Maintenance Frustration

[sadie147]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

It's been a while since anyone checked in here..so thought i'd see how everyone is doing?

I've had alot of stress this summer, that combined with vacation time has led to a couple of lbs gained (which isn't good on top of the couple I was struggling with), though not planning to go back on induction, i'm going to keep a really tight reign on my food choices and get back on track....I wont go into what i ate on my vacation...but there were a few not so smart choices LOL. Oh well..you live and you learn. Started running again today which will also help, I wasn't able to on my vacation as it was far too hot..weather is cooperating now...

Oh and next week I have to go into the office for 5 full days...I'm not used to having to take my lunch as i work from home. It's a relief that I'm in maintenance now..makes my brown bag lunch a bit easier to deal with.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Hey, Jen. I'm waffling 4-6 lbs above my goal. Retaining water like mad. It's been the coffee for me again, and overdoing it on dairy. Soooo, I'm back trying to focus on the basics. Getting the coffee OUT of my diet and refocusing on veggies. Kind of like the veggie challenge. Shooting for 35-40 net carbs vegetables and limited dairy. I'll let you know how it goes. Still running here, but I've switched to running in the morning before work. That might have something to do with my water retention.

[sadie147]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I've often wondered if dairy bothers me too, i have yogurt almost every day now as well as my coffee cream. Not alot of cheese though. I'm going t stick with the running for a bit though...and see if that helps before i cut out my yogurt which i just love so much!

I've kind of gone off of veggies and gone on a real fruit kick lately..mostly cantalope, berries apples and grapfruit. I've been getting alot of my daily carbs frm those. It's funny before this woe i could never eat half a grapefruit without sprinkling it with a tspn sugar...now, it tastes so sweet on it's own!

I used to run in the morning and actually i was at my lowest weight then..i've often wondered if that played a factor? now i'm running midafternoon...wonder if the morning runs really do help the metabolism?

[sallyseachange]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Seems the summer months bring an increase to quite a few of us. Me too. Not a huge increase... just a couple of pounds up... and I don't like the direction.

I think, that if it doesn't halt here, I'll have to cut out my evening glass of red wine ... which I enjoy so much. We all have our weaknesses, don't we, and it takes some fortitude to bite the bullet and get rid of them, for a while.

Well... taking out the wine for a month or so worked after last Christmas for me, so I think it'll work again if it comes to that.

I wonder why we gain in the summer? Maybe we just get more relaxed with the warmer weather...

[jimmie 48]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

someday i will sit and read through this whole thread.
for now i will just say that i have come to grips, pretty much, with being where i am.
i'm below the original goal, above the second goal and can't get below 124 for nothing.

i am coming to terms with it and have expained much in my mind of why. again, i plan on reading this thread to see what the rest of you are offering.

[ValidRouge]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Jo, this has been a very interesting thread, and definitely supportive. Will love to have your input.

Jen, it is kind of heartbreaking for me to give up the dairy because I love the greek yogurt and cottage cheese. BUT, I'm willing to do it to see if that's part of my problem.

Sally, I wonder if humidity has anything to do with it???

[sillygirl]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Maintenance is so hard. It's like, you do all this hard work for so long, and then you have to continue working at it each and every day. It is who we are. Just as in all relationships, our relationship with food takes nurturing and patience. I'm within 1 pounds of goal again now and am trying to be a really good maintainer with all food groups. It's going to take getting used to but I'm going to try.

[sallyseachange]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Sally, I wonder if humidity has anything to do with it???

Who knows? I do know that when it's hot and sticky though, my clothes always feel tighter, no matter what the scale says. Anyone else noticed this?

[Jennyxxx]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Truly great thread
Just what you need when on Maintenance.
I've been on Maintenance for roughly 2 years now .. At Christmas I put a few pounds on - but got rid of them easily with 3 weeks induction - which for me is no more than 15/ max 20 gr net carbs.
But this Summer has been fatal!
I had family staying from May to end July - and even though there was alwasy wine in the house and crackers/biscuits etc .. I managed not to put on a pound! I don't know my CCLL to be honest - but I think I was on around 50/60 gr /day and I can apparently deal with that without putting on weight.

On July 27th I was 57.1 kilos - Last Friday morning I was 60.2!!!!!
No TOM excuse .. just a lazy holiday month - Way too much white wine ( I mean a lot! ) on a daily basis which, despite being low in carbs - totally ups my appetite beyond belief.
One would think Summer is good for diets - but I always put on weight.
It was very hot and I added some Peaches - (I never eat fruit - for various reasons) and tomatoes .. and this really caused sever colon problems .. and I had to take laxatives if I didn't want to end up in the hospital.
From then on I just shot up in weight.
I was not even eating pasta - I had 3 pizzas in the whole of August which is a miracle here ... I was eating some piadina and unfortunately lots of wonderful crackers ... and generally just more and more of my usual foods.
One BIG mistake I made was that I was stuffing myself with Surimi (false crabby stuff) ... without googling the nutritional values .. which I usually always do.
BIG MISTAKE - basically one stick is 3 carbs .. and I was using them as snacks and in salads .. so even 8/10 a day
I must have been eating way over 100 gr carbs .. which is too much.
Anyhow I am now no-wine and lo-carbing it since Saturday -- and have seen a 0.5 kilo drop.
I am drinking nescafè cos I hate to admit I never cut that out ..
Some mascarpone with cream and coffee mixed up in the morning.
Lunch: chicken/turkey breast pan fried no oil with cheese melted over last minute + 4 cups green salad
Dinner: 2 fried eggs + melted cheese slice + 2 slices salami + 4 cups green salad.

With this I know (hope!!) I should get back down within a month.
The first few days as we all know are hard - not actual cravings .. and not actual hunger .. but a sense of "I need something solid"!
Probably I am suffering more from wine withdrawal too!

But I know I will feel so good in a week or two it is worth it -

The important thing I think is to be able to find your own personal "back into shape" diet -- that I found in the above .. so if things get out of hand - I do that for a while .. and feel much better with myself.

Successful maintenance to you all!!!

Jen

[sadie147]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Nice to see you Jenny! you are right about each of us needing to find our own 'back in shape' diet when we overindulge..i've pretty much done what you have this summer, slacked off here and there, enough to cause more of a gain that i was anticipating....i'm still trying to adjust my diet to shed those few overindulgence pounds. for me i think the secret will be exercise...that is what i tend to slack off with most.

for some reason i just can't force myself back to induction again..i wonder how i did it in the first place!

[Jennyxxx]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Hi Sadie =))
I remember reading you so much when I was on indulgence and OWL - you were always so helpful and supportive.
What I do to be honest .. is a week before say to myself .. "ok .. from Monday you're on indulgence .. so enjoy the week without too many sacrifices .. and be committed from Monday!"
I then go shopping on Saturday and buy loads of salad - locarb dressing - white meats - cheese - eggs - broccoli (which I find wonderfully filling) mascarpone for morning treats - cream .. and that's basically it.
Off course you will have your favourites ..!!!
Then from the Monday I try to block out all thoughts of food .. or menus.
In the sense that I don't ask myself what I want for lunch etc .. I just open the fridge - grab salad - white meats etc .. and just make it .. without paying any attention to what I would "fancy for lunch"
Many would say a totally boring attitude and menu .. but after a week or too I can start to vary .. but that is how I get straight back into induction.
If I try to plan all different food .. it all gets complicated, I start wishing for things .. or missing things.
If you want to do it .. you can I am sure ..
Obviously you have to give yourself a week or two before and eat all those things in the fridge that you will NOT be needing in induction lol =))
I am no expert by any means - just talking from totally personal experience .. but I so love Atkins because in all these years it is the only diet that works for me .. and I feel I can totally control - whilst eating healthily.
Take care!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Jenny... I can so totally relate to everything you've said. I too gain in summer... when everyone else loses! But hey... we're doing Atkins in THE most difficult country!!

I have to be really careful about wine and try to limit myself to one glass in the evenings... except when we go out, or are with friends, when I'll have a bit more.

Trouble is... the whole atmosphere in Italy is redolent with food, if you know what I mean... Italians are so enthusiastic about their wonderful dishes, and that enthusiasm is catching. Very hard not to get carried away.

Like you, I've had my phases when the scales go up and have had to draw in the horns. The wine is the first thing to go

Kudos to you for getting back on track. You'll be back where you want to be very shortly, I'm sure.

[Jennyxxx]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Hiya Sally! Great to read you again! I see you're still doing excellently - well done!.
Argh don't mention the wine .. I even moved onto only white as the carb difference is significant .. but when it is hot like now . .. and the wine is freezing .... it just slips down as you know!.
Luckily one thing Atkins has done for me .. and I seem to remember reading an old post of yours that says it's the same for you ..... is taken away my appetite for pasta!
Strange as I used to eat it every day ... but now pasta doesn't attract me and a whole pizza is just too much for my stomach to cope with.
So when I go out luckily I am not excessively tempted. ... except I do have "fritto misto" occasionally which I am sure is full of flour .. but that is my only treat!...
We live, as you say, in a very difficult country .. where Atkins is concerned as I never find any lo-carb stuff ever ... but there again when I was in the UK at christmas ..... there are sooo many tempting things ... shelves and freezers full of so many things we never see here ... I find it harder there to be "good"!
I kept going to Subway to eat when out shopping .. they have excellent lo-carb wraps.
Anyhow I hope this next month will be productive!! I will let you know!
Take care -speak soon

[sallyseachange]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Yes... do tell how you get on, Jenny!

Oh... was interested to read about those surimi stick things being so high carb. I never knew that, and imagined they were relatively low.... good to know!!!

[sillygirl]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Welcome to you Jenny! Yup, this happens to be one of my favorite threads with a great group of people.

I did forget to post it here, I am back at goal. Still struggling and tweaking. Those 8 pounds took a long time to get rid of.