Low carb, is it long tern?

[Sami24]

Hi guys, I was wondering for those that have been doing a low carb diet for a while, if I do this will the weight loss stay off or will it come back on if I introduce a few carbs again after I'm comfortable with my weight?

I'd just prefer a long term solution and have just learned that this may not be the best solution for that... Any ideas?

 

[southwestgirl]

Low carb is an excellent long term solution for weight control.

There will be a level of carb intake where your weight will be stable, this is different for everyone. Once you've reached your goal weight, hold your carb intake level for a few weeks, just to be sure, and then start increasing your carbs by just a bit, say 10 grams, for a week, and see what happens to your weight. And then step up again if you want to, and if your weight is still stable - and so on. If you start to gain again, then drop the carbs back down a little bit.

If you go back to eating the way you were before, then the weight will indeed go back on. It is just a case of finding the right balance, really.

 

[Phoenyx]

I'm planning on doing it long term I'm loving the way I feel on this. When I hit maintenance I'll build up the carbs a bit as swgirl says, but I won't increase them by that much because I'm just too happy as is.

Ive regained on every other diet because I didn't make fundamental changes to my lifestyle. Now I feel I am doing something sustainable, I am in no real hurry and definitely see this as a long term adventure.

If you of on to the Atkins board, there are people who have been low carbing and maintained for years! It's also worth checking out a book called escape the diet trap by dr john briffa (he also has a blog or you can watch interviews on you tube) which discuss low carbing long term for health.

Good luck - I don't think you can get much better than this, diet wise!

 

[southwestgirl]

Have just bought that book this morning and have been reading it all day, it really is excellent. I think you are spot with what you say about loving the way you feel eating this way - we (myself and husband) are never going back to our old way of eating. I do just wish I was losing a bit faster, ho hum, but that's how it goes sometimes. I'll get there.

You're doing well! Three and a half pounds in week one and that's on OWL, wow...

 

[ditzeeblonde]

I have maintained for 14 months now & the only way to do it is to reintroduce carbs back into yr eating the correct way & one type at a time so that yr body can tell you if it will trigger anything..... I still am pretty low carb in my way of eating but allow myself higher carb treats but even now they never taste as good as I thought they would. Be careful & cautious use a book, Atkins, South Beach, Pig to Twig for example & stick to one of them for yr maintenance stage....

Good luck.x

 

[Attorney AK]

I have given up carbs for about 3 months and have seen significant difference in my abs. I would say there if more definition all around . I would recommend it to anyone as long term.

 

[Kat1e]

I definitely recommend low carb for maintenance - now i am trying to maintain i find i choose to eat lower carb than i "could" - feel fab, tastes great - what more could you want