Maintaining weight & cheaters confessional

[EvaTheOptimist]

Thanks to BIWI's bootcamp I've lost loads of weight. I'm determined not to put it all back on. So I am now consciously trying to maintain my new weight.

I finished the last bootcamp on 150.8lb. My aim is to stay below 11 stone (154lb). Since bootcamp I have weighed between 149lb and 151.6lb. I think this roughly counts as maintaining!

My plan or experiment is to see whether basically eating bootcamp style, but with 3-4 off-piste moments per week (eg chocolate, toast, special treat meal etc) will do the trick of maintaining.

Post here to share your experience of maintaining the low carb way.

Also feel free to confess any cheating here, offload and wail in a safe space!!

Sayra you are so STRONG its amazing. And graceful. Good luck if you do start running... It would be a "Never" from me. In my wise old age 41 I'm concluding that if its not a form of movement that you enjoy in some way, then really there's no point. I have been struck by doing this WOE, that I've lost all this weight by diet alone. When I think back to doing zumba or spinning etc and no weight came off (probably because I was eating lots of toast when I got home). Of course I do agree that exercise makes you fitter and more toned.

I was always the classic "hate sports, in the bottom set for games" type. But I always enjoyed cycling, dancing and swimming. So basically I should look no further for my exercise options. And today, thinking well I have said I'm doing this on MN, I did indeed walk 40 minutes to the bike shop to get my bike repaired and back on the road. But - I did get off and walk up the hill on the way home! I'm not crazy!

Trash needing to buy new bras! Its another milestone. SO expensive this WOE! And very well done for having excellent food days.

My week has been:
Mon - low carb plus toast
Tues - low carb
Weds - low carb plus pathetic snacking on stale biscuits and stale pringles nothing better in the house
Thurs - low carb
Fri - low carb plus chocolate and toast
Sat - low carb plus chocolate

I guess this means a goody goody low carb day tomorrow or I transgress from 3-4 treats a week.

Lowcarb how dramatic to have had the skin on your arms sorted out - you are brave. And you must have lost loads of weight. Hope you are putting the cheat behind you now, some days are just more difficult than others aren't they.

Stunt I hope you're OK about your tum, I've been thinking of you. I don't have the annoying CS line to deal with, I've heard from a RL friend how hers stays an annoying overhang whatever she does. Anyway I am sorry that your tum is causing you grief.

Father's Day - so am tied to the oven :-))
We are on a 'no phones' pact to try and give proper attention to DDs today ! am hiding in laundry
Will super post tonight
Have fab day all
am knackered already hard work this pampering

Afternoon.

Today has been the last day of fannying around pretending I'm Bootcamping

I put a shirt on last night to go out, one that I've always considered as one of my bigger/fat tops, and it was no longer loose/too big. Bit of a wake up call for me.

Sayra those pictures are amazing - you must be really strong!

Thank you Eva, it was a huge decision and very scary too. But it has made such a difference it was worth it. Very scared about getting more work done because the legs are supposed to be much more painful. But it'll only be sore for a relatively short time. Great you're getting back into cycling. I hated school sports but loved things like cycling and dancing. Why they don't offer more dancing at school I don't know! It's so fun. I do try and lift some very light weights, it has definitely made a difference to how I look.

Hello to all,
Am home from an amazing week away and some mindful carb eating. I was in control the first few days and then made a choice to have a few days of "holiday food" and made sure it was all worth it. If it (5lb ) comes off this week, like it did after the long weekends I've had earlier in the year, it'll be worth it.

I'm not sure I'll remember everything I meant to post reading through this thread but...
Stunt if that doesn't go after the 2-3 year mark and you're not planning further pregnancies then I'd say surgery - it was my first thought to be honest. I would expect that you'd get that done on the NHS - especially as it's following sustained weight loss.

Sayra you are so very strong! and what great news professionally. I do hope you get something concrete for in Sept/Oct.

Peony you've adapted incredibly quickly to your new routine - wow. Sounds like you're very much the right woman for the job.

Back to Bootcamp as of yesterday and still not starting work this week (sigh) will be hassling HR tomorrow!

not sure if getting bike out of loft was a good idea
Managed 20miles today , first ride for a while .... Heart rate was 175 for almost the whole of the 1hr11mins ...... And I thought my gym going was getting me fit !! Not !

And also later on took DD3 on her first 'tag-a-long' ride with DH ... 14 more miles but lots of stopping and very slow ... Fun though - she loved it and I felt happy to be out with family and not feel self conscious in shorts !

Ah yes, Peony - the realisation that going to the gym doesn't get you fit on all fronts comes as a big shock, doesn't it?!

How long did it take to ride for 20 miles? I'm considering buying myself a bike

Welcome back lmd

Thank you all for your lovely comments, you've made me feel all happy!

I think you can be different sorts of fit can you? You might be able to run 5k but not cycle etc. I have no stamina whatsoever!

biwi - 20 miles took 1hr11 mins but I was properly 'burying myself' to see how fast I could go . ( I had foolishly thought i would be super gym fit quick )

stunt great pole pics - amazing ! Super impressed .

lmd welcome back !

crabby - I too was imagining lots of fish flashing their bits at you for kicks

eva - I agree with trashy - you are a ray of light .

Maintaining for me looks like bootcamp light if I am honest .... Perhaps with a bit more wine . Adding carbs just doesn't go well - I either gain straightaway or just crave more carbs ... I am happy with it, it suits me .

Evening lovelies. Hello LMD we were starting to worry!

Have been at the beach freezing my tits off with the inlaws today. Dp got in for a surf with his brother, and then we had a nice lc picnic (pulled pork, salad and cabbage slaw)

Did epic cleaning and tidying yesterday, cos my foreign student arrived today. We picked him up from the airport at 3pm. He's only fifteen, from Rome. So far he's a little cutie. Very sweet.

I want a new bike! I'm impressed by your mega cycle peony. I have got an alright-ish bike. My friend found it in the street, and rang the police, who said if nobody claimed it after a month, she could keep it, so I got it and had it serviced. It's fine, but a bit boneshaker. What I'd really like is one of them poncey sit up and beg city bike type things. I have some stuff I want to do in the house this summer (put a fucking shower in, and switch from wood floors to carpets) but I would really like a nice bike. I could use it for certain bits of work, and it would save on petrol whilst getting my fitness back up.

lowcarb sadly me pants are still 18/20, it's 16 on the top.... but still progress

and yes eva new bras are definitely required!

sayra bloody brilliant pictures!

you know what to do: get organised for your favourite LC foods and snacks and watch out for those rascally carbs that sneak back in. My problems are nuts and dark chocolate and if I want to be strict I just have to stop buying them.

Peony it's Sayra on the pole! I would be too uncoordinated for pole. Well done on the cycling! I have been doing the 30-day shred and it has improved my overall fitness and strength so I can run further and faster than I could before despite not doing any running training.

Eva me posting pics of my tum on here is a good first step to coming to terms with it. I've done a lot already to improve matters and I have plans for the next year or two to further improve my fitness. I wouldn't consider surgery though LMD as my skin doesn't scar well and I would be likely to have problems. I'm going to make the best of what I've got! I may never wear a bikini again but as I've never ever worn a bikini, not even tried one in, it's no loss. I have a wonderful swimming costume from Debenhams with a control panel tummy which sorts it all out for me!

Thanks, StuntNun! You're right, I know what to do. I'm trying to avoid the nuts because I eat too many of those.

I have come to the realisation that I do actually eat too much, so I'm concentrating on cutting down this week. I may even try and introduce a bit of IF which, if I do it by missing breakfast should be relatively easy.

I'm starting IF as well BIWI as it's supposed to be the best way to lose stubborn fat due to some complicated sciencey-stuff about proportions of alpha and beta receptors on fat cells that went right over my head. I'm doing 14-hour fasts as that's thought to be better for women to prevent hormonal disturbances. I finished eating by 7 last night so I only have to get to 9 a.m. before having breakfast which is doable. Apparently intake under 50 cal is acceptable during the fast so I still had my morning cup of tea. It really doesn't seem too arduous.

Yep, I'm going down the 'missing breakfast' route. I couldn't do without my coffee though! But I'm on my third cup now (at work) and will switch to water after this one. I'm not going to eat (and won't have the opportunity) until lunchtime.

Stunt I certainly missed any opportunities in this lifetime to wear a bikini. I would post a picture of my tum in solidarity but I don't think this thread holds an 18 certificate for Horror. Your fitness and strengthening regime and plans have got to be a good way forward (as well as being rather inspiring in a daunting sort of way) because what lies beneath, in terms of muscles, is the important thing.

BIWI good luck on getting really strict. There is so much psychology involved in losing weight. I had internal conversations with myself yesterday "What do you mean I can't have a treat today?" "You can't. And you've told MN you won't, so you really can't." (I didn't.) And yet, previously, I had got myself into a headspace where I didn't cheat for 10 months. So good luck with finding the right personal psychology!

Please how did your special weekend go?

Peony Bootcamp light is great and does save you from the carb craving monster. And, it is a really healthy diet for overall health too.

I don't stray too far from bootcamp light, as one of my top treats is chocolate and dark chocolate is allowed in BCL. (Though I must say I regarded any sort of chocolate as off-limits madness while I was on bootcamp/ bootcamp light!) I'm not allowed alcohol and there are at present no nuts in the house. But it is strawberry season!

I'm 2lb up on Friday's weight today, so like you LittleMiss I will be finding out whether that goes quickly, or slowly! Well done on eating the holiday carbs mindfully though. Also remember - when the scales go up its "a fluctuation" when they go down its "Real Fat Loss". Fingers crossed my fluctuations since Maintaining do seem to have gone down again in a few days. But so much depends on the mysteries of our personal metabolisms.

Peony 34 miles in total on your bike! No wonder you're a bit tired. I think your "bike fitness" will come back super quick. Cycling really appeals to me - its exercise you can do while sitting down, PLUS it gets you somewhere much quicker than walking. Totally suits my lazy nature.

Crabby I read the kids your tales of Love Sponge this morning. They still want a rabbit. (Were they not listening?? Oh yes, of course, THEY didn't pay for the carpets did they.) They also LOVE your name. I explained that you're not Crabby Big Bottom anymore as you went on the same diet as me.

Lowcarb lifting weights - I've THOUGHT about it (!!) I think it could perhaps do wonders for the bingo-wing area.

Eva the 30-day shred isn't daunting, loads of people do it. My home life is chaotic so I do it when I can but don't worry too much if I miss a day or occasionally a week. The results have been gradual but it's not a race so who cares? My DH is very into his weight training so I'm hoping it will work out for me too. I had a bit of a scare with my dad's declining health this year and if there's something I can do for myself now to keep my health for longer then I'm going to make every effort.

Moooorning all the peeeeples

peony you have inspired me to get the boneshaker out and cycle to work today I am going to sit trashpup in the basket (securely tied in)

I have promised myself if I get my usage up, I can have me one of the poncey sit up bikes.

BIWI nuts?

Er stunt you can soooo wear a bikini! Have you checked out the excellent 50's style ones available these days? They're high waisted (with optional control panels) and lovely cheeky bottom parts.

I am currently using a mn magic chicken to feed myself for a year... ok, not quite, but I made very tasty dinner last night. Shoved lashings of butter and garlic under the skin, and then salted the outside to shit. Bunged some courgette in to roast in the juices, and made salad with dressing, and new pots for the carby twats. Then like a virtuous mofo, I stripped the carcass and made stock, which I'm noe transforming into lc broth for my lunch.

Drat, bastard, fuck - the client I was gonna cycle to has just cancelled. Arse. Nevermind, I can go to see my buddy on my bike instead, and then collect the dcs from school on it.

Got an insane plan this afternoon. My little hair colourist has been trying to come over and do my roots since the week I got poisoned. She's now coming at 4pm, but we have to finish in time for my physio at 5pm (ten minutes away, so 4.50pm) it's gonna be tight, but I hope we'll manage it - even if I end up at physio with wet hair

Stunt I managed 4 days of 30 day shred! I think its not for me, right now. A bit of cycling might be... and in fact I might cycle to the local shop to get enough in for dinner tonight! (as I only have a short time between now and running the after-school club at 3pm)

Sorry to hear about your Dad's health worries.

Trash "virtuous mofo?!?" Good luck with insane afternoon.

Eva, I had a brilliant weekend thank you. Not too many carbs food wise but I probably drank my weight in cocktails. It was worth it. For anyone trying to work out the science of maintaining .......
Last weekend (not the one just past) I had a number of meals out, plenty of wine and ignored the fact that I was now a low carber. Over the space of a week I lost 4lbs. On weighing this morning I had put 3lbs on since Friday. That means despite having the time of my life for the last ten days I am 1lb down. I can't believe it but I'm happy.
Back on bootcamp light again for another week and off on holiday.
I am still just outside the healthy BMI range so I really should lose a bit more but I feel happy at this weight. I am at the age when I can't afford to lose too much weight off my face. I really think those bmi charts should be different for ladies with a larger chest. Mine probably weighs a stone by itself

PEONY they've arrived! They arrived on Saturday and my neighbour signed for them. Thank you for the extra ones, they smell yummy

Sayra you're amazing, love the handstand pic very jealous because i could never do one and probably never will

BIWI you better be good or Trashy will come after you and her stick's straight out of the GOT prop cupboard

peony I bet your smallarse was sore this morning - 34 miles you must be mad!

Please my mate had her boobs reduced and they took 9lbs off each one. I wish mine would shrink, I tried a lovely dress on in a 10 that fitted perfectly except in the boobage dept, sent DD to find a 12 which swamped me and the top still didn't fit.

Just had to blitz the fridge because something had died in it and sods law the last thing I took out was a bag of mozarella that was a week out of date and ready to explode. God it was rank but everythings all tupperwared up now - god get me domestic goddess thanks to crabby and stepford wife all in one - better go and tie a ribbon in my hair before DH gets home and have his slippers ready he'd rather have a fumble of my FFs

9lbs!!!!!

9lbs !!!!! My bras come with free stickers in the 'first bra' section

Notso. Have you tried pepperberry. They are good for white shirts that don't gape.

Peony!

Very glad you had a great weekend Please AND basically got away with it too. Well done.

Minny 9lbs off each breast - Wow! I am also in need of a BMI chart for the large-chested. Though not as much as I used to be, for sure. Pre-bootcamp I was 38KK now I am 30H. One difference I have noticed - as I regularly have to take a long train journey for work - I can now sit at a non-table train seat and work on my laptop. Previously there wasn't room for my bulk AND enough space to open the laptop screen!!