Good Morning fellow maintainers!
I've been maintaining now for several weeks, have had some grains but definitely feel better without them as I have fibromyalgia. Now I guess I'll be eliminating tomatoes as my pain level is way up.
I run into this problem every summer as my husband grows lots and lots of them. So between the caprese salad for dinner, the tomatoes in my salads and the fresh tomato sauce my body is screaming STOP! I guess my six months on Phase 1 and extremely limiting amounts and now having a boatload in our garden I have just overdone it.
For sure, the alkaline diet of Phase 1 made me feel invincible. So now, without the safety net of Phase 1 and the ease of Ketosis, I'll eliminate this on my own. It's really only tomatoes, but I really feel like whining about this. Going to have to put my big girl (albeit smaller!) panties on and do what's best for my health!
Thanks for letting me vent; I know in the scheme of things this is only a pimple, but oh how I've been enjoying those tomatoes!

Hmm Taco Bell. Been thinking about them lately. I tried Chipotle and it was not what I remembered. So, that's okay. I'll continue to be picky. Not being picky was how I put the weight on anyway.

Oh and I forgot to mention before.
My morning weight has a 3 lb range. For example I was used to see 124-126. I now see 126-128. My whole day has something like a 5 lb range. I think that is why I had freaked because my new evening weight is sometimes 130 or even 131. It's not a big deal but for me but it's more about comfort. If I feel bloated or backed up or heavy or clothes are too tight, then I am uncomfortable. But, it's not really a number. I feel so much better than I felt a few weeks ago. Same numbers.

I wonder if there is a way to reduce the acidity in tomatoes.

I also wonder if it is the summer. My joints are achy but I don't want to put down my coffee.

Coffee will NOT be put down here! Having a few slices of tomato weekly per Phase 1 didn't bother me. This happens every summer, I overload and try so hard to ignore the connection but can't!
Enough of my whining, I could have a REAL problem!

Hi everyone- been a while. I am up and am working on it. Summer has been fun but I do not love the weight I am at.

[QUOTE=2RIDEROLLERCOAST;4443073]Good morning all,
Just got back from my run. I decided I should try to run 5 k before I HAVE to run in the 5KM race next week.


2Ride..That was too scary..losing dogs at various times Congratulations on making the 5K run. What a day!

Ishbel- Your list of things learnt so far in maintenance was so thoughtful... thank you for sharing... it really does help knowing what works/ doesn't work for others as it can shed light on my own process ... Tomorrow is the big day, eh??? Have fun!!!
Can't really weigh in too much on the weight fluctuation. I never weighed myself the day after a free day (way too scary for me) and the rest of the week tried to keep it in a 3 pound window. I had a 'scary number'- roughly 5 above where I liked to be that would require an immediate Phase 1 day if it showed up... but it was fairly rare... I maybe should have picked a 'floor' number because my window dropped by 3 pounds twice... Perhaps an indication that I wasn't eating enough? Then inched my way back up to my ceiling number and surpassed it when I wasn't near a scale and kept going. Then went back. Then kept going. Then went back. Then kept going. Currently in the process of going back again. Lesson learnt. I need a scale. Wherever I go, whatever I do.
Paint Lady- I feel exactly as you do... summer was by far the most challenging time to maintain and adhere as strictly to the program as I should... I tried to keep it pretty reasonable but it was definitely not anywhere close to where it should be. Ahh, well, clobbering it with a reboot does indeed work
Patns- I agree with the importance of keeping protein up... it's amazing how it can affect weight and degree of hunger...
PurpleSky- it truly is a time of whatever works... happy to hear that you've found a medium that is working for you... and so true about the disappointing treats- it's like spending a lot of money thinking you're getting a great product only to have it break the first day you have it...
Novoscents- Yay!!!! Thank you for agreeing to participate in a challenge! I found them to be quite helpful with establishing good habits in maintenance when we were doing them last year... And it seems that reinforcing those good habits thru keeping up the challenges is also a good plan...
MamaZu- sorry to hear about the nasty reaction to the tomatoes... it really is too bad when they are in such abundance for you... do you can them at all?
Determined!!- You're back too!! Right on! Rebooting as well from the sounds of it? Yep, when summer is fun fall has to be focused Right there with you...

I had a Phase 2 day today... back to Phase 1 tomorrow... sixes are fitting nicely but still have muffin top in the fours Going to try reintroducing more strenuous exercise come Phase 2 (next week)... love the feeling of 'lightness' in Phase 1 but not the lack of energy...

[QUOTE=Maile;4444574]Determined: Since you are up early and working on it..I hope you have good day. I also wake up early also thinking of things I need to do.


Ishbel:My 3 pound range is my morning daily weight. I adjust my eating depending on what I weigh. This is not the norm here..but it works for me.
Your trip is tomorrow. Have a great time.

Purple Sky and New Englander: It is funny that you mention Taco Bell. I drove my son through a drive through and found myself wanting a cheesey bean burrito grilled. Did not have it but really thought about it.

Mamazu: it is so hard to give up something that is healthy and yummy like summer tomatoes..but you seemed to have observed a reaction to them.

Cap: Living thin in a fat world was excellent. I like that . Maintenance is not easy in this world. Plus your comment about looking normal and being expected to eat "normal" ie high carb and sugar..is so true. You are right..maintaining thiness after being fat..is very different from someone who has been thin all of their lives. although, many of the always thin people I know do monitor their weight closely...but I think they do not have the reservoir of deep emotional fears that we have dealt with.

So good news at work.. No one is commenting on my weight and giving me advice. Can they really be used to me?

Here is my thought for the day.

" My stomach is full, but my mind is not. My stomach is full, but my mind is hungry." Stop, stop and listen to that stomach.
I found myself wanting to eat more of a dish..and that is when I told myself that I was full..now just get the mind to cooperate.

Thanks for e acknowledgement ladies. Amazing after only one day off of tomatoes I already feel incredibly better! I consciously ate very low acid veggies today, what a difference!
And yes, Cap, I will be freezing some sauce for down the road...

Yup summer got 15 from me too...especially after maintaining for a full year...I am so mad at myself....but I still have 3 more events to attend and then it is full phase one from Labor Day to Columbus Day.

Darbs: Good luck on the next 3 events. I hope you enjoy them. Your plan of Phase 1 on Labor Day sounds like a good one. You are still focused on keeping this weight off.

Ishbel: I loved reading about what you have learned about maintenance. Thanks for sharing.

Cap: fitting your size 6s shows that your efforts are working. Great job. I would do a challenge with you!

Lian: If you have naot gained weight from a Fun day, there is no need to do a Phase 1.

Mamazu< I am glad you are feeling better. Freezing is a good idea.

Have a great day everyone.

Coming out of lurkdom/stalkdom to say I want to do the challenge after next! I don't start P4 though for another week...a little too soon for the next one...

Btw, I follow this thread like a crazy stalker!!

MamaZu - yellow tomatoes are lower in acid...I feel bad that you can't indulge during the garden season...

lizz WOOT WOOT for you getting into maintenance, I look forward to your posts in here!

oops! I'm up for a challenge!

Thanks for 'weighing in' on your fluctuation. I don't generally weigh in after fun day, I weigh in daily so my day after Phase 1 day and to the morning of fun day is a 3-4 lb fluctuation. I have to admit I feel more in control a few lbs under goal but I'm scared that I'll get addicted to seeing that 'lowest number'.

BUT, I doubt I'll have to worry about THAT when I'm back on the 8 Sept...until then...unless I have wifi...HERE WE GO!

PS...nervous about not having my scale...but I'll have fun and do my best and that's all I can do!

..tis a guid day....t'day a'm off tae veesit Scotland....t'day a'm gaunnae gang hame.

See you lighter!

Anyone else find they have MAJOR sensitivity to weight gain? For instance, I had two meals out this weekend - one was boneless wings and fries, the other was a chicken fried chicken with hash brown casserole. The next day or two I ate pretty well (low carb, no alcohol, etc.) and still managed to gain almost 3 full pounds. I don't think much of it was water weight, either, as I've seen most of my gains in maintenance to be almost entirely fat.

I don't know if it's just me - I suppose my body could still be confused by going from super healthy to eating things that aren't as good for me... or if it's the foods I'm eating in particular. But either way its stressing me out! I try to remind myself that 136 isn't much worse than 133, but its hard to not get discouraged.

I do want to get back to making sure I get in enough protein - that has been one of my major slip ups since moving into Phase 4. I just have a hard time cutting the carbs as I live for things like bread, fries, etc.... I know in moderation most things are fine, but it seems to be a bigger challenge than I expected.

Sorry for the random rant. Sometimes it helps to just get it out!

Has anyone noticed how exercise makes them NOT hungry?

Before this diet exercise would make me STARVING so I'd always drink a muscle milk after, but now it has the opposite effect (LOVE THAT!).