I've noted a number of people talking about wanting to get back in the swing (and start losing again), and find myself in a similar circumstance. While I am (and ALWAYS) will eat low carb, I haven't lost weight in a long time.

This doesn't concern me, because I haven't really worked at it, you know? I've been maintaining for the last year, and while I still have a ways to reach my goal, maintaining at a weight that is still reasonably comfortable for me is, in and of itself, a big deal compared to the old days, where being okay with my weight meant not caring about my weight.

But I've decided I'd like to go ahead and offer up that extra engery to move forward. However, I am not into doing it the hard way. So I thought I'd share some of my ideas for getting back in the groove.

Step 1 - Take a baseline! That means, for me, I pull out the tape measure to get current measurements. I got on the scale - something I don't do very often when I'm not in "active loss mode," for sure.

And I've been tracking a few days. Now, I hate tracking in general, which is one of the things that appealed to me about LC in the first place. I don't like counting calories, but LC'ing, I got good enough at guessitmating carbs that it was easy enough to lose it in the old days without counting anything. But I weigh less now than then, and a few carbs makes more of a difference than it used to. And as I got less focused, the old carb creep monster could sneak in without me paying attention. The infamous "a little here won't hurt" bites you in the behind every time!

So I'm trying to make it fun. A lot of people use Fitday for tracking, but I have a program I've had for a long time that I like, so I use it (Weight-by-Date Pro). And I've been tracking my food, my exercise (very little to track, but I'm counting daily activities, too), my weight, and I'm journaling in there, tracking water intake, the whole nine yards...

What I've found out so far: Without particularly trying other than my normal "I just eat LC for life" approach, I eat about 50 - 55 net carbs a day. Some are ones that would be pretty painless for me to cut out by switching my habits around or making more concious choices.

I'm running about 1500 - 1700 calories a day. That's not too bad, but I don't want to go up much from that, I don't think. Also watching the carbs more closely will probably impact the higher calorie days. While I'm WAY not a calories-in vs. calories-out believer, I do know that those of us in the later stages of our loss journeys are more likely to be impacted by high-calorie foods.

And because this level maintains for me, I'm also thinking a little more movement into my routine, a few less carbs, and I should be good to go.

I've also found that even the actions of tracking leave me more aware and therefore gently nudges me to improve my habits...when I'm looking in the fridge, I find myself thinking, "Do I really want to add this to my food journal?" Or I think, "I'd better get my water jug ready for the day."

So to anyone who is where I am, I thought this idea might be helpful. By getting a baseline and taking stock, you know exactly where you're at. The weight is not the elephant in the room you're trying to ignore, and it's not about deprivation or beating up oneself or anything like that. And it's not painful, particularly.

It's about knowing where you're at, and comparing it to where you want to go...

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Hi there! I know exactly what you mean. I try to keep my calories low and that might be my problem as well. I think what you said is right on!
skyeuser

Hello, Skye. Glad to have you with us!

Have you selected a plan? Especially early on, you will most likely not have to watch calories at all if you're on a plan since the low carbing itself will often help us regulate the other stuff. And if you're home-brew plan isn't doing it yet, then doing a while on one of the established plans can often make a big differece in getting things moving for you.

Hope you'll make yourself at home...

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Dixie, I think it would be to everyone's advantage to do this baseline thing on a regular basis, depending on where they are in their journey. Perhaps twice a year, quarterly, annually, or monthly, depending on a lot of factors.

For me, this is going to begin as soon as I get home from our mini-vacation. Although I have no plans to stray, plans can get derailed, especially when you have no say over the food served. We're not sure if we'll be coming home the 17th or the 18th (our flight was pushed to evening, won't be getting into San Antonio until between 7 & 8, it's 140 mile drive home, we might just wait until Sunday a.m. to drive home). Anyway, either Sunday the 18th or Monday the 19th, I plan to weigh and measure, so I know exactly where I am, then start tracking every day, and see where I need to tweak.

Thanks for the idea.

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Nita

Nice post. You must read minds. I was and have been thinking how nice it would be if you had a journal or posted periodically and here it is!

Sage advise and plan. I always learn when I'm here!

Thanks for sharing!

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Well, I've read some research on folks who successfully maintain their losses, and one of the things they have in common is that they track something. Might be food, might be weighing every X days, whatever, but just tracking something. And this make sense to me, because it never comes back all at once. It's like you quit looking, and then, BAM! You wonder where your waist just went....

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Too true! LOL!

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The one thing I hate doing is measuring my body, and weighin in...so after my fast I will measure and weigh in to see where I am before restarting my induction next week... I am going to fast till (I hope) friday - maybe saturday and sunday also... but will see how I am feeling....

I think when I measure/weigh myself then I have to own it and I guess I havn't wanted to own it in the last few years that I have been vasalating.... so I am going to own it and not make it my enemy but something to use as a tool...

Goddess, you always have something encouraging, and insiteful to help us out, thanks for your words of wisdom.
carolyn

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http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
1/15/08 - 350
2/12 - 333 (down 17)

I know the feeling, Carolyn. It's sorta like if you don't get it in black and white, you can kind of pretend it's not there or something. I spent several years in this place, after my highest weighin, when I tossed my scale in the trash...somehow, that didn't solve the problems, though...

For me, the key is doing it without the self-recrimination. It also helped for me to compare my weights and measurements (and eating habits) with old ones. When I am feeling bad about a choice I made, I try to remind myself, "Hey, there was a time not all that long ago when eating X would have been an appetizer, not the equivalent of a binge..." or "Hey, yeah, maybe I'm not where I want yet, but I'm SO much better off than I used to be. That's still something to feel good about!"

Thank you, Carolyn. It means a lot to me to hear that my thoughts can be helpful and encouraging. We are all in this together.

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Amen, Sistas!

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This is something I can use too, and I know the feelings of self-recrimination from weighing in, but some of the articles I have already read on this site has already helped me to view this in a different light not as an evil and I shall view weighing in at my doctor this week with not so much dread.

Lisa, that's wonderful to hear! I believe that when we can look at where we are with kindness toward oursevles and without those negative self-assessemnts, the work of taking better care of ourselves becomes so much easier!

It still takes effort, but it is a different type-effort is different from struggle. For me, at least, it becomes much easier with the positive thoughts accompanying the work than with a punitive approach...I was disgusted with my weight for years, so I had the choice of feeling crummy about myself for the time that it took to "fix it," or changing how I thought about it.

Looking forward to getting to know you and share some of your journey.

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