Maintenance Weekly 26th June 2006 - What are You Maintaining?

[Mitra]

It's dawning on me very gradually that I really do keep my carbs down because I think it's the healthiest way to eat. Before starting out I'd read enough to assure myself that it wasn't actually dangerous, and it didn't take long to convince me that it worked for losing weight. I know there are many here who've tried lots of ways to lose weight. I hadn't, but I believe I could probably have lost weight by cutting my portions down (I couldn't eat low fat, but I could probably manage lowish calorie). I'd just drifted into the habit of eating too much. I'm reasonably confident that I could maintain my weight at higher carb levels by keeping tabs on the calories, but I know that I feel lousy when I eat too many carbs. Both on a theoretical level, from reading about the effects of elevated blood sugar and all the rest of it, and on an immediate experiential level, I actually believe this is better and healthier :idea: .

I'm not quite sure when it happened - this shift from seeing PP as a convenient and safe way to lose weight to seeing it as a way to stay healthy that has a nice side effect of helping with fat control. I suddenly realised that faced with carby foods I now think more about their impact on my health (long and short term) than I do about their effect on my weight.

How has your attitude changed since you started? Did it happen early on, or as a gradual adjustment.

Even if you don't have any thoughts on this subject, check in and let us know how you're getting on :) .

[banshee]

I've recently found myself doing the same thing when tempted with carby foods, Mitra. I'm trying to make it a habit to think in terms of what effect something will have on my health, because that's more likely to keep me away from the foods. I'm actually still struggling with this, and I still give in to temptation more often than I'd like, but I'm trying. While I almost never give in to sugar temptations anymore, I do still have some trouble with other starches. I'm finally reading PPLP for the first time, and I'm trying to look at those starches through the lens of lipid peroxides from how they're prepared, etc.

I'm also really trying to reduce the amount of sugar alcohols, and having some real success in that area. In the past, I was willing to put up with a bit of gas to have my sugar-free chocolate, but now I'm looking for and finding other alternatives. I'm even starting to develop a taste for the darker flavours of chocolate, since the options for sugar free and sugar alcohol free tend to be in the darker flavours.

It's funny how I've convinced myself of the health aspects in one area of the plan, but I'm still struggling with it in other areas. Maintenance really is just and ongoing challenge, but one that we're hopefully prepared to face head on!

[Shadow]

It is definitely thinking of my health that has kept me away from carbage since I began this WOE. Plus knowing if I gave in to one thing, there'd be no stopping my rampage :p. But like Mary, while I've gotten all that through my head, I still have other issues I'm working on, like using too many SA's. I certainly know they're not optimal eating - but it's actually been a harder habit to break than going low carb :eek:. Always something, huh :rolleyes:?

[cmcole]

Well, when I started LC, it was not for the weight loss. I didn't know I actually needed to lose weight (my, how we can delude ourselves, sometimes).

It was on the advise of my chiropractor, who I usually saw monthly, and quite often when I was at my worst with the horrid cramps. Yes, he could do accupressure and relieve them (that day), but he suggested that I would be much better off eliminating the sugars and starches which caused the inflammation/bloating etc., that was giving me so much grief.

I turned things around, and even though I occasionally have mild cramps, they have not been as problematic as previously. Then, I lost weight, too, and I stopped snoring, and a whole lot of other things. I couldn't believe how well I felt. I don't want to return to the old way of feeling, now that I know there is a difference.

However, since my hubby has been told to control his sugar intake because of potential diabetes, he has brought all kinds of "sugar free" items in the house, and I occasionally indulge in those. I didn't see the need for them before. Snacks were nuts, seeds, cheese, veggies or the like.

it's actually been a harder habit to break than going low carb

I need to reverse that process, and go back to where I was prior to this "glitch". I just think those items are not wise choices, and would rather go back to eating things that I don't feel have guilt attached.

And, Shadow, you are correct . . . it's always something. That's why maintenance isn't just standing still. It's something you have to continually work at - every day.

[LisaS]

maintenance is definitely active - maintenance on your car, on your home, on your personal areas (my work desk is an ongoing entropy experiment so it doesn't count) - so maintenance on health is the same right? Being proactive and keeping up - (not that I'm on maintenance - I'll be in intervention until Christmas at this rate :D )

[mcsblues]

For me maintenance is less and less about carbs - because the longer I go the less carby foods interest me, but that doesn't mean I still don't have issues with eating too much ... and while early on, I convinced myself that I only ever did this as a response to unstable carb induced blood sugar ... the reality (once I finally faced it!) is that a lot of the reasons for overeating (for me at least) have very little to do with carbs at all, and are much more behavioural and habit related. This is the reason I encourage newcomers to look at not just carb content but portion sizes and habitual eating generally in the early stages (when carb restriction has an impact on hunger) - whilst I don't necessarily favour calorie counting (as this can lead to less nutritious food selection) - the whole idea of looking beyond carb intake is very difficult to swallow (sorry) for a lot of low carbers.

[Mitra]

the whole idea of looking beyond carb intake is very difficult to swallow (sorry) for a lot of low carbers.

I saw the lowcarber board debate, so I know you're right, but our small group of maintainers here has a good proportion of people who've found they have to control quantities as well as carbs. I think someone said they can maintain on more calories if it's low carb than if it's high carb (I've never tested that myself), but most of us have found we gain weight if we eat too much, low carb or not.

[cmcole]

Just like the trainer I overheard at the gym yesterday - the bottom line is whether you are burning off more than you are taking in (for weight loss)

[miralin]

OK I'm not in a maintenance phase yet, nor do I expect to be for some time, should my weight decide it wants to abandon ship. But I'm also in this whole thing for different reasons.

See, a lot of what I've been reading suggests that removing grains from the diet may alleviate symptoms of, and possibly help cure (dare I use the C word?) autoimmune conditions like my Hashimoto's disease.

I know LC works for me -- the only sensible diet a doctor has ever given me was a restricted version of PP about 6 years ago. I lost a lot of weight, and have kept it off since, even though I got away from PP. So after much research, a lot of carb-conscious but not very focused eating, some really icky reactions to bread and pasta, and some introspection, I adapted PP with some restrictions of my own.

After about a week and a half of no grains, no sodas (with an occasional indulgence in a Diet Rite, yay splenda! I think I've had one), no added sugar, and making every effort to minimize my processed foods, I am starting to feel better. I like feeling better. I like sleeping for 7 hours at a stretch. I like getting out of bed when the alarm goes off.

We have bagels and muffins brought in to work every Tuesday -- enough to feed the whole company with plenty of leftovers on Wednesday. Last week I wanted a muffin but didn't have one. Today, I didn't even want one. I walked into the kitchen, looked at the tables groaning with bread, and went ... meh, not interested.

Am I totally THERE yet? No. I still need to tweak and plan my snacks a bit better. But I'm making enough progress that I can feel it, and for now that's enough for me. It's an ongoing thing, every day, every glass of water, every meal, continuously making the right choice for me in that moment.

And I suspect it will ever be that way. I'm totally OK with that.

[lowcarbgirl]

Mitra,

You are not alone on keeping your carbs very low, even past the phases. I lost all my weight and improved my total health all on Phase I and I've never gone above it. Phase I is still where I maintain. I'm obviously very carb intolerant and start to run into problems if I go too high above 40 ECC. I could maybe handle 45 - 50 ECC but it doesn't seem like too much of a deal to me. Often I eat between 20 - 30 ECC a day and just eat the best carb bargains there is. And I feel great. I'm not missing anything.

I guess my point is maintenance is going to be what your individual body (and maybe mindset) can handle. For some it could be a fairly high ECC and for others not. What matters most is making the most of it and feeling great!

hugs,
Willow

[Mitra]

I don't keep my carbs quite as low as that (though I know some do). I average about 60g per day (not including fibre). Some days it might be 40 or so, and some days 80g. For high days and holidays (a few times a year) I might go up around 100g.

[banshee]

I don't keep my carbs quite as low as that (though I know some do). I average about 60g per day (not including fibre). Some days it might be 40 or so, and some days 80g. For high days and holidays (a few times a year) I might go up around 100g.

That's about where I am in maintenance as well. Every time I've counted, I always hit around the 60g mark in net carbs. I'm comfortable there, and it allows quite a bit of wiggle room for special days.

[Relief]

I think the Low carb for health kicked in for me shortly after I restarted PP to lose the weight I gained In "maintainance" the first time. This was when I wasn't ABLE to lose no matter what I did--(which turned out--after long long investigation!!-- to be thyroid issues) If I hadn't been convinced that controlled carb eating was the heathy way to eat, I never could have stuck with it.

I have been controlling carbs now for over 6 years on some level and for 3 religiously! carb intake is probably below 40 most days with an occasional foray up to 60 or so. I don't really count them,per se, any more. Tthere are just foods I don't eat, period, and it works out that way.

Right now, to get the thyroid induced weight gain from last year off, I do have to pay attention to calories-- if I go over 1200 very regualrly then I don't lose. it does require some attention to stay that low and get in nutrients and still have an enjoyable daily food plan. it is interestingt though that I get kind of used to it. I tend to have a couple of protein shakes-- made with whey and berries and a splash of cream. or chocolate--and sometimes an egg thrown in--and one real meal with a good slug of beef or chicken or fish and a bunch of veggies. Treats would be sugar free jello with a splash of cream or a sugar free creamsicle.
One day a week, or less, I endulge in some higher cal meals maybe if we go out for example. but carbs stay low low low. No bread , no grain, no potatoes and definitely no sugar. Its working! down another pounds--total of 14 gone--3 to go to goal!

[Shadow]

Its working! down another pounds--total of 14 gone--3 to go to goal!
Oh, how very exciting :D! Congratulations :thumbsup:!