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!!

eva its not too bad, I think we are just used to it now! We haven't always been miles apart. We met at uni and discovered that we lived 5 minutes drive from each other so saw a lot of each other for the first 2/3 years then I went to work in NZ and he went to Canada so we were apart for a year. I went to Canada and we lived together for 2 months before coming home. Then he got a job in Perth and I got one in Glasgow, it might have been an idea to live together then but we didn't because driving cost a fortune and we both started early (him 6am, me 7am) and both worked weekends as well. Then he lost his job and I went back to uni to do my MRes so we ended up back at our respective parents (my parents house isn't big enough for 5 adult and his parents don't let me stay because we are not married, yes even now after 11 years ). Then I got my PhD position and have been here 3 years. In some ways I quite like having my house to myself during the week but at the same time we both wish we lived together.

We always joke we have only been together so long because we live apart, but thats not true.

Sorry for the life story!

I often wish my DH would go and 'weekly board ' somewhere

biwi - I am going to try that desert at the weekend - after my straight and very narrow week !

Peony be careful what you wish for - ex went to work in America and we visited every school holidays for a couple of years didn't want to uproot kids while he was on a temporary visa. I used to joke I had the best of both worlds until I sold up, gave my doggy away because he was too old to travel that far, and a month later found out he'd proposed to another woman I still can't decide whether we had a very short emigration or an exceedingly expensive holiday but I did lose 150lbs of useless husband

peony it is quite nice, I am so used to doing whatever I want mid-week and not having to think about anyone else. That's why I spend so much time on here Whenever we do end up together for an extended period it takes us a day or two to adjust.

minny that doesn't sound great Poor you having to give up your dog How long did you "emigrate" for?

When I originally went to NZ and him to Canada we both agreed that we would just see what happens and if we met our soulmate then so be it. I didn't meet anyone over there that I would have wanted to be in a relationship with and neither did he. In the whole time I have been with him I have never met anyone else I'd want to spend my life with

Minny how awful, what a bastard. And so sad about giving up your dog!

Sounds yummy BIWI though I have no idea where one buys vanilla bean paste.

Hi everyone,
This fell off my 'Threads I'm On' and still a size 18 and 14 stone so not really fitting in but I miss you all!

Sayra - definitely apply. There's no shame in then turning it down for relationship reasons. I am really really lucky that we live 10 minutes from the big Oncology unit that offered me a job - but if it hadn't... specialist places are pretty far apart and you DO have to go where the work is, up to a point. Now might be the time to chase any leads from that brilliant conference and see if they turn more concrete when they realise that they might lose you for the time being elsewhere. You are doing really well in your career, you are a real asset and the best days of your working and personal life is still to come, I'm certain of it. You and your OH must be made of strong stuff to still be together, that's a really valid factor to base decisions on. if you move to North Wales I may insist on meeting up. Utterly irrelevant obviously!

Peony that sounds brilliant. What great time with one of your girls, how lovely. And I totally agree about treats!

On the subject of meringue, I came massively close to a wobble at the weekend around homemade delicious coffee meringue that I made for an event for which it was not required (dead embarrassing ) and so DH has had this huge glorious pavlova thing that is just my sort of thing. If I make him puddings I try and make things I'm not that fussed on, just to stack the odds in my favour iyswim.

I resisted, had some whipped cream in a bowl, next morning - back to my lowest ever weight. I did feel proud of myself - it was so close, but I'd have wasted the rest of the week losing it again have been up to 2lb heavier in the mornings since, grrr, must stop weighing

I am really, really wobbly about going back to work next week. I've been out 3 years. In which time I've had a critical illness, nearly 3 months hospitalised, 3 lots of major surgery, still 2 stone heavier than I was, walk oddly. And mainly, lost my beautiful daughter. And I am so, so tired, and I get so worried that the fatigue will impair my judgement and make me unhappy and panicky and unable to cope. Aaargh... I just need to get on with it, I know, be sensible, and wait and see. And not get readdicted to caffeine to help with the tired feelings. Just needed to say it I think. Sorry for the me-me-me post.

Hello lovely LittleMiss well done for resisting the meringue, and how brilliant that we are on a Way of Eating where a bowl of whipped cream is a virtuous option!

And so, lots of hand-holding for the going back to work. I had fatigue issues last year and I know that this year I am so hyper aware of "how I'm doing", noticing the little warning signs that I would have just powered-through before, heading for a bigger crash. So try to keep really aware of your energy, and give yourself breathing space (yes even at work). Don't set crazy timetables from day 1, and take your whole lunch break, go home on time.

Also, totally give yourself a break outside of work - let the chores go, say no to other obligations, go to bed early with a nice bowl of cream! I know you have other ways of giving yourself strength, through your faith, for instance.

Peony will probably let you borrow her "starting new job" sofa fort!

vanilla bean paste

I buy mine from Waitrose.

We'll all be here thinking of you and wishing you well, LMD. You will be fine once you get there - it's the waiting/anticipation that's the worst.

lmd - of course you fit in here - regardless of size & shape we are all here for the long term supporting each other . Anyway we're friends .... Virtual vipers and all that ..

I am lending you my sofa fort incase you need it - I retreated into it each night for at least the first week - as I felt so totally overwhelmed and out if my depth .... But today ( mid week 3) I feel more in control and actually made a decision .... All by myself today ...! (The amount of autonomy scares me )

You have endured so much - this feels like a very positive forward step - be kind to yourself like eva describes and we are all here with hands out if that helps at all . It will get easier .

LMD I'm about a million miles away from maintaining but all my friends are here [soppy]

Really well done on avoiding the meringue. I can understand why you are feeling worried about going back to work but I am sure you will be fine. Like eva and peony have already said don't push yourself too hard and try to find time to relax and rest when you come home each day, I am sure that your DH will be there for you in real life and we will all be on here for you. You have been through so much and I really admire how you have managed to overcome the difficulties you have faced. Such a lot to have happened to one person in three years yet here you are ready to go back to work

Job would be in Swansea but I could come a visit you I'd love to meet you (and the rest of you too!).

On the job front, I am applying, OH and I had a long chat and he thinks I should apply and take it if I get it. Luckily, I already know the person who the job is with so I think I will be able to explain my concerns to her without putting her off me! He has also found out that his new job has a place (actually their main place) in Wales so maybe there is the possibility of him moving in a couple of years. Feeling a bit better about applying...I've also been looking at houses and can get so much more for the money in Swansea than here.

trash I hope you are feeling a better now and not so tired.

I'm okay. good. but still tired. bugger. lurking like mad. need a day off soon. bbq last weekend and taking kids to mexican wrestling on saturday stole my battery re-charge time I now realise. Got to have a portion of Saturday and Sunday doing fuck all in order to function with work and homelife through the week. I also just realised that the previous weekend was spent mega cleaning on the saturday and then driving miles to do in-law stuff on the sunday before rushing to pick up the italian student. No fucking wonder I'm feeling jiggered. I'm a weekend pussy. With tears in my eyes I have now become embroiled in a ridiculous endeavour next saturday. My friends who are also neighbours are bloody artists and begged me to help them by performing in scarborough on sat night as part of their 'noise choir' groooooaaaan. I went (under duress) to their rehearsal tonight and had to make the sound of fucking limescale with full on pictures of fossils and bastard coal to inspire the chuntering wank I had to spew forth from my gob. I could not get into the spirit at all, and didn't get the score they were working at because it was a picture of the fucking coastline and I'm clearly a dyslexic in that scenario. Scarborough is a two hour fucking drive from here. And I have to take the student to the airport on Sunday morning for a 5.45am check-in.

Please forgive my shocking lack of typing finesse, and be aware I am following all of what everybody is saying, but too selfish and self referential to offer advice or anything.

Bloody hell trash - you need to slow down and take care of yourself

Sounds like some of you (trash) need to be a bit more selfish and make sure you take time for yourselves.

Have a wee rest trashy (and anyone else who needs it) its important to look after you!

The "noise choir" sounds hilarious, can you record it and send it to us

Oh trash whilst I too am giggling away, you must take some time out - it's not at all weak or whatever to work out what you need to function and make sure you get it - and down time at the weekend after a busy week is a necessity of almost everyone, you know.
And we're good at feeling it for others - I bet you don't think "what a wimp" when I share that, at the moment on these meds, I need 11 hours in bed a night to function (if you do please don't say!!) so don't be putting yourself down.

Eva you're so right, otherwise it would be some ridiculously artificial low-cal dessert which would just leave me wanting more.

Peony I love the sofa fort, it made me laugh... I think I will come home and watch tennis til I fall asleep next week in mine!! Yes, actual decisions that are not actually already decided by someone else can wait a few weeks I can live in hope

Thank you all for the encouragement, I'm really ready to get on with it now, feel like emotionally at least I've made preparations really well, including making sure I have people to talk to on a Sunday, every Sunday, for when I need it, so DH doesn't have to 'carry' me alone.

Sayra really cool about possibility of getting a HOOGE mansion in Swansea and the support from your OH. I hope that his "couple of years" before he could join you gets shorter - surely he could wangle it sooner!! (I appreciate this is all highly speculative given you haven't sent the application yet!)

Trash if anyone can make the sound of limescale SURELY its you. Top marks for ever having been up for this fantastically mad endeavour. If you can't think of someone else who can be drafted in to make the sound of limescale instead of you, can you ask someone else to give Italian student a lift to the airport? How horribly expensive would a taxi be for Mr student instead? Even if it is ruinously expensive, perhaps it is cheaper than a nervous breakdown.

LittleMiss I think "well done" for knowing that you need 11 hours in bed.

I'm happily cruising through week-day proper low-carbing (ie with a view to saving treats for the weekend) and it has been feeling effortless this week, no cravings for off-piste.

Fucking limescale !! trash you make me die laughing at the image of you doing this . no chance of pretending I'm working now . There's limescale in our downstairs loo - I'll go and listen :-) . What a great friend you are though . But .... For goodness sake ...... Have a rest ! I am 'working from home' tomorrow as it's Glastonbury and the traffic is mental so folk without tickets stay off the roads ! ( no tickets for me this year but plan to take all DD's next year - 18, 17 and 5 ...should be great ) - anyway ... am rambling plan to have a pj day and watch tv or read all day ! Last day of rest ..... Puppy comes on Sat !

I've just stopped short of eating a whole (200g) bag of macadamia nuts. And it's only my second day. Yesterday was fine, and today, I've also eaten two hard boiled eggs with half a cucumber, and few slices of ham, nothing else. Have I blown it? I think there were about 1600 calories in the nuts I ate! Eurghh..disgusted with myself, should never have bought the bag and trusted myself to eat just a few. :( :(

Hi hattie the things you ate today sounds fine (the eggs, cucumber and ham) but you haven't eaten enough.

Have you read the rules? They are on one of the tabs on the bottom of the spreadsheet but basically you can eat fat, protein (meat, eggs, fish) and carbohydrate in the form of vegetables. There is an allowed list on the bottom of the spreadsheet as well.

Don't be disgusted with yourself, we have all been there. If you haven't already found it there is a "main" thread where more people post, you will probably get more responses there. There are plenty of people at different stages so don't be afraid to ask for help or if there is anything you are unsure about.

Thanks. Yes, I've done all the research - and I didn't think that I'm allowed nuts during the first two weeks, let alone a whole bag. However, there are only 4.7g. Carb per 100g in the nuts so was this ok despite the enormous calorific and fat content?

No you are not really allowed nuts in the first two weeks but the other things you ate are fine except you didn't eat enough. I think weather or not calories count is a debated a bit. if you have lots to lose then they matter less I think. However, too many nuts for most people can cause them to stop losing weight.

It is done now so all you can do is get back on the wagon and try to plan your meals for the next few days so you know you will keep on track and so you are eating enough.

I've just stopped short of eating a whole (200g) bag of macadamia nuts. And it's only my second day.

In which case you are not Bootcamping.

Yesterday was fine, and today, I've also eaten two hard boiled eggs with half a cucumber, and few slices of ham, nothing else. Have I blon it?^

Very probably. You aren't eating properly and you aren't following Bootcamp rules.

I think there were about 1600 calories in the nuts I ate! Eurghh..disgusted with myself, should never have bought the bag and trusted myself to eat just a few.

We don't count calories on Bootcamp.

Have you read the rules? I'm interested that you would choose to make your post on this, which is a maintainers/cheaters thread. Why have you posted here as opposed to on the Bootcamp thread?

Can I just say, lovely maintainers/cheaters, that it's posts like Hattie's that illustrate how dangerous these threads are? I really, really, really get that it's lovely to be able to chat with like-minded people, and that when you've reached your target weight/are nearly at your target weight that you have made friends, you might want to talk about different things, etc, etc.

Could I possibly encourage you to move your thread, when you start the next one, to OTBT (Off The Beaten Track - it's in Mumsnet Site Stuff)

This way, you will all know where your thread is, but it won't appear in Active Conversations.

Good idea BIWI, thank you. And sorry to have been a thread with difficult consequences. Here is the new thread!: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/off_the_beaten_track/2118243-Low-carbing-maintaining-puppies-fishes-and-more

Hattie you are most welcome indeed to have confessed your cheat here. The others are right that you need to eat proper meals and definitely not go hungry. If you are hungry, something eat low carb. There are lots of meal ideas on the bootcamp threads, but my general days go:

Breakfast: scrambled eggs and mushrooms, all cooked in lashes of butter

Lunch: Mixed salad with oil & vinegar dressing AND mayonnaise, with the day's choice of cheese, eggs, tuna, smoked salmon etc. Often with coleslaw or olives too.

Dinner: Salmon (cooked with lots of butter), mashed swede, broccoli
or Curry (no rice/nan) or spinach & feta bake or something similar!

Snacks: Greek total yogurt (sometimes with cream); cheese; olives; etc

Trash you are an absolute star and a fantastic friend to go along with the limescale malarky I'd have burst out laughing.

LMD You've been through a lot and the long wait for HR to get their act together must've have made the thought of your first day even worse but like peony says it does get easier and we'll all be here to support you

Off to check out the other thread.