Hi There, glad to find a new (for me) website of fellow LC'ers and my first impression is "Wow!" You guys are doing a great job. I followed a link from George Stella's site (for the one-minute muffins) found several others that I've tried (Faux Danish - which, BTW, without the sweet stuff makes a great envelope for chili rellenos) and overall I am very impressed, your reviews are especially great.

Now, as for me...I've been locarbing for years, originally lost 25 pounds and my DH lost 45 (ain't it the way it works?) but never able to take off the 50 pounds I put on when I stopped smoking 14 years ago. I'm like so many people I lose five pounds a year...the same five pounds over and over again. This time I'm definitely taking it off. My problem is that I'm basically lazy and motivated by external pressure...It was so much easier to maintain my weight when I was in the Army. Yep, that's where the Mssarge comes from...I'm a retired Army sergeant who spent 22 years in service to the country and can't seem to turn loose of the job even tho' I retired 14 years ago. I am currently working for the Department of Defense doing the same thing I did in the army, I'm with the American Forces Network providing television to our service members and their families overseas. I've got the greatest job in the world and can't stop myself even tho' I'm 67 years old. My DH is in the 70's and says I will never retire. We live in SoCal, own an RV and my dream is to travel this great country.

I'm an avid reader and collector of recipes of all sorts, so of course I have all the LC books but can't seem to apply them in my life. StellaStyle has been a great boon to me and I'm sure this site will become another primary one for me.

Mary in SoCal

Mary, I'm glad you found this site. Are you trying to follow a specific low carb plan? Some people find that the structure of a specific plan provides a basis from which they can make tweaks to adjust to their individual circumstances and they have greater success long term. I have incorporated some of Geore Stella's recipe into my menu planning. There are so many good recipes to choose from the choices are just amazing. However, having the structure of a plan has certainly helped me stop the weight roller coaster I was on before I found the benefits of low carb eating. Good luck on your weight loss journey.

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Henry

Mary, It's always good to see a new member, Welcome to LCE and best of luck on your lc journey.

Welcome, Mary.

I hope you'll make yourself at home here!

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Thanks for the welcome. I'm sure it will be rewarding and I look forward to a long relationship.

Mary- Welcome! And thanks for your kind words about the site. Much appreciated! Glad to hear we have another old-timer who "knows the ropes" on board. Puts you ahead of the game most definitely. And maybe some of what you find here can help in the motivation department.

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Welcome, Mary! I love George Stella's NY style cheesecake. It's the best recipe in his books!

Wishing you much success in your low carb journey.

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Nita

Dang! I hate computers; I was well into this reply when my computer decided it was time to reconfigure some updates and shut me down. Anyway, I'm back again, it can't keep me down. Sure wish I had the same determination to lose a pound or two a week; I want to lose it all RIGHT NOW!!!

Anyway, thanks Nicole, Maggie, Queenmama and hdyhouse for your welcomes and suggestions. No, I am not following a specific plan although we did when we lost the weight a few years ago. I do follow Atkins induction when I'm first kicking off my return to the LCL but can't maintain Atkins for too long even tho' they are now recommending an increase in veggies. Low Carb Dieting for Dummies has a good plan with Green, Yellow, and Red Light foods that allow five (which I find to be excessive) 15-carb foods daily. I try to eat only two.
I've tried South Beach, but that seems too restrictive; you must follow their plan exactly. I try to stick to the Mediterranean way of eating and have only small, frequent meals. I never thought I was a binger but now find that there are certain things that trigger me; like my boss brings in donuts on Fridays. I move them out of my immediate area, but then find myself peeking into the box and the next thing I know, I have one in my hand. I try to limit myself to a few almonds, but find I have eaten a double handful.

Yes, Goddess, I know the ropes, been down that road a long time but my problem seems to be that I lose that five pounds, decide I can add "just a few carbs" back into the meals and the first thing I know I've put the weight back on. I never eat what the dietary gurus say we should eat...150-300 carbs daily...even when I'm not eating LC, probably never more than 60 on a bad day. My real problem seems to be a lack of motivation to get moving; it seems as tho' my metabolism didn't just go to sleep, it went into a coma.

I once read that there is the "golden opportunity" when you first go LC and you can't lose as fast when you try to go back later. But I keep LC'ing because I feel better when I do, I just can't seem to get moving but with your help I know I will. Thanks again for your thoughts and together we can do this. I try to keep in mind always:

1. Make the decision -
2. Make the commitment -
3. Make the effort -

Your metabolism in a coma? I think mine died! LOL!

One nice thing about eating low carb is that it makes you think about what you are eating, and it's not as easy to do mindless eating, although we still do it to an extent.

How about starting a journal? You'll get more visitors, and a lot of encouragement. Just go to the Journal section and pick a name for your journal, and start!

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Nita

eek! at 75 + carbs a day, i'd definitely be gaining!

if you do atkins by the book current versions, you can subtract fiber from the carbs for net carbs, and after two weeks you start upping your intake by five a day, so it's not as restrictive as it once was (circa '72 atkins version).

protien power is another popular plan here, which starts low end at about 30 carbs a day.

many people, however, do their own thing. one of the reasons, though, why we so enthusiastically tout following a plan is that the gradual upping of carbs until you reach maintenece helps many people integrate the way of eating into their everyday life. that's key in long-term success. and people who follow plans specifically are less likely to talk themsevles into bad ideas.

however, everyone obvioulsy has to find their own path. this journey is about doing just that...

i've found the same thing. i also find that if i do eat offplan, especially certiain types of foods, i am much hungrier and crave carby stuff, sometimes for a day or two thereafter. it messes with my mojo!

well, in this case, regardless of your plan (store bought or homemade), i'd have a transition to maintenece built in. that is what's gonna make the difference for you. as long as you're dieting, eventually you'll stop. it's when you find a transition to "just how you eat" that you're set.

ehhh...i have mixed feeling on the golden opportunity stuff. i know people try to use it for motivation their first go-round, and if it works, great. but the important thing isn't how many tries it takes you, but that you keep coming back to what makes you feel best and helps your overall health.

yes, for most losses tend to be a little slower in the non-virgin runs. but for long term, speed doesn't matter. heresy, i know. except that you have to eat low carb for a LIFETIME to manage your weight for a lifetime. go back to your old ways, it's back to your old pants size....so what's the difference between a pound a week and two pounds a week if we're talking your entire life, y'kno?

a little tip: don't say you "can't get started" anymore. it's reiniforcing in your subconcious that you're unable to do this, which we know darned good and well is perfectly untrue since you HAVE done this before. that means you can again. we've got confirmation!

instead, say something like "i am starting" or "i have already improved my eating habits" or whatever else that you feel like is true and helps you see your steps forward. focus ONLY on your positive progress and ignore anything else as irrelevant.

based on what i've seen around these parts in the last several years, what makes or breaks somebody is not the plan they pick, or how much they have to lose, or whatever stressors they have to contend with. the people that consistently do the best are the ones that approach it with a positive attitude.

change how you think about it, and you can change your life.

good luck. we'll be here to cheer you on!

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Thanks again for the input, lots of good ideas here and, yes, I am starting over again. Today I went to the gym; did only a few minutes of the recumbent bike (that's what my orthopedic doctor started me on when I had knee surgery last year) and a few stretches. I am wearing the pedometer and will work up to the 10k steps a day. I've asked my DH to go to the mall with me hoping that it will motivate him to walk a bit as well. I start a journal, particularly a food journal, and make it for a few days but, so far, not enough to build a habit; I will keep the journal for a month. I'll have to investigate this site for the journal section; thanks Queenmama for that suggestion. Like I say above, I've made the decision, working on the commitment and the effort. You are right, this is a life path; I certainly didn't put this much weight on overnight, I can't expect to take it off that way.