What do you miss?

[ShannonK]

I am really looking forward to reaching my goal weight. I have done this before and gained back all the weight I lost because I stayed on induction the whole time and onced I reached goal I didn't know how to eat!

This time around, I am seriously realizing that I will reach goal again and I am going to have to accept and realize that I will be a "lifer" at this or the weight will come back.

My question to you is, now that you have reached goal or close to it, what do you miss? What is good or bad about lifetime atkins? What can you not do without? Or conversely, is it easy and why?

Thanks in advance. I am planning out my life and would love to know what you guys already know.

[sadie147]

I'm very lucky in that I can maintain easily at 100g's of net carbs per day as long as i'm exercising regularily (running).

There's not much that i miss actually, mostly because i really didn't ahve any 'issue' foods that i had to totally remove from my diet. I allow myself whole grains, in moderation (usually only a few times a week and not every day), i do include fruits, higher carb veggies, dairy etc. As long as I make sure it's all in moderation.....I still stay away of course from the sugar, white flours starches etc.

Because whole grains have become very popular, this also gives me alot more choices. Whole grain Bagels, english muffins and breads etc are available pretty much everywhere now.

My biggest problem in maintenance has been the exercise however, it really is hard, when you're at your goal, to stick with it on a regular basis IMO. But for me it's absolultely necessary.

[ShannonK]

Thank you for the feedback. You really look great. We are the same age and you look fabulous.

[sallyseachange]

I don't really miss much... I seem to have found good substitutes for most things. Occasionally I crave pizza (the paper thin Roman kind)... and occasionally a real Sicilian "cannolo"... but mainly, I'm really happy with the way I eat.

I still have portion control problems. I never know when I'm full and have to just use good judgement. I also have a few weaknesses: Wine is one of them and sugar free chocolate is the other. I have to be very careful not to exaggerate with these two and they're the first to get the chop if I go beyond my "buffer zone".

As Jen says, exercise if paramount. If I reduce exercise, I have to reduce the amount I eat, within days!

Sounds very problematical, but actually it's not. You'll be fine once you hit maintenance, I'm sure... especially if you (wisely) choose to do Atkins the way it's meant to be done.

[ShannonK]

I am definitely doing Atkins the way it is meant to be done this time around. I carry my book with me and refer to it always. I see you live in Italy. I don't know how you do it with the pizza. The thin crust Italian way is pretty nice. I am also an expat and it is difficult sometimes with foreign language on menu's and supermarket, etc.

I do appreciate the ideas. I have one other question. You both mention exercise. Can I ask how much exercise you do and what variety? Sadie 127 mentioned running. Do you run every day or just four times a week or so? How about you, Sally? I am finding it easier to exercise in The Netherlands where the Dutch bike everywhere.

[sadie147]

I run 2-3 miles 3-4x a week. Last year I slacked off on exercise, and packed on 10lbs like it was nothing! The problem was I didn't exercise but kept up the same eating pattern. Lesson learned!

I also have a Wii fit, and I like to do the yoga. About 3x a week, 30 mins at a time. Though I think as far as my eating goes the cardio has the biggest impact.

As for pizza, we have a couple of pizza chains here that now has 12 grain, whole grain crusts, and I do indulge on occaision. I wouldn't have it often, but it's nice to have it once in a while. Pizza was never one of my favourite foods, but I do enjoy it on occaision.

[sallyseachange]

Shannon.... I walk my doggies daily. They make great treadmills! I walk them for 35 mins and go at a fast clip. I don't slow down on any slopes (and there are lots where I am) to get the heart rate up. I also do half an hour's exercise routine from an Italian exercise series I made DVDs of.
I don't manage both everyday but do my best. Recently I've been adding a few mins here and there on my aerobic step... cos I'm still battling with the few extra (and horrid) holiday pounds. It's working.

[ShannonK]

I was going to start a new thread here, but these thoughts are really a continuation of this thread. I have been hesitating to get back into Atkins because the last time I did, I reached goal and gained it all back because I could not maintain. I didn't really know how.

What happens to me is this: I do really great for weeks at a time and then decide that I want one of these really great Belgium beers and some fries (or something)... Even though I have maybe lost five or six pounds and feel great, I think to myself "With this way of eating, you can never, ever have a beer again..."
So, I quit. Just like that.

I guess I just want to get past that way of thinking before I come back to Atkins for sure. I know that I need to commit to it for life and not just a quick fix because the weight comes back quicker than I thought possible.

So, I am not sure what I want to hear. I guess I know you can't tell me that "Sure, you can have that beer whenever you want..."

But, can you tell me... "Yes, when you reach goal, you can have that beer or those fries, along with your steak, as long as you do it in moderation and only once a week or so and include it in your CCLL?"

[sallyseachange]

A beer or two is legal at maintenance (or after the alcohol rung for that matter). So are fries. It's a matter of moderation, personal choice and CCLM.
The joy of maintenance is that you really only have to take out sugar and refined flour... not much else at all!

If anything causes you to go overboard though, it's best to avoid, even in maintenance. OWL will teach you how you react to certain foods.

[sandradeee]

Absolutely - my understanding is in maintenance you can have a few carbs here and there, and that would include alcohol or pizza or whatever your body allows. I believe everyone is different, and you may find you can allow yourself this once in a while. The idea is to gradually add your carbs back so you can choose for yourself what your limitations are.

I'm pretty sure when I'm at goal I can have a sandwich etc. from time to time, just not the junk that got me to this weight