Ok so here I am...

[dragnlady]

at just under my goal weight of 150, at 146? and scared to move on to this forum..

I don't know what scares me to move on? is it the comfort of not changing my eating habits? you see I never really moved on to OWL because none of the foods in the steps appealed to me.. so I just kept eating a induction type of menu..the only thing I eat not really induction type fair is hot oat bran cereal or hot whole wheat cereal 2-3 a week. ... I know what the book says, and my mind knows what to do to maintain my weight, but did any of you have to force yourself to move up the ladder of OWL or to change over to this way of life? or were you afraid of gaining again.. am I the only one to have fear of the change? and how did you conquer your fear to move on?.. just needing a little advice, even though I am trying to expand my diet, I keep getting these thoughts I'm doing something bad..LOL..

[cmcole]

Although I've been maintaing for about four to five months (since June, at least), I wouldn't say that I moved through the rungs appropriately. I didn't really add more cheese or dairy; I didn't add alcohol; I rarely eat legumes.

I do have whole grains occasionally (barley in soup, for instance)
I do have a few higher carb veggies (rutabaga, carrots, squash) occasionally.
I have, just recently, had a couple pieces of apple, mango, section of orange or clementine.

I make "bread" from a selection of brans, and sometimes add cranberries and/or nuts to it.

I'm not sure if it's just because I'm chicken, or if is because I'm following this WOE for strictly health reasons, and am somewhat apprehensive that if I allow my carb consumption to get too high, the health benefits of no cramps during TOM will decrease, and I'll be back where I started.

Obviously, this is a personal decision. However, that doesn't mean that I am feeling deprived or anything. There are some days that my consumption of carbs (all the legal ones, but items containing more as listed above) may reach the "high" point, but I usually don't go over 40 to 50 per day.

I hope this does not cause you more confusion than if I hadn't answered at all.

[2big4mysize]

the move will scare the heck out of you cause you are going from deep ketosis to light ketosis and will lose your appetite suppression. :yikes That is one of the reason you do the phases so you one know what foods and food groups effect you and two you llearn to moderate your portions and control what you put in your mouth and how to regain control when youe blood sugar is effected and you are in a craving mode.

I have to eat if none of the food in all the OWL steps interests you what doid you eat before you were low carb?

[dragnlady]

Ah ha, so i'm not the only one afraid to change..lol.. I thought it was just something I was going through. I do eat things from the OWL list but can't help but feel a pang of guilt when I do? I guess thats what I'm asking " did you feel guilt when you tried a new food for the first time, even though it was an exceptable food? and did you nervously await to see if there was going to be some terrible outcome to eating it?".. but maybe thats just me?..lol

Mostly my weight gain could be explained by my eating habits as, didn't eat all day, stuffed myself at dinner, and ate things like cookies, cereal, donuts, candy bars, and lots of soda.. all after 5:00 pm, sitting in front of the TV doing nothing...Thats what I ate before low carb.. Nasty habits I had.. :nono

[2big4mysize]

Oh man when i had nut putter mixed with creamcheese i thought I had to be cheating! same with ripe pear slices added to my salad. Oh and and did you miss my berries post last yr. Yep it seems like we are no longer on a weight loss program when we experience the sweetness and richness of propperly eatten OWL foods. I was looking for the carb police when I had some sweetpotato.

[cmcole]

Isn't it strange.
Those things can turn into either "comfort" foods, or we can be looking around every corner for the carb police, as 2big said.

I don't mean comfort foods in that you overindulge, but it can be a comfort knowing that you are still eating according to plan, but can add back those rich, tasty items without worry and fear of doing something wrong.

I felt likewise when I had a bit of squash, blueberries with a sprinkle of coconut, a small piece of beet. Even when I get carrots served to me, I still hesitate - strange how accustomed we become to doing things differently.

[ButtrShots]

Add me to the scared group. I'm 2 pounds from goal and thinking of changing it, not because I'm not satisfied with my weight, but because I've gotten so comfortable in the still losing, even if slowler now, phase. I had carrots the other night. Now even though the book said to add a 1/2 cup, they were so scarey looking I just had 1/4 cup instead.

I've climbed the rungs and have enjoyed adding new foods back in but haven't gone over 40 carbs a day yet. When I think of doubling the number that I ate during induction, it just feels so wrong.

Kathy

[carbinator]

OK, I'm here, 9 pounds to goal. No way Ill eat more than 40 carbs a day.

Nope, ain't happening! :guns

EDIT

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