Maintenance Frustration

[sadie147]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I'm very happy now that I started this thread, I don't feel so alone anymore! What's so interesting is everyone is making statements that apply to me exactly!

Silly I too refuse to do induction again, I've tried it twice and both times it did nothing except i was misreable and missed my yogurt LOL. I too was stuck in the 50 carbs and under thinking, for no reason other than i was just afraid to go any higher. turns out i can go much higher without issues..and have all of my healthy grains and veggies etc. I also don't eat nearly as many veggies as I should..

condor, it' was also the fall/winter that i put this weight on, my problem is that also tends to be when i stop my regular exercise like running, due to the weather/christmas/laziness. Last summer i never really started back up on a regular basis. I do tend to also eat alot of protein as well.

Joy being able to look back on fitday is a good benefit of it, though i almost want to stop tracking my food at this point. I almost wonder if that is part of my problem. i think I am overanylizing everything, and that is not helping.

I think it's a good idea to keep this thread updated, hopefully we can find what works if we share our ideas!

[sillygirl]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I did 25 net veggie carbs yesterday, very impressive for me! BUT, I had 1 cup of pumpkin becaue I made mini cheesecakes, sorta of! I'm no longer afraid of the high carb veggies! Butternut Squash here I come!

See that Joy, size 14 to a 10 in less than a year, even with all the ups and downs!

Fitday for me is essential. I hate it too, but honestly, it's the only way I can stay 150% on track! I think not using it may have been part of my little gain, you know, outta sight outta mind and all that!

[Condor]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Decided to go back to Induction levels w/very high fat, low protein on Monday as an experiment, (don't really have anything to loose just a couple of lbs). Well today I am down those 2lbs + 1! Again, I'm no expert but I really think this is the way to go for those of trying to loose the last few lbs. I have averaged around 70grams of protein and 150grams of fat per day, carbs below 20. What do you think?

[sillygirl]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Condor, that seems to be working for you!

I guess I would say I'm back in pre-maintenance. I had a small apple (so good) with cheddar cheese yesterday and am still in ketosis today (very faint, but it's there!). I'll continue this way for a week then make another eating plan!

[sadie147]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Unfortuantely I've tried going back to induction, once it actually made me gain weight . I've tried everything at this point (including even switching to south beach last year for a while). It amazes me that it just wont budge!

The one thing that i hadn't done, is upped my carbs until recently...everything i'd tried, i had kept my carbs very low. That's why i'm now wondering if that is the problem. Maybe lowering my carb will work after having been higher for a while? As far as ketosis goes, for me it's not an indication of anything , i've had ketosis register for weeks, but had no losses at all.

I'm doing kind of a modified OWL at this point, keeping the carbs down but still including my OWL foods, curious to see what happens after having done higher carbs for a while.

I think i've seen it mentioned before that if you keep your carbs too low for too long your body becomes too effecient at switching to fat burning so you lose the benefit of ketosis? which is one of the reasons we should do OWL. I think it was Megs that posted it..i will check with her.

One thing I will say, is thru everything i've tried, I have managed to maintain, which is a relief. At least i'm not struggling with constant gains...just one that wont go away!

[sallyseachange]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

I'm totally fascinated by this thread! You're all saying things that I identify with hugely!

Isn't it just true that maintenance is harder than losing?

I too refuse to go back to induction. I feel that if I do that all the time, sooner or later itìll stop working...so I sort of save it for dire emergencies.
The way I lost my extra Christmas couple of pounds was to take out my evenings glass of red wine (which had become an abundant glass-and-a-half during the hols) and drop my lunchtime ration of gorgonzola al mascarpone cheese (creature of habit is me!). I lost the weight, and more...but it took six weeks... and then, I went lower than I wanted!! Seems we're never happy.

Wine seems to be what keeps me maintaining, as long as I don't overdo it. A fine balance.

So glad you started this thread Sadie! And glad you don't feel so alone anymore. Me too... and I hadn't realised how alone one can feel when struggling to "balance the books".

Fitday is a must for me too. If I didn't put in my foods daily, I'd probably suffer from carb creep big time... or just plain overeating.

Condor... I'm really interested that you lose by upping the fat! My ratios have always been a bit higher than the "perfect Atkins percentages" and I always put it down to living in Italy where the wonderful olive oil is so much part of every single dish. The high fat never seemed to do me any harm.

Do you guys think that it might be a natural thing for the body to put on extra weight more easily in winter time? Because of needing to protect oneself from the cold, I mean? I've often noticed that it seems easier to lose in springtime, with the summer around the corner than it is in autumn, with winter on the doorstep.

Big to all us goalies with our struggle! Keep fighting the good fight!

[Condor]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Sally, yes, yes I do think I put on extra pounds in the winter, even without adding more food, I don't understand it as I didn't think I was changing too much with regards to food or exercise but every year it's the same thing, drives me nuts. However this week I have kept a food journal and now I can really see that maybe I was unconsciously adding too much protein, excessively some days. Incedently I hurt my back at the weekend and haven't done any exercise other than the normal chores and I have to say I am a lot less hungry (I know the high fat does that too). Not that I am giving up the exercise - ever, but just another interesting factor. I also think I am getting a bit of a buzz from the high fat and needing less sleep. I have seen CO users mention this, could this be a side affect? BTW not this week, but normally, I drink quite a bit of wine and it's never affected maintenance for me. Ciao for now!

[ValidRouge]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Jen, yeah I feel like I've REALLY learned how to maintain, the kicker for me is that I haven't gotten to goal ! Grrr!

Condor, I just finished 2 weeks of induction and all I did was lose the water weight I'd put on. I'm still 2 lbs above my low from last month (18.

Megs gave me some advice: instead of going to induction, go back to my highest known carb level when I was still losing (40) and then click it down 5 net carbs from there to see if I start losing again. I'm going to wait until AFTER tom to do this. So, late next week. She also reminded me of an exercise phenomenon that I've read about before where the muscles get very efficient at the same repetative movement (i.e. running) and that I need to do something different to shake things up. I also haven't been real creative in my lifting routines either. I think I really need to shake things up...It's just that I really love the running. Possibly because it's finally gotten "easier" to do????????

[sillygirl]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Sally, do you guys have a vineyard, or is just the Italian way to drink wine?

I agree with all of the above. We all just need to tweak here and there to get it right. I'd say in general we are doing fine maintaining!

Joy, perhaps this is a good weight for your body, lord knows you exercise, don't smoke anymore and basically stick to plan! So are you going to do what Megs suggested?

Also, hate to be the bearer of bad news but you all do realize that the older we get, the harder it is to lose weight and the lack of estrogen creates the little belly pooch! So what's a girl to do, commiserate with friends!

[sadie147]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

LOL silly, Yes I have tried to deny the whole getting older thing, but I think you are right...and it really sucks!!! Sure getting older means you're getting wiser, but i'd rather be less wise with less belly

Joy I am looking into HIIT to shake up my exercise. I think even running for me isn't as much of a challenge to my body as it once was. I've also added alot more leg work at the gym, something i've never done much of since I run (though not as far as i used to).

I've always been happy that wine and alcohol hasn't affected me in maintenance, it's bad enough i can't eat a donut anymore, at least i can have a couple of glasses of wine to help me forget about them

[ValidRouge]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Jen, when I first started running, that WAS HIIT for me LOL Because the running part of it would just TAX me out. If I add Sprints for 1 minute intervals with 3 min recovery intervals, that might work for me now. I could give it a try. I originally started with HIIT on my elliptical. It was good exercise, but I just get SOOOOOOOOOOO BORED inside on the machines. I'd rather be outside with changing scenery. What are you thinking about for your HIIT? Sprint intervals or doing something completely different? The Sprinting might actually help for speed in the long run too.

Silly, maybe...but I hope not. At the very very least I'd like to actually GET to 185. But my IDEAL would be to go to 175.

[sillygirl]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Joy, hang in there. You will get lower, I promise! Let's talk about it again in one year, go write that on your calandar!

I didn't know where else to post this, and they're a little blurry, but are these not the prettiest strawberries? I'm putting in for 6 of them, with fresh ricotta (made yesterday) for dessert!

[Condor]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Just wanted to update and bring this to the top of the posts again. Have met my intake of 70g protein/150g fat and less than 20g carb for today and for the first time in ages I feel I am in heavy ketosis. All the usual signs, just really heavy compared to the recent past. Hoping this is a good sign, but as this is just a little experiment for me and I'm not trying to loose too much I'll check my weight tomorrow and maybe re-adjust at the weekend. Hoping this might help some of us "last ten lb people".

[ValidRouge]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Silly, those ARE gorgeous berries. Hope you enjoy them.

[thirteenlbs]

Re: Maintenance Frustration

Do you monitor calories at all? What are your stats?

Just curious, Condor-- thanks!