Maintenance Frustration

**ValidRouge** · April 13, 2007, 04:22 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I'd love to hear any answers to this Sadie. I'm struggling just getting to what I want my goal to be. I've even been back on induction for the last week and 1/2.

**thirteenlbs** · April 15, 2007, 07:22 AM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Hmm, I am no help, but am curious about this as well...as my "extended" induction was years!

**sadie147** · April 17, 2007, 12:46 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

well i have managed to keep my carbs up at maintenance levels the past month +, i've ranged normally around 70-120g's (with no gains, no losses either though). I am now trying to lower my carbs, to see if maybe this will boost my weight loss after staying fairly high carb for over a month.

Anytime i've gone down to induction level carbs in the past it has done nothing, though i now think that's because my carbs have maybe been too low to begin with. I'm thinking that i'm now in carb burning mode, i would think, and maybe dropping back down should bring me back into ketosis and kick start my weight loss? Not doing actual induction, not ready to give up my yogurt and cottage cheese yet (yes i have tried cutting out dairy, no help

).

i'm skeptcial that it will work, but i'm hoping that a combination of that, and continuing exercise, might help.

sorry i'm just kind of thinking out loud here at this point, I'm really running out of ideas, and patience

.

How are you doing Joy? is dropping back to induction helping any?

**ValidRouge** · April 17, 2007, 01:04 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Nope. I just finished my two weeks and the only thing I lost was the 3ish pounds of water weight. And, I'm not even back down to the low of 188 I had one month ago. HOWEVER, TOM is due on Saturday...and I typically start to gain a pound of two just before. My body is VERY VERY stubborn.

On my measurement chart I'm not losing inches...possibly even gaining inches. BUT I've moved DOWN into size 10 Levis jeans. The only explanation is that I'm losing inches in places where I'm not measuring. One area I *know* that is happening is that area between the larges part of my calf and my ankle. That area below the actual calf muscle is getting smaller.

I went and had my body fat measured using the BodPod which uses air displacement as opposed to the dunk tank method of water displacement. It says that since June I've gone from 40.7% bodyfat to 33.4%. I've gained 4 lbs of lean muscle tissue. Lost 20 lbs of fat.

As a runner, you might also be intersted in this....but I had my Resting Metabolic Rate measured as well. Where I thought that my metabolism might have slowed because of quitting smoking, the running and muscle gain has actually SPED UP my metabolism to the point that they said I should be eating around 2117 calories per day for weight loss and to NOT go below 1700. They actually told me that I need to "Fuel the machine". So, I've been trying to keep my calories up. It makes sense, that the more muscle I gain the more metabolically active that tissue is...and the more calories it needs for fuel.

I'll just have to see how this goes.

**Condor** · April 17, 2007, 02:12 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I am no expert and this is just a suggestion based on my own recent experience with losing the last ten pounds. I went back to induction, less than 20g carbs, but also I reduced by protein down to around 70g and upped my fat considerably to just over 150g. I don't keep food journals or do fitday or anything, just never got in to it. However as far as I think I can remember, every time I did the above, (been low carbing and struggling with the last ten pounds for nearly 12 years), the weight came off again.

**Condor** · April 17, 2007, 02:18 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Forgot to say that once the ten pounds comes off (usually about six weeks) I seem to be able to go back to maintenance and maintain the new weight. I do like a higher fat ratio though as it keeps me very satisfied. Does this make any sense?

**thirteenlbs** · April 17, 2007, 02:25 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Perfect sense. I am actually experimenting with this concept right now as I move up the rungs.

**Condor** · April 17, 2007, 02:44 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Oh and another thing, and again, this is only from my experience, I cut back on the exercise quite a lot during this period to around 20 minutes a day from around 40 minutes at maintenance levels.

**sallyseachange** · April 17, 2007, 03:10 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

This is a very interesting thread.
Sadie... like you used to, I stick between about 28 g to 50 g carbs and have maintained for a year and a half... but, have often wondered if I should perhaps up those carbs a little, for good health. That would mean sacrificing other foods that I love to eat though. and I'm loathe to do that.

Sorry not to be able to offer any helpful advice...but am very interested in what everyone has to say on this. I'm sure you'll find the solution sooner or later if you keep at it.

**sadie147** · April 17, 2007, 03:38 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Joy, the calories information is very interesting, since struggling with this, i think i'm now paying far too much attention to my calories, when I look back at fitday for those 10 months i was at goal and maintaining it, my calories averaged around 1900 most days. right now they're more likely to be 1400. I almost wonder if I'm overanalayzing it? I seem to be worry about carbs and calories and keeping my protein up, which is probably not a good idea

I also have gained inches in a couple of places too, though I have lost an inch on my chest (of course, where i don't care to lose LOL). I do think that is exercise related too. Sometimes I also wonder if i'm measuring in the exact same spot every time.

Condor, I was actually thinking about my fat levels as well, and that makes sense. because i meem to be paying to much attention to my calories at this point, I think i've been eating less fat than i should. I may also try this too. i'm trying to go back to my induction attitude.

You know Sally, i'm so happy that i was able to add back those extra carbs, it was very free'ing not to be so phobic of every little bit of food. I really have had no issue up to 150g's a day, though that's a once in a while thing. The one thing I do make sure of is that all of these carbs are coming from good sources, whole grains and fruits, veggies etc and nothing white. i had no idea that I would find grapefruit such a treat!

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions and support

, I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

**sillygirl** · April 17, 2007, 04:59 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Can I just say how tight my pants are today! I honestly believe maintaining is harder than losing, even though losing took me about forever! I am struggling with 8 pounds myself. I refuse to do induction again. Been there, done that, it's no good for me. I'm trying to stay about 50-75 carbs and 1500 - 2000 calories basically Rung 1 for a few days until I next see strawberries at the market!

I'm so stuck in the 50 carbs and under category. I don't think it's good! Our bodies need those good carbs! The veggie challenge is going to help me alot because I know I didn't eat enough veggies, based on net carbs. If more veggies fill me up, my carbs may be high, but I'm pretty sure no one gained weight from eating a few more vegetables! Yes, I'll have to sacrifice favorite foods here and there, but I'm willing to give it a whirl! We're going on a vacation May 11-14 and I need to wear all my cute skinny clothes!!!!

Joy, when you were on such a great losing streak a little while ago, how many carbs per day were you eating?

I say we should check into this thread often to see if any of our newfound adjustments work!

**Condor** · April 17, 2007, 05:36 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Sillygirl. I have found that I can maintain very well for about 8 months of the year and then (usually over the winter) I gain that pain in the neck 5-10lbs again. I have analysed to the extreme why this happens as I am a pretty consistent boring same kind of food eater. I don't keep records but something my husband said recently really stood out for me. He noticed that I appeared to be upping my protein intake and lowering my fat intake in the winter months. Anyway didn't pay much attention as he is not a lowcarber and still goes with the old "low fat" stuff. However I usually cook a portion of meat and share it between us, but over the last couple of months I was eating more than my fair share and he was left longing. When he challenged me on this we had a bit of a row, but he said "you always do this after Christmas". Well it was the old light bulb over head thingy that went off. Now I am not suggesting that this applies to anyone else, or there is any reasoning behind it, but the old, old indoctrinations might still be affecting us long time successful low carbers. Post christmas,new year I think I mentally go back to the standard "new year time to diet- low fat low cal regime without even realising it. Every media outlet is offering quick solutions to quick weight loss and the rubbish information goes in by osmosis. I reckon I have been upping protein and just not realising it. Probably going on a bit now, but I love this thread as it really gets you thinking.

**sillygirl** · April 17, 2007, 06:14 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Condor, you're not going on! I couldn't agree more! How interesting DH noticed that!

I admit it, I definitely did my share of emotional eating when my Dad died earlier this year. But now, I feel strong and have a trip coming and couldn't be more motivated! I'm the kind of person that, when I wrap my head around something, I just do it. So, I'm just doing it!

Also, being one of the moderators of this forum, I gotta say, thanks Sadie for starting it up! We are not alone!

**ValidRouge** · April 17, 2007, 07:59 PM

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Silly, I have only sporadically used fitday. Bad, bad me! Because now that I *NEED* to look back, I don't have all the info. D'OH!

As for what I could find....in June last year I was losing about 2 lbs per week. When I bothered to journal an entire day....I was eating between 1700 and 2100 calories per day and anywhere between 30-40 carbs per day, I was eating a lot of stuff INCLUDING fruit flavored yogurt, lots of Stella's cheesecake, nuts, and pretty much however much veggies I wanted. My exercise was hit or miss during that time period as well. Never consistent. That was when we were having the August Tape measure challenge. I quit smoking toward the end of that challenge.

However, how's this for perspective. I was whining about not being able to get in my size 14 jeans. Today I can fit in size 10's.

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