My questions about maintaing...with my own answers :D - Page 2 - MiniMins.com

KD · 28th February, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadamDotty

but healthy food has cals too of course

and eat too many and you'll put on weight - simple really, you think I'd have known that!

I think you've always known that, but it's easy to believe it doesn't apply to us. Okay...we know it does, but somehow, on the surface we can feel invincible, especially if you are overeating the healthy stuff. You feel like you're doing soooo much better this time not indulging in the bad stuff.

You know too much of the healthy stuff can make you gain too, but you really don't want to think about that, so tuck it away and hope that the scales will just congratulate you on the quality of your food.

Quote:

I'll have one or two a day and stick to around 1200 cals, I don't think I need to go lower than that, plus I shouldn't because my of my BMI.

1200 should be fine. I cut down to 1500 and increased exercise after my holiday and Christmas. Just reduced my portion sizes of everything 40g of porridge became 30g of porridge etc.

Isobel1965 · 28th February, 2007

Great thread, KD!!! Wish you'd written this 6 months ago!!!

xxxxx

MadamDotty · 28th February, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karion Dieting

1200 should be fine. I cut down to 1500 and increased exercise after my holiday and Christmas. Just reduced my portion sizes of everything 40g of porridge became 30g of porridge etc.

At the moment I'm following Fitbug's guide and eating 1400 cals, although most days it ends up nearer the 1500

but I've started exercising, which will help and I'm happy to lose these last few pounds slowly. I only tend to go down to 1200 and have the shakes when it creeps up a bit more, heavy weekend or something like that.

KD · 1st March, 2007

MD, if you're anything like me, motivation tends to be a short term thing. What you've done is recognised that what was working, isn't doing it for you any more.

You've then found something new to get you going again.

I think that's the key. Adapt, change, work out new strategies before it's too late.

MadamDotty · 1st March, 2007

Hope so Karion.

As you've already pointed out, this maintenance lark is an ongoing learning curve as for most of us it's brand new territory.

**debz32** · 1st March, 2007

What a FAB thread....

hopefully won't be toooo long before I'll be needing to make use of all the great advice....

THANX KD !!

Debz
xx

Soraya · 6th March, 2007

I really laughed when I saw those. It's all the stuff I'm still learning slowly.

The constant vigilance has come as a surprise to me as has the fact that although I used to hate counting calories to lose weight I'm happy to do it to maintain because I don't know what my food should look like despite everything.

I think that the bit you put about normal weight doesn't equal normal is so true. If I was normal I wouldn't be here.

But no matter what it is so worth it.

g1981 · 6th March, 2007

What a flipping fantastic thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO you count the claories lost? How reliable are the gym "calorie burning counters"?

I've thought about what to do afterwards for some time...currently on cd1000 maintanence....i think the best bet is to calorie count based on tha maintanence menus...just till I get the hang of it.

Free food is something I could not cope with!! I've realised that!!

KD · 6th March, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soraya

although I used to hate counting calories to lose weight I'm happy to do it to maintain because I don't know what my food should look like despite everything.

That's what I found. Really was quite a light bulb moment. Really thought I knew about healthy eating and portion sizes, but have spent so many years eating either too much or too little...found I didn't actually have a clue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by g1981

What a flipping fantastic thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DO you count the claories lost? How reliable are the gym "calorie burning counters"?

I've thought about what to do afterwards for some time...currently on cd1000 maintanence....i think the best bet is to calorie count based on tha maintanence menus...just till I get the hang of it.

I used a heart rate monitor a few times, but found the machines said a similar amount. The gym machines I use take account of my personal details...guessed that helped.

I stayed on the 1500 for the two weeks recommended, then did 1500 of my own plan (worked out through WLR), then increased. I couldn't wait to get off the CD plans and try out my own menus. After all..I had been planning them since the first week I was SSing

How are you finding 1000? I hated it

Preferred the steps either side.

KD · 12th April, 2007

Think I'll continue with this

So do you count calories now?

No, but I am calorie aware. Some people will say that slim people aren't aware of calories, so why should an ex-overweight person who is trying to be 'normal' want to know about them?

Well, I want to be aware of what I'm putting in my body. My aim isn't necessarily to be a slim person (though that's cool), but it's also to be a healthy person.

Not all slim people are healthy. They often eat high fat foods maybe even thinking that they are eating properly as they are slim, but we all know about internal fat.

So yes...I do look at the label. Not obsessively so, but I want to know what I'm putting into my body...and that includes calories.

So you are aware, but not counting the calories?

Being calorie aware (along with fat, salt etc to a certain extent), I can make good choices. I can chose what's suitable for that day. Again, not obsessively so, mind you. I don't count now, but I still want to have a rough idea of what I'm putting in my mouth.

So you pick low calorie things, rather than the high calorie alternatives?

Not necessarily. It depends. If it's something that I really want, then I'll go for that first, but be aware that I will probably be full on that and won't need a dessert.

If I chose the lower calorie foods, then I know I will probably need something else to follow or something extra with it.

If I don't care which one it is, I'll probably go for the lower calorie, as long as it's not full of rubbish...so that I can have more 'extras' to go with it.

But wouldn't you know..wouldn't your hunger signals tell you you've had enough, so you would only want to eat a similar amount of calories regardless. You would stop when full?

Not necessarily. Often my 'full' signals don't click in until I've finished. I can't eat until full. I would feel uncomfortable an hour later. I like to put a sensible portion size on my plate and eat that. Portion sizes can be misleading. Two things that look similar, can have a huge difference in calories. I want to know which one I'm having

So how many calories are you actually having now?

Not sure to be honest. After spending almost 2 years with WLR, I have a pretty good idea of what I need to eat to maintain, but I seem to have found some 'normality'. I find that a big meal out leads me to not want much the following day or two. This was my dream. This is how my family manage to stay slim without thinking. It's now something I'm doing automatically, without feeling deprived. In fact...without thinking! It just happens.

jane · 14th April, 2007

Hmmm--food or thought as they say.

Just read the thoughts of chairman karion & want to say wow what a lot of learning,thinking & generally rearranging of food related stuff you've done.
time & energy well invested.

I may be becoming v sad but as I went through I made a little list of quotes from here that seemed to resonate particularly for me.

this is my way of saying a big thankyou,& a big well done of course.

cah-ching · 14th April, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karion Dieting

So when can I relax for more than a moment?

Not until you’ve really changed your way of eating. Until it’s a habit that comes naturally without thinking. We are talking about years here. I counted calories and weighed food for about a year. Now I only calorie count and weigh occasionally to check I’m still doing it right, but I still can’t really relax.

What about the GI diet, SW, WW to maintain?

Great. When you are just trying to maintain, you’re not dieting but learning a new way of eating. All these plans are fine, as long as your calorie amounts add up. Anything that allows free foods can be a problem. If you can cope with free food, that’s fine.

Most people who have had a weight problem for a while, might find this difficult. At the end of the day, it’s the calories that matter when it comes to maintaining.

What if I put on a few pounds?

That’s okay too. That’s normal. Even the skinniest person does that at times. For us though, we have to be aware, not panic, but cut down consciously for a while to remedy the situation. You have to refocus….and quickly!

But I just want to be normal.

Please let me be normal Karion!

Hey! Don’t we all. Some people are more normal that others

But for the most of us…dream on….being a normal weight does not mean you are normal.

Physically yes…possibly. Psychologically, probably not. Not yet anyway.

Does this mean I can’t have any ‘bad’ foods at all…..EVER!!

I’m a great believer in having trigger food sometimes. I need to know how to control them. They are too nice to give up forever. Knowing your trigger foods is helpful. You can plan for them, and work out how you will deal with the demon. Bread was always my trigger food. Now I seem to be able to eat it without a problem. It’s taken time though, but I’m so glad I didn’t strike it off forever.

Since SSing, I have learnt so much. I know how to control my eating!! Can’t wait until I get to goal!

Huh. Dream on again buddy

You may think you’ve learnt it all, but you’ve just scratched the surface. Sorry.

Whoops, I’ve put on a stone since I got to goal, should I SS again?

In my opinion nope (but I can say that cos I’m not a counsellor

) Apart from the fact that you shouldn’t do a VLCD under a certain weight, just think about having to do those plans again! That doesn’t mean that having a pack or two to help with a calorie controlled type of diet, or even doing CD1000 is fine though, but it’s still advisable to work up to maintenance gradually..

I’m scared to get to goal now! Is it really worth it, and isn’t it going to be too hard?

Nothing to be scared about. It’s certainly worth it. Like a dream come true really. Keep your expectations realistic though. I decided that when I got up to the 1500 CD plan, I would continue to focus (be on a diet so to speak) for another year. At the end of that year, I realised that I needed at least another 4 years.

If I manage to maintain for 5 years, I think I’ll feel pretty confident that I’ve cracked it, but then I’ve had much longer than that with weight issues. 5 years of learning to do it right is nothing in comparison to all those years lost.

I hate you Karion!! I just want to get to goal and get on with my life!

Okay. You have the right to hate me

Go to the back of the queue

Brilliiant post. Just found it.

I'll be holding on to this for the end of next the year when i'm at goal.

Tah xx

1st March, 2007	#19 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	MD, if you're anything like me, motivation tends to be a short term thing. What you've done is recognised that what was working, isn't doing it for you any more. You've then found something new to get you going again. I think that's the key. Adapt, change, work out new strategies before it's too late. __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

1st March, 2007	#20 (permalink)
MadamDotty Back again! MadamDotty's Profile Albums MadamDotty's Photo Gallery Animal Rescue Champion!Tournaments Won: 11 Join Date: 31st October, 2006 Location: Telford, Shropshire Posts: 4,713 My Mood: Rep Power: 76 Diet: Maintaining after completing the Cambridge Diet earlier this year	Hope so Karion. As you've already pointed out, this maintenance lark is an ongoing learning curve as for most of us it's brand new territory. __________________ Cambridge Diet Counsellor Please support my Driving Challenge for Marie Curie Cancer Care, you can sponsor me at: www.justgiving.com/janjackman Thanks Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=746262945 You don't get to choose how you're doing to die or when. You can only decide how you're going to live. Joan Baez

1st March, 2007	#21 (permalink)
debz32 CDC (Northern Ireland) debz32's Profile Albums debz32's Photo Gallery Join Date: 27th August, 2006 Location: BELFAST, Northern Ireland Posts: 3,724 My Mood: Rep Power: 106	What a FAB thread.... hopefully won't be toooo long before I'll be needing to make use of all the great advice.... THANX KD !! Debz xx __________________ Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Northern Ireland) "The future will be made up of the present. By taking good care of the present, we take good care of the future." (Thich Nhat Hanh)

6th March, 2007	#22 (permalink)
Soraya Likes to post Soraya's Profile Albums Soraya's Photo Gallery Join Date: 6th September, 2006 Posts: 354 My Mood: Rep Power: 9	I really laughed when I saw those. It's all the stuff I'm still learning slowly. The constant vigilance has come as a surprise to me as has the fact that although I used to hate counting calories to lose weight I'm happy to do it to maintain because I don't know what my food should look like despite everything. I think that the bit you put about normal weight doesn't equal normal is so true. If I was normal I wouldn't be here. But no matter what it is so worth it. __________________ Started Atkins Easter 2004 220 CD Start Weight 197 June 06 Got to target 145 Total Loss: 73lbs or 5st 3lbs restart weight 176.6 8 Oct 2009

6th March, 2007	#23 (permalink)
g1981 Thin People Only g1981's Profile Albums g1981's Photo Gallery Join Date: 7th October, 2006 Location: London Posts: 162 Rep Power: 4 Diet: cambridge diet	What a flipping fantastic thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DO you count the claories lost? How reliable are the gym "calorie burning counters"? I've thought about what to do afterwards for some time...currently on cd1000 maintanence....i think the best bet is to calorie count based on tha maintanence menus...just till I get the hang of it. Free food is something I could not cope with!! I've realised that!! __________________ 7/10/06 - 790 Mnth 1: -18lbs! Mnth 2: -16lbs Mnth 3: -14lbs Mnth 4: -8lbs err..? I stuck to it! Less to lose?? Mnth 5: wk 1: -2lb Mnth 5: wk 2: -1lb..could this be any slower? CD 1000 Mnth 5: wk3-4: -3lbs

28th February, 2007	#17 (permalink)
Isobel1965 Im always here! Isobel1965's Profile Albums Isobel1965's Photo Gallery Join Date: 20th July, 2006 Posts: 7,821 My Mood: Rep Power: 114	Great thread, KD!!! Wish you'd written this 6 months ago!!! xxxxx

12th April, 2007	#25 (permalink)
KD Super Moderator KD's Profile Albums KD's Photo Gallery Typing Master Champion! Join Date: 22nd July, 2006 Posts: 11,676 Rep Power: 294	Think I'll continue with this So do you count calories now? No, but I am calorie aware. Some people will say that slim people aren't aware of calories, so why should an ex-overweight person who is trying to be 'normal' want to know about them? Well, I want to be aware of what I'm putting in my body. My aim isn't necessarily to be a slim person (though that's cool), but it's also to be a healthy person. Not all slim people are healthy. They often eat high fat foods maybe even thinking that they are eating properly as they are slim, but we all know about internal fat. So yes...I do look at the label. Not obsessively so, but I want to know what I'm putting into my body...and that includes calories. So you are aware, but not counting the calories? Being calorie aware (along with fat, salt etc to a certain extent), I can make good choices. I can chose what's suitable for that day. Again, not obsessively so, mind you. I don't count now, but I still want to have a rough idea of what I'm putting in my mouth. So you pick low calorie things, rather than the high calorie alternatives? Not necessarily. It depends. If it's something that I really want, then I'll go for that first, but be aware that I will probably be full on that and won't need a dessert. If I chose the lower calorie foods, then I know I will probably need something else to follow or something extra with it. If I don't care which one it is, I'll probably go for the lower calorie, as long as it's not full of rubbish...so that I can have more 'extras' to go with it. But wouldn't you know..wouldn't your hunger signals tell you you've had enough, so you would only want to eat a similar amount of calories regardless. You would stop when full? Not necessarily. Often my 'full' signals don't click in until I've finished. I can't eat until full. I would feel uncomfortable an hour later. I like to put a sensible portion size on my plate and eat that. Portion sizes can be misleading. Two things that look similar, can have a huge difference in calories. I want to know which one I'm having So how many calories are you actually having now? Not sure to be honest. After spending almost 2 years with WLR, I have a pretty good idea of what I need to eat to maintain, but I seem to have found some 'normality'. I find that a big meal out leads me to not want much the following day or two. This was my dream. This is how my family manage to stay slim without thinking. It's now something I'm doing automatically, without feeling deprived. In fact...without thinking! It just happens. __________________ 8 Stone gone Cambridge Diet Counsellor (Bournemouth) August Wilson, "As my spirit grew bigger, my demons got smaller."

14th April, 2007	#26 (permalink)
jane Opinionated jane's Profile Albums jane's Photo Gallery Join Date: 30th January, 2007 Location: Worcestershire Posts: 3,335 My Mood: Rep Power: 66 Diet: cambridge	Hmmm--food or thought as they say. Just read the thoughts of chairman karion & want to say wow what a lot of learning,thinking & generally rearranging of food related stuff you've done. time & energy well invested. I may be becoming v sad but as I went through I made a little list of quotes from here that seemed to resonate particularly for me. this is my way of saying a big thankyou,& a big well done of course. __________________ Jane Cambridge Diet Counsellor CD Start date 9.1.07 CDss is really quite fun (I think it makes me high..shhh don't tell anyone or it'll be made illegal)... though it can get just a little dull after a while. Since Aug 07. Maintainer-ish. 'til recently. Currently + many lbs (but minus 5 1/2 stone ) Urgent CD Repairs Started 27.5.08.