Lowcarbfriend

So I started the thread asking who maintains without a scale and I came to the conclusion that I will share my experience trying to go scaleless.

Some of you may think that I am crazy and in fact I have my own fears about this but because of my unhealthy bondage to the scale god I am going to give this a try. My plan is to stay a comfy size 8, exercise, and eat right. I will post the ups and downs and if I break down and get on the scale I will post that also. I plan on using my pants as a guide and when they are too tight I know I will need to cut back. Anyone who wants to join in is quite welcome.

This week I feel very positive about my body and food. My sister’s and I went to Talbot’s on Monday and I got two very form fitting and cute tops. I was very happy with my purchase and I felt so good about my weight loss because for so very long I could not buy clothes that I desired. I had to buy clothes that hid (at least I thought). I have a closet full of cute jeans, pants and capri’s and it is very nice to stay the same size from season to season.

sure..right ???

sounds easy enough ???? ritgh??/

I
am
struggling
here…

need all of your * professional* help…. for those of you more in the know than me …..

can I be okay at 30 to say…45 carbs …
and
maintain ?????

almost at quitting point here -
but don’t really wanna quit……….in the heart, know that low carb is IT ~
…just that…
on 5 years now..
with just about zero cheats…

how many carbs ya’all eat in a normal day….in maintanece ???

thanks so much, my dear friends !

I also posted this in the main lobby — I need some advice…

I need some advice – I’m trying to figure out how to maintain…

The trouble with nuts is that I can’t stop eating them once I start! Every time I have a few, I can’t seem to resist taking a little more … I know that this is causing me some problems with my maintenance. I have been following this WOE eating for 2 years and am trying to now figure out how to successfuly maintain … So far so good – but every once in awhile I eat too many nuts and then go up 3-5 lbs from my goal level — I also go up when I have diet soda, too much nsa chocolate, or cheese … I have Candida issues … soo that probably has a lot to do with it..

However, I’m 2 years into it and haven’t been able to go much higher than 25-30 net carbs in one day without gaining and going up in weight … I realize that this means that I’m going to have to eat lower carb with really low levels for the rest of my life to maintain… Am I just metabolically disadvantaged or what could the issue be???

Anyone else have similar experiences – I’m so proud of my accomplishment, but know that I need to get both my portion-control issues under control for some foods (esp. nuts) and figure out what’s going to work the very best for me for maintaining where I’m at…

Hints? BTW: I haven’t been able to add many items on the carb ladder because I gain every time I have even just a little bit — plus it sends my candida into rebound (rashes all over my face, major water retention, etc.)

This has started to happen to me. No big deal really. I just find it odd and strange-that after maintaining for so long-that the scale is moving in a downward trend again. Perhaps, a new set point is in order by the end of this year.

Dyan

So, I am officially in Maintenance, but have so much to work on.

1. Exercising daily. I have this fickle on- again, off- again thing going on with exercise, but it is sooooo important. Since I got married three years ago, I’ve been far less dedicated to the long term: I’ll exercise towards a goal and then stop until there’s a new one. Part of that, I know, is the comfort of loving someone– sleeping in, going to brunch, entertaining, cooking big dinners, etc. But I also think it has something to do with the erratic nature of my (former) job. I’m a morning exerciser but haven’t had a consistent schedule for awhile. Part of this journey is getting over the all or nothing attitude. My goal is to do some form of rigorous exercise 5x a week for life.

2. Fitday-ing daily. Fickle with this too, probably because I struggle with calorie- counting. I lost not counting calories, but that is just not going to work as I begin maintenance. On the flip side, I can be TOO meticulous, and that is reminicent of disordered thinking, which I have struggled with too!

3. Learning from other maintainers, as well as other experts. I like to read. I don’t have a lot of time to read anymore, which sucks. But learning about eating, low carbing, and exercise is essential for me at this point in my journey.

Overall, I think I struggle most with being consistent– I’ve dabbled in different plans, an exploration that has allowed me to be more knowledgeable about my own body…but on the other hand, I also sometimes view my plan-hopping as flip-flopping. For instance, I tried SBD (missed the fat desperately, but especially blue cheese salad dressing); Kimkins (no comment there ); BFL (again, missed the fat); BFFM (missed the fat). So now I’m back to Atkins, eating about 50 g net carbs a day that may increase as my exercise increases.

Stats: 29 y.o., 5′3, low carbing for almost 5 years

Wooot!

For the people maintaining. How many carbs can you eat without gaining?