Great new area, Jimmy:

When I reached my goal weight, I gave the book Atkins for Life a spin and I must have threw it down several times. The nerve of Dr. Atkins to suggest that I keep playing games by experimenting with those dreadful carbohydrates that I worked so hard to get rid of. The nerve. I mean, I could just stay away from certain things and life would be just grand.

Then Regina Wilshire wrote her blog and tackled the rules for Induction. She showed me how those "rules" were meant to teach me about Maintenance. I was supposed to have learned about the corect ratio of fat, protein and carbohydrate that would keep my metabolism going 100 miles per hour and keep my body in good health. Once I applied that knowledge to what I already experienced through the Atkins stages, it provided me with great strength. I feel so empowered today because I feel like I have complete power to control my weight forever. If I ever get 5 pounds above my goal weight, I can drop back to Induction foods, my safe harbor, and I'm confident that I'll quickly regain control.

It is very difficult to turn off the weight loss once you get close, but I found that my body was just sort of ready. The scale just started staying put one day and seems to stay there no matter what I eat (within my low carb parameters, of course). I haven't lost the compulsion to jump on the scale each day, but it's not so terrible. I convince myself that I'm monitoring my hydration level.....

I also felt a complulsion to want to help others reach their goals. I feel like Dr. Atkins would be proud to know that someone felt so much gratitude for the great gift that he provided to all of us. To help someone not make some of the mistakes I did, and to get them thinking in terms of the big picture. It's really about health and life, moreso than merely weight loss.

Yes, I like going into situations where people compliment me and ask how I did it. But that gets old after a while. Then there are the people who say, "You're too skinny" as if they know what a healthy weight looks like. Then there are the clothing stores that don't carry my size because as one clerk told me, "people just aren't that small anymore." The whole time during my weight loss I figured I would have more choice in clothes when I got to my goal weight, not less. That's okay, because there is always online shopping!

If anyone can use an encouraging word, a piece of advice, or whatever else, please don't hesitate to ask.

Best regards to all,

Charles

Great post Charles! I failed at maintainence the first time around. I really hope, that once I reach goal again, I will have a better understanding of it all. I'll be sure to ask any questions I may have.. I'm only 25 lbs away!

Charles, you inspire me anew in my own maintenance efforts!

I can so relate to EVERYTHING you wrote. Getting that macronutrient ration down pat for YOU and sticking with it really is the secret to keeping the weight off for good. All too often we add back too many carbs into our diet and we're right back where we started. NOT GOOD!

As for the scale, I'm a weighing nut, too! Gotta get on there and see where I'm at. If the weight goes up, then I double up my efforts to keep it from continuing to go up. It doesn't happen overnight unless you ALLOW it to keep rising. That's why weighing often is so important.

I know what you mean about controlling the weight loss at the end. When I hit 230 after one year in 2004 on the Atkins diet, my weight just kinda stopped. And I was happy with that weight compared with 410. But over the past three years my weight has fluctuated between a low of 213 and a high of 252 (I just let it get away from me when this happened).

But right now I'm at a very comfortable and healthy 222 pounds and happy that I've managed to keep the weight off I lost in 2004. It's the freedom that comes from livin' la vida low-carb and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Charles, I know what you mean about wanting to help other people in an effort to reach out to them as a small way to pay back the gift we have been given. It's why I am doing all the things I do today with my blog, podcast, videos and this forum--at no cost to anyone--because I am committed to giving people that same hope that Dr. Atkins gave me through his books. I only wish I could have met him (I did meet his widow Veronica Atkins and she was so graceful and appreciative).

You are absolutely right, this way of eating is ALL about health and weight loss is merely a side effect. Low-carb shed the pounds, but it's gonna keep me healthy for a very long time. And I despise those people who say I'm "too skinny" as well. Compared to what I was, YEP, I am much thinner. But that doesn't mean I need to GAIN weight. UGH! I know they mean well, but it's the wrong message to send.

I haven't run into the "too small" clothes problem yet, but that would be a hoot! Keep doing your thing, Charles, and I am so happy to have you here. I too would be honored to help anyone who has questions, comments, or concerns about livin' la vida low-carb to share them here. WE WANT TO SEE YOU SUCCEED!

Hi Charles - I'm Christin

What a wonderful and inspiring post. I too found that when I got to goal, it was like my body just decided... this is where I like it and this is a good place for you to be.

I think that the decision to continue LC for life has been incredibly freeing for me. I chose to maintain this lifestyle for my health. I see nothing healthy at all in all the white garbage that is fed to the public today. It is bred (bread ) only in an effort to trap the consuming public and bring them coming back for more because of its addictive qualities.

What an incredible freedom to be rid of such an addiction! Yes, I still get the looks and quesitons when I pass on the bread basket or the pasta. But, I also get many many comments on "oh I wish I had your willpower..." and "I just can't live without my bread..." funny... I used to say the same thing. I just smile back and say... ya know... it's not as hard as you might think

I used to be a scale slave too But I learned that it became more of an obsession and especially when I'm learning to maintain, gave me no freedom to compensate for those very normal fluxuations that our bodies go through. I usually weigh once a week now and as long as I'm within my goal range (plus or minus 2-3 lbs), I'm ok. If I'm up a little... I know to keep an extra careful watch on my carb intake and maybe up my water/fluids just a little more. Maybe get a few more minutes of excercise in. Down a little.... Keep it up! LOL

I'm so excited to be here and talking with you guys... Charles I look forward to getting to know you!

Thanks for all the insight Charles. It felt like you were speaking right to me. I reached my personal goal, and started adding in carbs, but I was not adding in the right carbs, so I ultimatly gained some back. I have also found that owning a scale is helping me to understand how my body works. I was really hesitant about buying a scale at first, but not I can see how it will be a powerful tool in hleping me to gauge where I am and where I need to be for life.

As far as daily weigh-ins, I'm a firm believer in them. They're what keep me on track. I don't want to wait a week and find out that I've put on 5 pounds somehow. I forget where I read it recently but someone compared weighing daily to a diabetic keeping tabs on their insulin level. I'm not a diabetic but I'm a carb addict and always will be no matter how well I stick to my WOE.

Hi Guys, and Christin Im glad you found your way here....

Maintenance takes focus. I still use fitday every single day and it keeps my on track! Recently I realized I was eating too many nuts and so I cut them out. And almond butter. I was sad to see them go, but....

Im 52 and totally loving my new life!

Bella

Welcome Bella! It's GREAT to have you here!

Charles I really can't add anything except to say we are so proud to have you on our team. I'm sure you have already helped many and will continue to do so with your sage wisdom.

One thing I've noticed eating VLC is that I go long periods without even thinking about food. The obsession is gone.

What a great post!
I know as I was losing and people were telling me how I looked, I gave myself permission to get off track and add a few pounds and fat on.
Thankfully I caught it before it took hold of me but as I was trying to figure out what was wrong, I came to the realization that eating like this is working and it is the only way to go if I was success.......... thanks Charles.

Charles, since you've been there and have obviously read a lot....

Do you think that there's any benefit to taking carbs to my metabolic max in Pre-Maintenance or Maintenance? There's really nothing that I want that I don't already eat. Here's what I eat. (I have a nursing baby so my portions are generous.)

Breakfast is either pancakes with 2 eggs (51 gm fat, 22 gm protein, 3 carb)
or
Flax-Z-Snax granola with half-and half, 2 eggs fried in butter (38 gm fat, 21 gm protein, 5 gm carb)
or
Meat and Eggs, rarely with a little wedge of cantaloupe on the side

Lunch
meat or fish, either a fatty cut or with added fat, as much as I want
small salad with a little cheese, blue cheese salad dressing

Snack
LC chocolate (Chocolate Dreams or Chocoperfection), 3x/week or less

Dinner
meat or fish, fatty and/or with added fat
double portion of veggies or veggies and salad with EVOO, butter, and/or blue cheese dressing

Dinner Dessert, maybe twice/week--
usually full-fat yogurt with stevia and vanilla *or* a few berries or 1/4 of a peach with whipped cream *or* LC ice cream

What am I missing? Nothing as far as my tastes go. I don't agree with the meat-only guys. I *love*my veggies. But do you think there's a benefit to pushing my carb allowance up as I am reaching my goal?

It doesn't seem like I could turn into a twig eating like this. (I've never weighed my meat, but I don't restrict it at all.)

TBH, as long as I cook as much meat as I want every day, I think I will be fine as far as my weight goes.

I loooooove this WOE and don't feel like I'm missing anything. (No desire for bread or regular sweets w-h-a-t-s-o-e-v-e-r. I gave these things up 4 years ago, and it was permanent for me. No desire to add them back; it's tough to cheat on what I like *less* than the foods on my plan.)

Also, if I have as much meat and fat as I *like*, I really don't have room for more veggies. (I definitely eat more veggies than most people. Probably not more than most LC'ers though.)

Let's say I *could* eat 40-50 net carbs/day without gaining. Do you see any advantage to that for someone who's not at all unhappy with current choices?

Am I scared or content?

Mostly content, really, but I do think there is a little bit of scared in there.

I think I'm going to stay where I am and see what happens. I'll enjoy some seasonal tastes, like I said in the other thread.

I'm really on-plan all-the-way here. Holidays included. I do enjoy this WOE very, very much and don't have a sense that I'm missing out on anything. (Except fat and poor health.)

Thanks, Charles!