Third Anniversary

[Mitra]

Just over three years ago (March 2003), my husband asked me to read up on low carb diets and see what I thought (I'm the household science advisor!). Someone he works with had lost weight on Atkins, and he wanted to know if I thought it was worth trying it. We were both in our early 40s and starting to accumulate more fat than we were comfortable with.

I did some on-line reading, and bought a couple of books, decided it looked sensible, and we agreed to give it a go. I'd really only thought about the weight loss aspect, but noticed that within a week or two I had more energy, less indigestion, and my ankles weren't getting puffy any more. I started to get hungry when it was time to eat, instead of just feeling tired and depressed! Even my skin started to look less dry and fragile. I lost most of the weight I needed to in the first 6 months, and the last few pounds over the next 6 months. Altogether I lost about 35 lbs and went from 35% to about 21% body fat.

I've been maintaining for two years now. In some ways I've learned more during the two years of maintenance than I did in the year of intervention. In the first year I learned the basics of how to put a low carb meal together, and how to get enough protein, but in the next two years I was learning how I'll be eating for the rest of my life, so there was quite a bit of trial and error, and a lot of journalling and plotting of graphs :rolleyes:.

I'm now so used to feeling better that I sometimes forget how much things have improved. I know that life is always changing, so it's likely I'll have to make further adjustments ... but for me, that's what maintenance is about: learning to match my diet to my body's needs.

A bonus I certainly didn't expect when I started my low carb investigations was that as well as improving my health and appearance, I've met lots of interesting people and made some new friends along the way :cool:. Thanks to all of you for being such great travelling companions.

[Billie]

Janet, thanks for sharing! The journey we have had here has been fabulous and I love reading stories like the one you shared. Not everyone has to be a million pounds overweight to have health issues and you certainly shared how losing some weight improved many things in your life, now how great is that!

The bonus we get is your two years of maintenance you have brought that to this board and to us, and that my friend is a great pay-off for everyone here!

Congratulations Janet, proud of you!

[banshee]

Yay! Way to go, girl! Hehe - you and I have a couple things in common. I've been doing this just over three years, and I'm the one who has to research the hows and whys of things and tell DH about them. He can't be bothered to take the time to do the research himself. :rolleyes:

[BethB]

Woo hoo Janet! Happy PP anniversary! :D


In some ways I've learned more during the two years of maintenance than I did in the year of intervention.

Ain't it the truth! But you stuck it out and learned what worked for you. Maintenance I think is signficantly harder that the weight loss phase. At least for me it was.

[gator8me]

WTG Janet! It's inspiring to me to "watch" you maintain. I enjoy learning by you doing. ;) Keep up the good work!

[realruth]

Janet it's a great way of life ain't it? ;)

[Mitra]

I've finally come up with photos:

This is about a year before I started PP:
http://www.danam.co.uk/Images/PP%20Before.jpg

This is now:
http://www.danam.co.uk/Images/PP%20After.jpg

[cmcole]

Mitra - great photo - thanks for sharing.

I, too, am the researcher of the family. This has been especially true since my hubby has had to be more consciencious about his diet/blood sugar because of potential diabetis.

I, too, have been at this LC thing for a while (September 2003). I initially did it to help with the cramps during TOM, on the advise of my chiropractor (a man I miss dearly, as he was way more than just a health practitioner - or maybe that's exactly what he was - focusing on the whole person, and not just one aspect).

I'm about ready to have my hubby take a photo of me in my exercise gear, partly because of the monthly challenge, and partly beause I want to see the comparison. I can cover a multitude of things with a baggy top - and, yes, I realize that spandex/lycra can hold things together, too, but is less forgiving, I think.

[Billie]

Well how did I miss those pictures!! You are as beautiful as I pictured and as youthful and "well-designed" as well! Thanks for sharing those!:)

[BeccainSC]

Thanks Mitra... very inspirational for all of us that still have a long way to go!

[lizi145]

WOW! I love your before and after pictures! You are an inspiration!

[gator8me]

Mitra - Thanks for sharing your pictures! You look great. It certainly is an inspiration for me to get there and stay there this time!
Ally

[virginia]

Mitra!!! Very good photos, really!!! Thank you for showing!! You are a very pretty and kind girl and a very good example for me. I also think that maintenance is quite more difficult than losing weight. YOU ARE MY HEROINE!!!;)

[joanneb608]

Great pictures of your journey, Mitra! I echo all the above, you're a super inspiration to all of us!:D

[Missy]

Mitra....YOU are so INSPIRING!! I really am glad I've got to "meet" ya and have you as a "team" mouse with me you YOGA GODESS YOU!! ;)

LOVE the pictures! And love that you shared! :D

[Mitra]

Thank you all for your comments. I must admit I don't feel as if I'd be inspiring people. But I like seeing other people's photos, so it seemed fair to share mine. I didn't think I had any "before" photos, but then found this one in a packet someone sent from a course I went on a few years ago.

I was thinking that my current photo should reassure anyone who's worried that doing resistance will give you excessively bulky muscles :). As you can see, that hasn't been a problem for me ;).

[Missy]

lol....no, I'll just worry about the day I can look HALF as good as you do in black jeans! DANG MITRA!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Mitra]

Those are my new Italian black jeans :D.

[lizi145]

I agree with Missy...you look AWESOME in those jeans!:nod:

[gitfiddle]

I don't know how I missed this, but I just got here. Nice, Janet! :nod:

[Claudette]

Wow, Janet, how beautiful you look!

What an inspiration you are to those of us still in the trenches trying to loose the weight.

Your photos make me think I can really loose it this time.

Thanks for sharing.


Claudetee

[SherryJ]

WHOOOOOO-WEE!!!

What a HOTTIE!!!

And, Carol, you missed it 'cause she JUST recently posted the pics! :D

Way to go, Janet!!!

Sherry

[Bangs]

Janet, you look just lovely. Two+ years of maintenance is inspiring. I do so agree that maintenance is a challenging journey:) But well worth the effort, as we can see in your pictures. I'm so glad I found this thread.

[kpow]

Well, I guess I missed the photos too!:eek:

You are just beautiful, Janet. It's so nice to have a face to go along with all your posts. Thanks for sharing. :)

Kathy

[Mitra]

Another whole year has just flown past! I've just realised that it's now been four years since I started PP.

Maintenance hasn't been quite what I expected. When does life ever give us what we expect :rolleyes:? For me, it doesn't mean constant counting, but it does mean fairly regular monitoring to keep on track, and I seem to always be slightly gaining or slightly losing; relaxing a bit too much, then pulling back again. Somehow I thought it would be a bit more automatic. The Eadeses do say that maintenance is the hardest part, but I didn't quite believe it. Actually, it's not so much that it's hard, more that you have to keep on doing it forever. After this long, though, I am starting to get more confidence that I can do this, that I'm not going to accidentally slide all the way back to where I started.

Thanks to you all for helping me so much along the way :D.

Here's a graph of my weight since I started:
http://www.danam.co.uk/Images/PP%202007-03-Graph.gif

[gitfiddle]

Happy Anniversary, Janet! Many happy returns!

[SherryJ]

Dang! You've GOT to stop spinnin' the world so fast! :D

Happy anniversary, my dear persevering one... :)

Sherry

[jmv2707]

Mitra - ahhhh, the joy of tucking in a shirt into the pants! Been a while since I've done that, but I will prevail! You are an inspiration and the 3-year maintenance is so important for all of us to see.
A newbie, Joanne

[Mitra]

You're right, Joanne - if you notice, the shirt wasn't tucked in in the before photo :lol:. It was definitely one of the pleasures of shrinking :). Stick with us, and you'll get there.

[Mitra]

Today it's five years since I first started LC. I've been maintaining for four years: this morning my weight was 0.2 less than four years ago (not that I maintain within a 0.2 lb range :lol:).

[Gaelen]

wtg, Mitra...you're looking great!

[Ammy]

MITRA Congrats!!
Maintaining for four years!

That's so GREAT!

[Karole]

Mitra, you really do inspire me !! You haven't tried to paint a picture that maintenance is easy--but that it can be done !! I need that.

Maintenance is where I got off track last time, and I just will not do that again. Thanks for showing us how its done !!

[Missy]

Mitra! Your AWESOME!!!!!! :D

[Mitra]

Thanks Gaelen, Amy, Karole, Missy. You've all provided inspiration to me, too :).

[gitfiddle]

A wonderful accomplishment, my friend. I am in admiration! :cool: :)

[Tresses]

Today it's five years since I first started LC. I've been maintaining for four years: this morning my weight was 0.2 less than four years ago (not that I maintain within a 0.2 lb range :lol:).

Congratulations, Mitra!! :D


Mitra, you really do inspire me !! You haven't tried to paint a picture that maintenance is easy--but that it can be done !! I need that.

Maintenance is where I got off track last time, and I just will not do that again. Thanks for showing us how its done !!

Ditto all that. :nod:

[BlancE]

Oh Mitra, congratulations!!! :) Hard to believe it's been five years already. I think we reached maintenance about the same time (although you maintained and I didn't). I'm so pleased to see you've maintained for four years. You go, girl! :D

[Relief]

It just doesn't seem possible that it's been 5 years since we started on this board! My 5 year anniversary here was Jan 1! you have done an amazing job at learning maintainance IMHO!

[Mal Lady]

Mitra,

I am so glad that you were able to post a before and after picture. To talk is one thing - but, a picture of your success IS worth a thousand (or more) words. I am such a worrier that I worry that I won't be able to maintain once I reach my goals. I have been thin (124 lbs.) by low calorie (started at 215). Now, I started pp in 2006 (at again 215) and am now down to 155. With only 25 lbs. to go, I want to know - how much carb are you eating to maintain and not gain. What kind of foods did you add back in. I know I got a long way to go before I can increase carbs - but, being the worry wart that I am - I usually like to have some knowledge as to what others have done at that point. If you ever have some time maybe you could give us some examples of what you have added in and still maintain. Thank-you for sharing your fantastic accomplishments with all of us. I wish you continued success!!:D

Sharon

[Mitra]

Thanks, everybody. Relief, Beth, it certainly doesn't seem that long ago, does it? I think Shadow and Ottawa joined around that time, too.

Sharon, I kept asking people what maintenance was like, too :). I average about 60g carb per day. Some days are still around intervention levels, while others will go up to maybe 100g. I don't generally eat "imitation" forms of anything. If I want bread, I just have a small amount of it. I'll eat rice or beans or potatoes, but usually just 1/4 cup portions. I'll occasionally have a sweet, but I don't really have a sweet tooth, so that isn't a big temptation for me. I don't do it very often, and I keep the portions small. I keep track of my weight and tighten up on carbs if it starts to wander up (and I know it's not because I've built 10 lbs of new muscle).

The thing about maintenance, is that, if you haven't faced it already, it's when you really have to take on board that this is a long term change. That means you really have to find a way to make it work for you; to fit into your social life; to satisfy your tastes. Not that there aren't things I'd like and don't eat - there aren't many areas of life where you can have everything you want :). But it has to be something you can live with and enjoy, and the things that work will be different for each of us. You'll be sharing your experience with us all before you know it!

[Mal Lady]

Sharon, I kept asking people what maintenance was like, too :). I average about 60g carb per day. Some days are still around intervention levels, while others will go up to maybe 100g. I don't generally eat "imitation" forms of anything. If I want bread, I just have a small amount of it. I'll eat rice or beans or potatoes, but usually just 1/4 cup portions. I'll occasionally have a sweet, but I don't really have a sweet tooth, so that isn't a big temptation for me. I don't do it very often, and I keep the portions small. I keep track of my weight and tighten up on carbs if it starts to wander up (and I know it's not because I've built 10 lbs of new muscle).

The thing about maintenance, is that, if you haven't faced it already, it's when you really have to take on board that this is a long term change. That means you really have to find a way to make it work for you; to fit into your social life; to satisfy your tastes. Not that there aren't things I'd like and don't eat - there aren't many areas of life where you can have everything you want :). But it has to be something you can live with and enjoy, and the things that work will be different for each of us. You'll be sharing your experience with us all before you know it!

Mitra,

Thank-you for your insight! I know everyone is different but, it is nice to know what kind of carb numbers you are maintaining at. I hope that I can keep the kind of mindset that you have when I reach that point. But, the temptation to go hog wild once you get it all off is a scary thing to think of and is what happens to most who gain the weight back. It is so hard to be disciplined for the rest of your life when food is a part of living. The temptations are everywhere!:eek: I hope I can be as successful as you have been. Thanks for sharing!

Sharon