Hello, macrhonda here. I have finally decided that this is too much for me. I have hit my low. Low Carb to the rescue again. I must stay on my fitness schedule and I will get back down to my ideal weight without fail. Oh, the support I will need. You never realize how hard it is to lose weight after forty...until you try.

Welcome, Rhonda.

Hope you'll make yourself at home.

Which low carb program are you following?

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I don't know if you have ever heard of the book by Dr. Abravanel, but it is basically the same thing as any other low carb diet. I am a serious chocoholic and that is a big no-no for this. The diet is tried and true. The problem is I am back and forth with the strength to stay off the sweets AND I am not getting any younger. It doesn't fall off nearly so easy as it did even five years ago. There is where the need for strength comes in. I am sure I can do it again. This time, though, it will be hard work...

Welcome, Rhonda!

Actually, I wish I were back in my forties, it was much easier to lose then than it is now that I'm in my 50s and getting frightfully nearer my 60s. One thing I am focusing on, though, is my overall health. The losing part has been extremely difficult this time for me, but I am so much healthier now than I've been in years. So, if I die fat, at least I'll die healthy.

Just keep plugging along, stick with your plan, and keep coming here for support. And if you don't get responses in your journal, then come into some of the other journals and bug us! Ask questions! Let us know you're here. PM us if you need to. We are here to help if we can. At least we'll do our best.

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Nita

Thank you, ladies, for the support. I realize it will be difficult, but I am at the bottom, so I see nowhere but up. I just have to be sure to stay clear of these guys.>>> (further than arms length, anyway.)

Hello, Rhonda. Glad to have you with us!

I'd say your best bet is to make a point of looking for ways to make it easier on yourself, in particular developing good habits - that you keep, of course! The up-and-down shuffle gets old, and you're right: as we get older and the more we do it, the more challenging it can become.

Of course, regardless of when you do it, every improvement counts and helps. And armed with the right support and ideas, you can find your groove where you're happy with the way you feel, eat, and live. then there will be no reason for rescue missions.

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So what do y'all think about the sugar substitutes? When do those sugar cravings go away? Do they ever go away?!? I remember it being so much easier to stay away from the sugar and stuff last time. Now, I have had a taste of the sweet life again and let myself go back there.

it's different for different people. for some, the taste of sweetness leads to cravings. for others, as long as the carbs are low, they can do SF sweeteners without issue. and for some, they can eat certain types of sweeteners and not others. so you have to experiement and see how each impacts you.

most people also find their cravings abating and their tastes changing a week or two into a plan like atkins, especially if you've made an effort to avoid most sweet things for induction. that is a good time to minimize use of sweeteners overall.

do be aware that the powdered splenda you get in a bag comes in at 24 carbs per cup. the serving size they use on the nutritionals makes it look virtually carb-free and it's not.

personally, the sweeteners i use most are fiberfit, sweetzfree, and erythritol (available from Netrition among other places). fiberfit has 1 gram carb and 1 fiber per serving. sweetzfree is very concentrated and is 0 carb, and erythitol is the one sugar alcohol most people have no issues with. i also find mixing them tends to get a better result overall. i sometimes use liquid stevia, but that does have a slight aftertaste, so i also make sure i'm using another sweetener to balance it out.

hope that helps!

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They are some fabulous recommendations you are putting on there. Thanks a whole lot. I will try them each alone.

As you stick with low carb, you'll find that sweets, even artificial sweeteners, taste sweeter. Now I can't drink a diet soda without diluting it a bit with water. Sounds weird, I know, but I enjoy the flavor of the soda without the heavy sweet taste.

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Nita

Yes, I see that. I have been on this course for almost two weeks and have started exercising again, and the book recommends a drink of Raspberry leaf tea. I can drink that without adding any sweetener at all!! It is so hard, though, to turn myself off the stuff. Still working at it though.