse Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Austin Texas Posts: 535 Gallery: Recluse Stats: 158/112/112 WOE: Atkins Start Date: May 2004	I will be maintaining 5 years come November. Hasn't been a problem at all for me. I guess I had an advantage to begin with - have never been a sweet or dessert eater. And I seem to require much less food than pre Atkins. Used to be stuffed and just keep forking it in. Now the most uncomfortable feeling for me is to be very full!

07-22-2009, 06:54 AM	#7
Rick-g Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 342 Gallery: Rick-g Stats: 402/195, 56yrs old 6'1" WOE: low carb, TNT Start Date: June 2004	I KNOW I could gain 50lbs in a heart beat if I went back to stupid eating! Anyone who has been huge knows how to stay huge, I weigh every morning and never let myself go too far from goal weight. What a waste it would be. physically and emotionally, if I slipped back to the dark(fat)side.LOL I have all the tools, I have all the knowledge, I just need the courage!

07-22-2009, 08:49 AM	#8
mcarr36 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 106 Gallery: mcarr36 Stats: 118/115/110 - 5'2" WOE: Atkins-Maintenance Start Date: March 2002	I have to work at maintaining. Well, I guess it really is not "work" because after 7 years of living the low carb life it has become my way of life. I do weigh myself daily. I do not get upset if I am up a couple of pounds. However, I do something about it immediately! I maintain at around 20 carbs. Sad, I know. If the scale is up, I drop the carbs to under 20 and I have to cut out LC packaged products. Also, I have no clothes that would fit me if I gained weight. Gave away the "fat pants" years ago.

07-27-2009, 07:55 PM	#9
fischdeb1 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 170 Gallery: fischdeb1	I constantly worry about gaining weight. I'm worried right now. I've been on vacation for 1 week. I've never gone that long without weighing myself. I know I didn't eat poorly, but I still have this fear of gaining weight. I ate very clean the last 2 days and I will weigh myself tomorrow. I'll post my weight on the maintenance thread tomorrow event though it's not Fri. I'll post again on Fri. I've been maintaining for about 1 year. I don't know if I'll ever be relaxed about my weight! I so don't want to gain again! Deb

07-29-2009, 01:24 PM	#10
sugarless4life Atkins Ambassador Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 12,545 Blog Entries: 1 Gallery: sugarless4life Stats: 5'3 / 100 pounds / 53 yo /maintaining for 7 years WOE: Lost it with Atkins / RUNNING to keep it off! Start Date: January 19, 2002 - NEARLY 8 YEARS ON ATKINS	No struggle here. This is my lifestyle of choice and I refuse to ever eat carbage again. Betty

07-30-2009, 02:37 PM	#11
mcarr36 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 106 Gallery: mcarr36 Stats: 118/115/110 - 5'2" WOE: Atkins-Maintenance Start Date: March 2002	I don't worry about my weight. I am confident that I can continue to maintain at my goal forever. It has been many years of maintaining for me and maybe that is why it is easy for me not to worry. I have changed my diet very little over the years. I continue to eat low carb everyday. I weigh myself daily. I never let my weight go up more than a couple of pounds without taking care of it. I love being trim and fit!

08-12-2009, 02:58 PM	#13
Keptewe Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 388 Blog Entries: 69 Gallery: Keptewe Stats: 172/139/145 WOE: Low carb Start Date: February 2009	I haven't been maintaining very long but I find that going shopping and trying on clothes ALWAYS gives me a boost of motivational energy. It reminds me of how much I love being the size I am now and how I never want to dread trying on a pair of jeans again!

08-13-2009, 10:06 PM	#14
ladyathome Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: FL Posts: 354 Gallery: ladyathome Stats: 151/117 WOE: Atkins Start Date: June 2008	Well, I don't really struggle. However I will say that while maintenance is simple, I don't always find it easy, if that makes sense. My main issue is not allowing myself to become complacent and eat too many things that I should not eat. If I allow myself a little off plan item here or there, it seems like I start to allow it regularly. I have been up a couple of pounds in the last week or two and I really believe it is from my own complacency. At least I am aware of it and am going to change it before I get in trouble with the scale.

08-19-2009, 02:18 PM	#15
Candee McKee Junior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 5 Gallery: Candee McKee	it's a daily unending struggle. Now that I've lost 60 pounds, i really never want to see that again, but...

08-19-2009, 02:33 PM	#16
steady MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Las Vegas via NYC Posts: 1,566 Gallery: steady Stats: 110/90 5'2 WOE: ATKINS Start Date: Feb 2007	No, I maintain my weight because I eat the same way as when I was losing weight. During the weightloss phase I focused on created a WOE that I didn't feel like I was dieting. I learned how to incorporate the foods I wanted to eat into my diet and also made changes to my eating habits to a way I could live with for the rest of my life. I let my weight settle naturally with my new WOE.