Maintenance Frustration

[Condor]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Hi everybody. I was thinking of starting a new thread here but I realised that this is still the right place to continue this conversation. Well I am still on plan, nothing has changed since Christmas with regards to food or exercise - but guess what - I am fluctuating between a 5 and ten pound gain. I remember posting about the very same issue this time last year!! It seems for me that every mid-winter I go up in weight. It has happened to me every year (always around February) since I have been low carbing. What is this all about, drives me nuts!! I really wish I could get to the bottom of it. I feel confident it will come off again by spring because it always has but it just goes to show how really frustrating it can be. I just wish I could get my head around this, are we genetically designed to store fat like this? I mean it's not like I've been hibernating with French Baguettes or anything. How are you guys doing?

[sadie147]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Hi Condor!

Oh you are not alone in that 5-10 lbs winter gain! For me though, I know I don't exercise nearly enough in the winter, I jsut recently bought a treadmill, even though i prefer to run outside, hoping that I can get on track in the bad weather. It's been so icy, cold and snowy here that even just walking is hazardous

This year as well, i haven't even been into indoor exercise, like pilates and weights nearly as much, i find i've had a bad case of the winter blues and just no motivation. For me mid February is when I start to feel really 'blah' (this year has been very much worse though..a real depression)...I wonder if it's related to that as well?

I like to think also that my body is holding onto fat in the winter to keep me warm LOL It's my built in winter coat!

As far as eating i've done well, I did a short induction to detox after christmas (i was very bad this year!), and am back on track. Excercise seems to be my biggest challenge in the winter.

Glad to hear from you!

[Condor]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

HI Jen, yes it's so annoying, I'd love to take part in a proper scientific study of low carb eating. I am sure I must be doing something like you, ie not exercising as much in the winter etc. However I live in a really nice climate and we are at 32 degrees north here so we get plenty of good long sunny days even in Feb. and so psychologically it feels as if I am in the same routine as the rest of the year. Ah well time to shake it up a notch so its back to induction and high fatting again, cos if there's one thing I always take away from DANDR it's DrA's comment to never stray more than 10lbs from goal weight.
I must admit that although the high fatting produces good results it does get boring. Nice to hear from you.
Claire

[sallyseachange]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I think that many people gain in the colder months of the year... low carbers or not .
My theory (not at all scientific ) is that biologically we're programmed to add fat as protection against the cold, even when eating/exercising more or less the same way as ever (though it could also be that we're more attracted to slightly higher fat/cal foods in winter, too). In the warmer weather, this little extra "padding" gets shed automatically as we no longer need the protection.

[knicknack]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Hi everyone... looks like i'm not the only one that's having trouble this winter, eh?

I'm at the same weight I was when i reached goal (120) but man am I flabby. I actually haven't been low carbing at all because I was on a medicine that was making me lose weight, but I think my body has acclimated to that now. I'm also eating way more than I was (THANKS WINTER!!!) so I'm just getting poofier and poofier, and you know I'm not exercising. UGH.

I joined a tennis class that meets on mondays, so maybe that will help. I also belong to a gym, but I had pneumonia for a while and now i'm like ugh, don't feel like it. but that's the beginning of a really bad slippery slope. So, I'm here to say that I'm starting over. It isn't quite march 1st, but from here on out I'm going to:

eat low carb
exercise at least 4 times a week - even if it's just situps.
Stop feeling sorry for myself.

I think it's the winter blues - i honestly feel like i'm depressed halfway. I need to learn how to combat that, but eating unhealthily and not exercising is CLEARLY not the way to go.

Anyone want to join me in my maintenance March?

katie

[sallyseachange]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I'll join you, Katie!
I'm at least a couple of lbs up (though I need to check, after a week away from the scales).
Need to get back on track with the exercise routine and dog walks (poor doggies will have missed me this week) and need to drop the wine for a little while.
March is the month!

[sadie147]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I'm in as well Katie! I've had a terrible case of the winter blues this year..i've never had it this bad. I'm coming around a bit, but still not myself. The lack of exercising and bad food choices are also a problem of mine too!

I got a new treadmill which we finally put together this week, so i've managed to get in 3 days of running so far. It's so snowy and icy here there was no way i could run outside.

Katie for your depression you might want to try some St. John's Wort (but not if you are taking the pill, it lessens the pills effectivness). I've been taking something called 5htp which seems to be helping me a bit, but it's a bit more complicated than St. Johns' and did cause me some tiredness issues. When i'm finished them next week i'm going to switch to St. Johns Wort.

OK so by the end of march...the 3 of us (and anyone else who'd liket o join us) should be back on track!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

...OK so by the end of march...the 3 of us (and anyone else who'd liket o join us) should be back on track!

And we'll have results to show for it, I bet!

[knicknack]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Amen, we'll have results and be back on track. I don't knwo what it is about winter, but UGH. I hate it. I'm already on a bunch of stuff to keep me 'happy' so ugh. I've also had a lot of stress with work and stuff, so that didn't help anything.

I've been better though - went and played tennis twice, running once, walked a few miles another day, etc... Today I plan to go running in the park as soon as work is over. I can't WAIT for daylight savings time!

I've been... okay. mostly on track but a few slips. i'ts about That Time so I think it's a bad time to be starting to try to be back on a diet - since I have even LESS self control than usual. :P

how's everyone else doing?

[sadie147]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

So far I've done great with my running, I really wish I'd bought a treadmill sooner! I've pretty much run every day, with the exception of 2 days last week. Last week I started off with 20 mins a day...this week I got up to 30 mins...and yesterday ran 2 miles (around 34 mins)...it's got me pretty pumped up!

We've had a horrible winter as far as snow goes so I've managed to get in some shovelling exercise! Just finished clearing out the snow from yesterday's storm and we're getting another Saturday!

Heading to Buffalo Sunday for a 2 day shopping trip so I'm hoping to get myself some new running shoes and exercise clothes to keep me motivated! Not that it matters what I look like when exercising at home LOL.

I've done well with my eating too! Hopeing to stay on track when away which can be difficult. We'll be having wings one night for dinner, maybe Chilli's another night..so that should be fine. It's lunches that are hard when in malls etc. Oh well..I'll manage i've done it before!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Good to hear your progress Sadie and Knicknack.

I too have been... okay. Not perfect, but a definite improvement. Have gotten back into exercising and have reduced the wine. With "new job stress", it seems I just really need that after dinner half glass of red... am working on taking it out completely though.

Today I saw a positive result on the scale... fingers crossed it wasn't just a blip.

Keep at it gals! We've still got three weeks left of March.
Easter... now that could put a spanner in our good works . Anyone got a plan?

[sadie147]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I just hate the Easters falls so early this year! Normally we do a turkey dinner for Easter at the cottage, but it's looking at this point, like there will still be several feet of snow up there, and it will be far too cold to turn the water on. . Normally we go up all winter with the water off (we just bring water and live off paper plates etc) but the thought of doing a turkey dinner with no proper dish water doesn't appeal to me! And we haven't been up in a couple of months because we're just so sick of snow. So no plans so far. It'll likely be a quiet dinner at home.

My stepdaughter is 15 so I do buy her a couple of small things but we don't end up with a whole house full of chocolate at least!

[Condor]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Hi ladies, I've been doing the high fatting thingy like last year and it seems to be working for me. I have gone down 4lbs this week (with tom). I am eating approx 80% fat, 15% protein and 5% carbs, sometimes 17% protein 3% carbs. I am back to weighing and counting but it does help keep me in these ratios. Talking about Easter coming up, my favourite snack at the moment is chocolate butter. (200g unstalted butter, 1 Tbsp cocoa, 1 Tbsp splenda) all mixed together then left to harden in the fridge. I usually snack on 2 Tbsps a day mixed up with marscapone cheese. I am also eating a lot of cheese omletes fried in tbspns of lard, lettting it get really crispy in the pan. I also have small amounts of meat or poultry but no more than around 70g a day. The thing about this is not just the small loss in weight but the way it looks on me. It feels totally different to the normal losses, can't explain why but just looks leaner. I am loving it and feeling very satiated. I'm going to keep going for another week and see what happens. Hope you're all doing well.
Claire

[mitzimarie]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Hi ladies, I've been doing the high fatting thingy like last year and it seems to be working for me. I have gone down 4lbs this week (with tom). I am eating approx 80% fat, 15% protein and 5% carbs, sometimes 17% protein 3% carbs. I am back to weighing and counting but it does help keep me in these ratios. Talking about Easter coming up, my favourite snack at the moment is chocolate butter. (200g unstalted butter, 1 Tbsp cocoa, 1 Tbsp splenda) all mixed together then left to harden in the fridge. I usually snack on 2 Tbsps a day mixed up with marscapone cheese. I am also eating a lot of cheese omletes fried in tbspns of lard, lettting it get really crispy in the pan. I also have small amounts of meat or poultry but no more than around 70g a day. The thing about this is not just the small loss in weight but the way it looks on me. It feels totally different to the normal losses, can't explain why but just looks leaner. I am loving it and feeling very satiated. I'm going to keep going for another week and see what happens. Hope you're all doing well.
Claire

Claire!

Thank you so, so much for keeping us updated on your journey. I am completely fascinated with your high fatting... probably because I eat pretty high fat compared to most people in Maintenance. I guess it makes me feel better that someone else does it, too.

Thanks for the recipe for chocolate butter. That sounds so good! I've never had marscapone cheese... may have to try that. I don't eat much dairy, other than cheddar cheese, cream cheese and heavy cream. I occasionally have cottage cheese or greek yogurt, but they can give me cravings.

Looking forward to your further adventures...

[ValidRouge]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I've been upping my fat too. The only carbs I eat are veggie carbs and eggs. My diet is very high fat. I'm back down in my 175-177 lb range. On the high end today, but I've been exercising this week, too. Getting leaner as well. My wedding rings are getting loose and can actually fit on my other hand. I haven't been Fitday-ing because when I do, I tend to keep my calories low. I've found when i focus on eating fat, and keeping the carbs low, I do really well.

I do get kind of disappointed sometimes that in maintenance I have to eat this way. BUT, when I eat this way...I look good, I feel good and the food "noise" doesn't make me crazy. So, it is the choice I make.