A question...

[Michelle73]

I am now just 12 lbs. from my goal, and I just purchased the Atkins for Life book. I know that pre-maintainence can start up to 10 lbs. before reaching goal, but I was wondering everyone elses opinion on this subject?

I consider myself in OWL, but it is rather a modified induction...I have gone through most of the rungs of OWL, but still have a hard time getting past the idea of eating more than 20 carbs in a day. Recently, I have been pushing myself to up the carb intake a bit, but have only increased my intake to about 25 carbs/day at the most. I am actually terrified at the thought of maintainence, as I do not want to return to how I used to be, but...also know that maintainence is essential to a well balanced way of life.

[Betty]

I do understand that being in the pre- maintainance phase can seem scary, but really it is something to celebrate. You need to up the carbs or you will not be able to know your limit before you start to gain. Also your carb count percentage needs to be going up as the fat percentage should be going down.

[misterbenjamin]

Michelle73: Beautifully, said! Despite however each of us got here, and i am by no means recommending the path i followed, you and i feel the very same things and are facing similiar issues. I don't know if my appetite has vanished out of fear that i might gain it all back, or if my appetite has simply changed. I don't have any memories of ever being below 200 pounds, so what is normal for my body at this point, i haven't a clue. I do know that the closer i get to goal, the less my appetite becomes, and wonder if it is at a deeper level. That is what i'm filtering through right now. I know how to lose weight. I've learned that lesson well. All too well. Now comes the hard part. Having to maintain that weight, now that i'm here. You make me feel like i'm not completely off into left field with some of what i am feeling. Thanks for posting this.

seeing eye to eye,
Ben

[Perry]

Michelle, everyone experiences anxiety when nearing goal. Hard not to. There are so many stories around from people gaining all their weight back after Atkins. IMO, these people are the ones who stayed on Induction throughout their weight loss period or didn't follow the phases as written.

I am sure you will be successful in maintaining your goal weight. 90% of maintenance is mental and that comes from the knowledge you gain by listening to your body and learning. Don't look too deeply for answers. They're right in front of you.

Best of success.

[mklap1]

I have nothing to add, but I definitely have the same anxieties. I'd like to hear what people who have been maintaining for a while have to say.

Melissa

[dzuspann]

Michelle I am a couple of months in front of you.

I recommend going to within 5 lbs. The weight loss slows down dramatically and if you are 10 lbs away it can seem an eternity. I feel if I got within 5 lbs and i started to stall, that i could just go back to induction and make up ground fast. Heck I could stay on induction and probably lose 5 lbs in 2-3 weeks to attain the goal if I wanted.

To me I wanted to hit that goal. I don't want to stop short. When you go to pre maint, your wieght loss can stop or even you can gain a little. I gained 1-2 lbs at times when i ate something i should not have had. Now I was 12 lbs away and it upset me.

EDIT

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