The last 10 pounds are stubborn beyond belief...

[Labarum]

The last 10 pounds are stubborn beyond belief...

This is a quote from Qjackal and it realy struck home. He is responding to Iapetus on "2 Years on Atkins - how did he do it".

Quote ------------------------

Basically it comes down to this:
Without exercise it won't stay off
Without not cheating it won't come off
You need to follow the plan as written.
When I was losing weight if I cheated I wouldn't lose weight for a whole week.
If I stop working out the pounds come back just like that.
During the holidays I ballooned back up to 209.
It's taken me literally all this time to get back to 200.
I know my body really well now. I know it is looking for every opportunity to stack on some pounds. I have to work really hard to keep it off.
Basically my choice is work out like a maniac or watch every bite of food. Fortunately I've found a middle ground where I watch most of my meals, but once in a while I'll eat something high carb (potatoes, fruit but not sugar or cake).
I think that's the secret to keeping it off...just eat in moderation...make sure it's healthy...and don't worry about occasional deviations. Keep regular workouts.

Endquote ------------------------

Yep, the last 10 pounds are stubborn beyond belief...

55 lbs I lost very easily in 9 months or so - in the last 9 months I have lost only 3lbs. I have been doing a spot check this week with Fitday and I have been eating 1800-2000 calories and 50-80g carbs a day. There has been no cheating - no bread, no potatoes, no pasta. I still find the plan easy and palitable. I live on meat, poultry and fish with buckets of salad and low carb home made ice cream or Greek Yoghurt and berries. I love it. I stuck with it on Holiday and gained no weight - smoked salmon, lettuce and cucumber for breakfast - now that was real hardship.

At the start of the programme I began with brisk walks, then I stated to swim. When the local pool closed I took up cycling after many years. The are lots of lovelly country lanes around where I live and I love being out- at least 10 miles a day and 20 when I have the time. Sometimes I work hard fast and furious, and sometimes I just enjoy the lanes. It ain't scientific, I just enjoy it.

mmm, as I said three pounds in 9 months, but what the 'eck, I am enjoying the food and loving the excercise. There must be a lot more muscle in my legs and my trousers are slacker than they were, so some reshaping has gone - slow but sure. I suppose some works on my abs would help, but that don't sound like fun at all!

But there you go. The Senior Medical Officer who said to me "Do Atkins: it works." told me months ago my weight was no longer a medical issue, and a few pounds less would just be a matter of personal choice - but it would be nice - and I hope achievable even if

The last 10 pounds are stubborn beyond belief...

[Starmaker]

You look FANTASTIC!

[Finelly]

****, if the 10 pounds NEVER come off, you're looking very hot. woo hoo!

[Labarum]

Thanks ladies.

I am now three pounds lighter than you see me. Maybe I should change the old 208lb picture for one at 205 lb - in uniform?

[Elizellen]

Yes!!
I love to see a bloke in uniform - I even married one!!

[soliwit]

yaaaaaaah do some showing off !!!!!
You really DO look fantastic !!!

[sadie147]

Quote ------------------------

Basically it comes down to this:
Without exercise it won't stay off
Without not cheating it won't come off
You need to follow the plan as written.
When I was losing weight if I cheated I wouldn't lose weight for a whole week.
If I stop working out the pounds come back just like that.
During the holidays I ballooned back up to 209.
It's taken me literally all this time to get back to 200.
I know my body really well now. I know it is looking for every opportunity to stack on some pounds. I have to work really hard to keep it off.
Basically my choice is work out like a maniac or watch every bite of food. Fortunately I've found a middle ground where I watch most of my meals, but once in a while I'll eat something high carb (potatoes, fruit but not sugar or cake).
I think that's the secret to keeping it off...just eat in moderation...make sure it's healthy...and don't worry about occasional deviations. Keep regular workouts.

Endquote ------------------------

Dr. Atkins said exercise is not negotiable. and it's not. I"m a perfect example. I have seriously slacked in exercise over the summer. I have not cheated, i have watched my food intake, tried lowering calories, lowering carbs. But i put on 8 lbs. that's almost a third of the weight I lost. I learned this lesson the hard way. I"m back to working out again, and i'm sure it will come back off (and it will be slow too i'm sure). h

I think this is where many on Atkins give up. They lose the weight, they get to their goal, they stick with low carb but stop working out. The weight slowly creeps back up. They think low carb no longer works, so they abandon it. But i really believe to maintain if you are exerciseing..you must keep exercising. Period.

Yes there are some who reach their goal weight with very little exercise, but i don't believe that is the majority of us.

EXERCISE IS NOT NEGOTIABLE. it's really not.

[Kent]

Labarum - sorry to hear the last pounds have not followed their brethren as quickly as you wis they should have. Have you checked your Body Fat percentage lately? My guess you're depleting your fat storage with new leg muscles from the biking. Either way you are on the right course.

[AllieCat0817]

For me, calories was a huge factor for the last 10 lb.

[Peytonn]

I'll be glad when i get in the last 10 pound zone..