Hi all!

I have 3.5 pounds to go and I will have reached my goal. :jump:

I mentioned to my husband last night that I may try for 118-120. He said he thought I would be TOO THIN. Aarrghh.

But this way of life is so ingrained, that I am almost afraid to stop. I never want to experience those awful cravings again. Let me clarify . . . I don't mean I will go back to sugar/flour, etc., just that I am afraid to change my current carb/calorie level. I am so comfortable with my current eating habits.

What have you done to "stop" the weight loss but not gain? I was thinking perhaps more cottage cheese or a few slices per week of low carb bread. Maybe even some low carb ice cream since summer is coming.

I am just not sure how to handle the reality of being "at goal!"

Many thanks!

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Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

KC, this is a great question. Would you mind if I forwarded it to Jonny Bowden? he's got a masters in Psychology, and with all his experience being a weight loss and fitness coach, I think he might have some helpful perspectives?

Andrea, I would be flattered!

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Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Ok, I sent that along. I'll let you know when and if he responds.



In the meantime, of course, anyone who's been at goal can go ahead and pipe in!

Maintenance is much harder than losing. The day to day stuff IMHO is much more difficult. When you are losing, you are so focused, but living life, well the focus isn't there. I think ATKINS suggests adding 5 carbs per week till your weight loss stops. I would start there.

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Monica
206/16?/155

I think it will be, too. But I hope Mr. Bowden will give us some psychological insight here. I liken my fear to what an anorexic might feel towards food in general, but my fear will be too many carbs and calories.

I talked it over with my husband and he thinks just adding some lc bread, etc. will stop any more loss. Perhaps even a little more cheese. All the things I normally would eat but have found stall me a little . . . . except in this instance I will want a permanent stall!

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Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Sounds good. Please let us know what Mr. Bowden has to say. I would love to know!

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Monica
206/16?/155

Yes, I'd be very interested in hearing some advice from Mr. Bowden. The pros seem to put very little focus on maintaining, and researchers don't get funded for studing weight maintenance - all the research money is in weight loss, not weight control.

Through my life, all of weight loss programs I've used just say to add back calories/carbs until you quit losing. Ah, if only it was that simple!

Maintenance is more difficult and much trickier, IMO. It seems like once I add back enough carbs/calories to quit losing, I have food cravings again.

Lots of exercise helps (and I do mean lots!); but then what do you do when sidelined with an injury? Or, have serious time constraints (job+children+school, etc.)?

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~~~Teelbee
Back to GOAL!!!
start weight: 176/goal range: 137-134/now: 138
Reached goal in Aug. 2003 - 4rd year of maintenance.

I reached my goal a couple of months ago and it's been a yo-yo ever since. I'm not eating off plan, but I don't think I'm as careful. Too many low carb goodies and I'm not as serious about counting the carbs. I need to find that perfect balance of carbs and exercise and I think I will be okay.

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Donna
238.5/166.4/150
I will see my goal weight again!

"I need to find that perfect balance of carbs and exercise and I think I will be okay."


When you find that magical secret, please share it with the rest of us!

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Monica
206/16?/155

Congratulations on your success. You should be ever so proud of yourself.

Ditto what CINWIN said! Great job!
I've never had this issue. I've never gotten to the point where I didn't wan't to lose any more. Weight loss seems to stop of it's own accord for me when I reach a certain point. Sounds like a nice one to have though! I have a sense that this will work it self out.
Ditto what teelbee said too about exercise, esp weight/resistance training.

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keep on keepin on

211/165/170

That's EXACTLY what I am worried about! Maybe an Atkins Advantage Bar per day will solve the problem. I love those things. At any rate, my weight loss has slowed dramatically, and it will probably be several months before I lose those last few pounds and have to deal with maintenance. And, even though DH thinks I'll be too thin (!!) if I lose more, according to all the charts, etc., a person of my height and bone structure can easily be around 115-120 and still be healthy.

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Alida
5'1" ~ 59 years old
Highest weight: 165
Atkins 7/10/2004
160/126/125
RE-DO, January 2008:
167/162/135

Congratulations KC!

I do have to second what everyone has already said. Maintenance is so much harder than losing. This time....... I have been on maintenance for over a year. It's an experiement that is ongoing. You have to keep your focus. remember what caused the problem. Don't slide back to the carbs. For me, I eat more marginal foods, but still stay away from the bad stuff completely---absolutely no real bread and no real sugar. Right now I am feeling fat. I will probably try to do a couple of weeks of a more regimented eating plan starting next week. (I am in the middle of a 4 day contest with nine high school kids so it's not totally feasible to start today. )

Learn to be a "picky" eater and don't worry about it. The world is full of picky eaters and nobody has banished them yet.

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Judy
highest = 180, goal = 140
Every single time I put food in my mouth, it matters. No more fooling myself!

Heck, I've been maintaining for 5 months. Unfortunately, I should be on OWL. I've got to get my mindset backing into the LOSING mode. Still got a ways to go.

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Mary Kay 1/1/04 - 232
5/19/08 (5/23/08) - sw226/(cw222)/mg210/fg160