I would second all 3 of these points. I didn't go way off the reservation until I stopped keeping track of my weight (I was really good about weekly weigh-ins at home for the "successful" portion of maintenance), and stopped visiting this forum. I don't necessarily need the accountability from a pricey coach, but I do need to feel accountable, or I make too many excuses for myself.

I agree too that having an "all or nothing" mentality can be a maintenance killer. It's too short sighted - we are in this for a lifetime, and cannot give up just because we slipped on the trail up the mountain once or twice. I've stopped viewing weight loss/maintenance as a "goal" and started viewing it as a process that will have ups and downs. Like Joysh mentioned I'm much kinder to myself now! I hesitated coming back to the forum when I had regained, I was ashamed and felt I had let all the people down that I had helped be successful my first time around on P1. I had to get over it - I'm human too and I'm allowed to slip, stumble, even fall in spectacular fashion. But what matters is whether I pick myself up and press on. I can see that maintenance is just going to be a constant "pressing on" :)

"I spent a lot of time reading many of the old threads, a few things seem to be a common trend in keeping the weight off:
self weighing even when you feel like you are off program.
continuing to post on the threads.
having a range and scream weight.

I think the key is that we can not lose focus and that it is a lifelong/ daily commitment. I am working on letting go of perfection and accepting a slip without giving into shame and defeat. A vigilant effort to break the cycle. "

This is it totally, I agree with Slip.
Especially the range & scream weight (and the range can't be 25 lbs, lol). Activity is very important.
A little something extra every day is 365 days of extra per year that we don't need. Planning for something once a week keeps YOU in control and not your environment. We can never go back to eating 'normally,' which may be the norm, but isn't natural or healthy. Just because most of the Western world chooses to kill themselves slowly with bad food habits doesn't mean that is the way to treat our bodies. And don't move into the stretchy clothes - that's a very bad signal of denial. Stretchy clothes are good for exercise, lol. The non- stretchy fabrics should still be comfortable - if they aren't - it's time to get back on track.

Liana

Absolutely

For me it will be acknowledging that my old diet has gone. While I'm on P1 I am researching all kinds of future diets for maintenance. I believe that having a plan will be the way forward to maintaining a consistent weight range.

My plan so far:-

1. Set a range that I can "live" within. Not just a weight I can get to.
2. Find a food plan that works for me - makes my stomach comfortable, doesn't make me bloat and keeps me high on energy
3. Get on the scale every week

It's a big worry for a lot of people, being able to maintain.

I lost 80lbs last year and was within 20lbs of my goal but...I went on an all-inclusive trip to Mexico (and *really* enjoyed myself, lol!), my coach left the clinic and I lost the drive I had. If I had phased off properly after reaching my goal, I think it would have been a lot different for me.

Thankfully, I've seen the number on the scale and I'm not happy with it so I'm rebooting and I will phase off properly and follow the Maintainers thread closely because I *want* this, I *want* to be healthy.

Jo

Thanks, I promised myself this was forever. My husband is a wonderful motivator too. So helpful and compassionate about the whole thing.

Maile is the only person I know to keep it off for years. She is a few months behind me in maintenance. I have watched the maintenance thread change names over and over and over for 5 years now. This is a life-long marathon. I am determined to maintain better than I have been. Although still very proud of what I have accomplished over the last 5 years.

Great discussion - as this is a reboot for me, I am very intent on making sure that phasing off and maintenance are well thought out and the mindset needed is getting established while losing on P1.
Thanks to all the successful maintainers and rebooters for the tips and the realization that this is a process not a one off deal. It is so helpful to know what to expect and how to prepare for the continued work ahead.

Many familiar names here. :) I'm back today rebooting and have spent the afternoon reading this thread. Very nice that I am not alone in this. First started IP in Sept 2013 and over 8 months lost about 65 pounds. Felt and looked great. Then summer came, I relaxed off the program and relaxation turned to 30 pounds up. Bam! Starting fresh as of today. 100% on program. Just need to try to remember how to update my ticker and signature...

Must say I think the biggest mistake I made was stopping my daily visits to this forum.

Welcome back GettinHealthyNow :) I remember you from 2013. I gained 20 lbs over the summer - despite running 3-4 times/week. I agree with you - I should have never stopped checking in here and I should have been checking in with my coach as well. I kept thinking I needed to drop the extra lbs before going back so my coach wouldn't be disappointed. That was stupid. I should have gone back when I was 5 lbs up. Not 20. Lesson learned! Good luck and hope to "see" you around here!

I'm no where near maintenance mode yet, and to be honest it does scare me, which is why I faithfully read (and lurk in) this thread. My coach has already talked about it and advised me that once I've reached my goal, monitor closely and go back to phase 1 if I gain 5 pounds. That's the trigger. Don't wait for 10 or it'll quickly turn into 20 or more. Because I'm tall it takes about 20 pounds to go up or down a size, so that advice should keep me in the new wardrobe that I'm planning for once I hit goal! :)

He (my coach) lost 100 pounds on IP and has maintained for over 3 years by following that plan. It sounds feasible; I'll be glad when I get there and can try it for myself.

:wave: hi skinnygirl! happy new year! i am happy to be back. sounds like you have a good plan underway so no doubt you will be one of those who is ready and able to maintain your losses. i wish you all the best on this journey! its a fabulous group of ladies here!

:wave: hi zerena!! i found myself regaining and just did nothing! it was ok at first, i would gain a few and lose a few...then 5 pounds found me and i kinda laid off the scales for awhile, then when i got back on them, i was up almost 20 and was very frustrated, yet, still DID NOTHING!!! why why why!!!!

glad you are along for a reboot too :) we can do this!

:wave: hi lisa...sounds like i might try to look into that book. i love food. i mean i LOVE LOVE LOVE food. i love good food and healthy food and junk food, i just love food. i have celebrated by eating on all occasions and eat when i'm happy, and eat when i'm sad. i need to learn how to break my love affair with food! i love to cook...and of course, eat what i cook! haha

:wave: hi slipfree!! i did self weigh and just watched the numbers slowly come back. i'd gain 5 or so, forget the scale for a month, then be up 20, etc etc and i was like, really, susan, really, you're just gonna let all this weight back on your body after all that hard work, and then i'd go pacify my frustration with some ice cream...a BIG bowl...like a quart at a time. then get back on the scales and be mad at myself even though i was the one stuffing my face! and i slacked and slacked on the activities until i was a couch potato again...well not actually a couch potato, because i am always busy in the house and watch little tv, but still, getting out of the house doing so cardiovascular activity was weening and i forgot how great it felt to ride my bike!!!!! :bike2:

:wave: hi joy!! i think in the beginning, i found that i too could deviate once or twice and the scales would recover in a day or two....but then the deviating happened more and more and then i just turned a blind eye to that pounds that slowly came back. then i was like, drats, you live you die, you're gonna die of something, might as well enjoy my food. food is my comfort zone. food is my security blanket. i am happy when i am eating food! i need to learn to be kind to myself! :o

:wave: hi avalon!! i LOVE vegetables too! and in just the 4 days of my reboot and thinking, why did i stop eating this way....these foods are so good!! it takes time and effort and preparation and effort and planning and effort and effort and effort and i just stopped giving the effort. why why why!!!


:wave: hi darbs!! O.M.G. stretch pants have certainly contributed to my downfall!! i love my lounge clothes. as soon as i get home from work, its in the shower and into stretchy clothes. i remember that day i got out a pair of jeans i had been wearing, about 2 weeks prior and they were too tight and even then, i did NOTHING!! why why why??? why did i just let myself sit and watch the pounds come back one by one??? uggggggggggggg!!

i am sorry you had such a rough time, but it sounds like you are well prepared now and such a good inspiration!

:wave: hi scorbett!! yes...i am beginning to see a trend here...
slip off program, kick myself for slipping...stop visiting 3fc...stop weighing in...stop posting...stop journaling...stop caring!! why why why??? effort!! it takes so much effort!!!!!!!! write down everything you eat, calculate everything you eat, record everything you eat!! all the effort got to me! so it was all or nothing in the effort department as well!! uggg!!!

i am learning A LOT right about now. can someone say LIGHT BULB effect??



:wave: hi liana!! range and scream weight....i have never heard that phrase! is the scream weight the high weight where you scream at yourself??

stretchy clothes became my best friend!! i think i need to divorce stretchy clothes!

i think i had a "range". but i would gain a few pounds and think, ok, thats not too bad...then i would hover at that weight for a month and that weight became my new norm. then 4-5 more pounds came, and i was like, well, it could be 10, so thats not so bad, but what i didn't see was that is was not 4-5 pounds it was 4-5 pounds ON TOP of the 3-4 i already gained, and so the pattern went....i would handle the gain by making excuses and then THAT weight became my new "beginning" of a range. does that make sense?? why why why??? i did not hold myself accountable!!

:wave: hi bri ... having a plan was probably where i failed the most! i never made it to goal, or even close, so a plan to maintain wasn't even in my head, but now, i am making a plan that will take me in intervals if i can't make the whole journey in one go.

:wave: hi jo! ahhhhh yes...those unexpected circumstances that come up and derail us!! i totally agree!! holidays, vacations, family reunions, trips! i am so guilty of saying, well, just for "this" occasion! but that never really worked.

then, i started researching those who lost 150 pounds or more and all the loose skin and that totally freaked me out and i just bailed and thought, i might as well stay fat and eat food. i saw a you tube video of someone who was about my weight and lost 200 pounds and was so distraught with all her loose skin and she said she could never afford excess skin removal surgery, and i caved. why why why???? as ishbel says, losing weight is hard, maintaining is hard, being fat is hard...pick your hard! why did i pick being fat??? i dont want to be fat! truly i dont!

:wave: hi runner!

i think the biggest downfall was not phasing off properly. i never could get the phasing part worked out in my head because i never got to my goal, but it seemed like so much effort and i am not lazy, so why why why???? why didn't i make myself better prepared?? i was so busy creating recipes i forgot about being prepared!!


THANK YOU all of you for giving my such wonderful and thoughtful insight
and advice.....i look forward to more words of wisdom to come!!

Rainbow, I can totally relate! It is a lot of effort! I get sick of it too. I wish sometimes that I had a "normal" life when it comes to food- but that is not my reality :p I too, used food for comfort, entertainment, and medication. Our biggest challenge in maintenance(I think) is journey fatigue. The realization that the effort never ends.

So far, that is where the scream weight has come in. My range has been 4 pounds. If I go up beyond those 4 pounds- I go to Phase 1, no matter what.
A couple of times on this holiday, I have gone over and have even changed my plans to reign myself back in. I did resent it a bit. But, I still weighed myself every day of the past month. There were times when I was not perfect and I am working down from the top of my range today. I am learning to focus on not letting a slip (sugar), turn into a slide (emotionally).

Are you on Pinterest? Weight No Longer, Niantic CT has some great inspirational posts.

Hi Rainbow,

Everything you said is "me" I regained all the weight I lost in 2011 on IP.

I am (under my doctor's supervision) taking a drug that is used for addiction, I have taken it for 2 weeks and I have noticed as soon as I am actually full, I stop eating. I am going to try to also get back on IP phase I, after this week. It is all so interesting. I am hypothyroid & post meno, which doesn't help either. Living in the cold NE winters is not that great for activity, but I started back at the gym last month.

Good Luck to everyone and Happy, Healthy 2015!

I am in P2, and will start P4 in a few weeks. I have been following the maintainers thread to see what people do, and have given a lot of thought to my own personal experiences. I am someone who is carb intolerant--IE I gain weight very very easily eating carbs, especially simple ones.

My current plan for maintenance is to eat enough carbs to come out of ketosis, and slowly add them in so that I can see what a maintainable carb level for me is. I will also be weighing in a couple of times a week, and logging everything into MFP. I plan on following a hybrid of the P4 guidelines and Abascal Way proportional eating and see how that does. Plus I will add exercise back in. Who knows, maybe I will start swing or tango dancing again. I figure it is a process/ experiment, and I will adjust what I'm doing as I go along.
Keeping myself accountable will be key. I hope that helps.

Wow - so much wisdom and self-awareness on this thread. Really great to read.

I've been maintaining for 8 months and still don't trust myself to keep things in check. That may be a good thing - being vigilant may be key to me keeping the weight off.

I try hard not to exclude anything in maintenance, just work it into my plans. And sometimes I just say "to heck with it" and eat whatever I want knowing that I'm going to have to tighten things up for a few days afterwards. So far, just increasing my water and lowering my carbs for a few days has worked to lower my weight if I get to close to the top of my weight range. Which is good because I have a block I think when it comes to doing P1 days - my mind just rebels. I think after a year straight on P1 I just have an aversion to the idea. I'm sure if I'd just do it I'd be fine, but what I'm doing now is working.

And exercise! Right now I'm limited to physical therapy exercises and walking but should be back in some kind of shape soon. Discovered after losing all the weight that I had no muscles - apparently the fat was holding me upright!

I keep logging my food on MFP, checking in here and weighing daily. I may try loosening things up a little at some point, but right now this works for me and that's what's important.

I think everyone has to find the right mix of eating for their lifestyle and tastes, exercise and accountability to themselves to be successful in maintenance. Not an easy task for any of us, especially when you're trying to stay in control while finding the right combo for you!

Another one from 2010....I think there are three of us here. You really think you have it licked when you are one year, two years, three years out in maintenance...but this is a lifelong struggle. So happy to be almost back to my goal weight. Welcome back

Thanks darbs, glad you are almost back to where you were.

Great discussion, everyone! I'm so glad to be here with you all. We are all growing and learning. I'm always inspired just reading everyone's honest posts.

Have a wonderful day. And let's always remember to be kind to ourselves, even when exploring our craziness!

Rainbowsmiles!

Good to see a familiar face =)

:hug: minion!!!!!! :joker:

are you back too????

well this is just gonna be a

:dance: ROCKING NEW YEAR IP CELEBRATION!!!:dance:

I also lost weight in 2010 kept it under control until 2014 when I had health issues and it seemed the medication I take made me gain weight. At least that is my story and I am sticking to it. Back on ideal protein and determined to lose the weight so my clothes fit better. Will be traveling most of the winter but I can do this. Who really needs to have wine on the beach watching the sunset. There is always time later for that. My mind is set and I can do this.

;) Yeah, Rainbow... scream weight :fr: is the top edge of weight range. My weight range is 2 lbs below my happy weight and 3 lbs above. Range of 6 lbs for me which is almost 5% of my total weight. Good enough for random sodium and TOM stuff, lol.

Liana

I have followed phase 1....90% of the time the last 14 weeks...I lost the 30 pounds slower because I gave myself planned Atkins cheats (no carbs) but higher fat/calories/ wine

But because I did that I stuck with it and have really lost that "all or nothing" mentality that can get us all in trouble.

Day 3 for me for the n-th time around! I started a reboot in November and was almost 100% until Christmas, but the last two weeks I had a few too many slips.
As cliche as it is, for some reason my mind and motivation just click the first Monday of January. My biggest struggle has always been eating after work and in the evenings. So far the last two nights I haven't even thought about eating off plan. Weekends are also tough on me, so hoping by Friday I'm back in the groove and can stick to it for the month of January. Then I'll see where I'm at.
I'm up probably 15-20 lbs from my lowest weight, but I've been working out consistently since May so not sure if the scale is the true tale. My coach still has all my measurements from my lowest so I'm going to go based on getting back to that as opposed to having the scale read 123 again.
I have some leftover product still so haven't had my official reboot start weigh in yet, but will probably stop in to see my coach tomorrow or Friday. Then I'll have a better idea how far I have to go!

Good luck to everyone! I forget what great advice I get from here when I stop visiting, even if it's just for a few weeks!

Hello all!!! I am back as well!! This is one rock'n thread!!

Knm...my story is similar to yours!! Was 100% from November 1st through Christmas...then I've had a few slips. I lost 26 lbs in 7 weeks, still want to lose about 30!

I remember you from 2010...welcome back

Well after my 2 week holiday break in which I indulged in too much champagne (events, parties, trips) and did not eat packets but stayed low carb (did not count fat) so I ate fats, cheeses, indulgent meats, but I walked 10 miles each day and drank gallons of water...the results...down 1 pound (after six days of phase 1)!

I am very pleased. I have destroyed the "all or nothing" mentality that was destroying me and I am learning good choices and balance.

6.2 pounds back to goal weight and down 29

Darbs - that's awesome that you were able to get through the holidays and now are back down! You're so close to goal!

What I really like about this thread is that it seems many of us have found issue with the "all or nothing mentality" that lots of you have mentioned! I feel the same way. I am either all in or all out, but need to learn that if I have a handful of this or that, that is off plan, I don't need to blow the rest of the day.

I have read a few books - Brain over Binge and Frenchtoast for Breakfast and they both talk about once you've been on a diet that is super restrictive it's tough to find that level of healthy eating.

I did the same thing on Christmas eve. I too have the "all or nothing" mentality and am trying to change it so that this will work for me in the long run. I enjoy reading your posts and am happy to see that this is working for you and that I can make it work for me too.

Yes ladies, this will work. I have the bulk of what I gained back off now. I have 6 more pounds to get back to my goal weight, but then another 7 to get to my low weight. I want to lose those pounds but if they come off slowly over the next year...so be it. I will not be a slave to constant dieting that makes me over indulge after. I don't have to blow an entire weekend just because I have a function Saturday night!

Teamwork

I did four days of phase 3/4...and I was down .4. Then I had my first cheat day which turned into 1.5 days. Phase one today...just had my packet for breakfast. Anxious to see where I am at on Friday's weigh-in.

How is everyone doing?

Final tally...I lost 29 of the 34 I gained back. I plan to focus really hard on maintaining. I am joining a group personal training gym tomorrow.

I just keep coming and going. I have a good few days and then fall off track again. I leave for a vacation in a month, so wanna get in a few good weeks of on plan eating so I can enjoy some shopping while I'm down South.

I know if I commit to it I can lose 10 or more pounds, I just can't commit for some reason. It's like I don't have the urgency this time around that I did in the past.

Here's to day 1 yet again!

Getting started is the hardest thing -- once you get going you develop a rhythm and hanging in there seems to get easier.

The thing is.... that month will go by, and you will be departing for your vacation whether you get on program or not.
You can set forth on vacation feeling terrific about having followed the program and having dropped a nice hunk of pounds, or you can carry those pounds with you on vacation, accompanied by the self-chastising thoughts about how you failed to commit enough to rid of those extra pounds.

It's totally within your control to make that commitment and follow through. Just do it. You can do it you know.... :)

:dust:

Good morning all :carrot: I had great success on IP, lost 80 lbs. in 2012. Gained a little more than half back so here I am :D. I started back in Nov. but said I would enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas...lost 10 then gained 3 back during the holidays and now I'm back on IP (actually alternatives). I don't post a lot but I do lurk lol, it's great seeing that 3FC is still the positive forum it was before :hug:keep up the good work everyone!

I forgot how helpful 3FC was when I was on IP and maintenance. I too had a tough year last year and managed to gain about 50 of the 95 lbs I had lost several years ago. I found excuse after excuse not to get back on program and finally got tired of feeling yucky and started worrying about health issues that had disappeared coming back. I also am going to be a grandma for the first time and want to have the energy back that I had when the weight was off.
I too felt embarrassed that friends and family watched the weight come back on after admiring me for the loss! I have often felt like I was the only one who struggles keeping weight off and going through this thread reminds me that others struggle too and it does help to have support. I know this program works and I already feel so much better that I know I can get myself back to where I need to be.

LoriT - Remember that feeling for having lost the weight on your first go around. This is a learning process. I, too, lost in 2012 and gained about 25 of the 50 I had originally lost. What helped me restart was thinking about myself and forgetting what other would think. It is life and things happen. So glad you found your way back and like you said, you know how this program works.

Welcome back ladies...I had gained about 35 of the 75 I lost..was feeling horrible. Started a phase 1/ phase 2 diet mid-October and just switched two phase 3 a week ago and now doing maintenance. I lost 29 of those pounds and feeling so much better. I also followed Atkins off and on for events (allowed higher fat and alcohol). I am going to follow maintenance until May 4th and then try to lose the rest. I have so many things over the next 2.5 months, I can't string more than 2 weeks of phase 1.

But with that said...so thrilled to be so close to my goal and my main focus now is on maintenance. I need to really focus hard on losing the "all or nothing" mentality and hoping the next few months teach me that.

Welcome back.:carrot:

Darbs7, I had/have the "all or nothing" mentality also and am really wanting to change that thought. I think many of us that struggle with weight issues get stuck into that mindset and it is a tough one to change. I am finishing up a stockpile of IP packets I have and am trying the alternatives route and hoping to do this on my own with motivation from ladies like you, knowing I can do this and take it one day at a time. Life throws us curves and we can't be so regimented as not to be able to live life. I'm not going to beat myself up any longer for my failures, but celebrate the accomplishments! Congratulations on your accomplishment and good luck with the rest of your journey!

oneuh2 - I thought I responded but don't see it, so maybe I forgot to click post!
Thank you so much for the encouraging words! You're exactly right! The world doesn't stop just because I'm eating crummy. I don't want to go on yet another holiday and be kicking myself because all my cute summer clothes I bought in the past are too tight. I need to get my confidence back that I lost over the last month while being a little piggy over the holidays! I planned to start after Christmas and three weeks have already come and gone and I'm still at square one. Time to get cracking!

I agree with what a lot of you are saying - the all or nothing mentality is what has always hounded me. I can't seem to wrap my mind around the fact that I can have one off plan snack or meal or drink, but that doesn't mean I need to let the rest of the day or all weekend go to waste!

Today is day 3. I made it to day 3 last week and then stumbled and ate off plan all weekend. I need to stay focused and just keep working towards my goal!

One thing that helped me this time around was seeing a picture of myself. I could tell in the picture that I had gained, even though my clothes were saying this all along :o

Or look at older pictures of when you had reached goal. This could be a motivational object on your fridge.