2ride: Good to hear from you. Cap is going to set up the challenge.

New England: I am not rebooting..just staying away from sugar. I am stabler if I do not eat sugar.

We just had a fair here last weekend..all of my students came to school exhausted..but loved the fair.
Darbs: Hope Phase 1 goes well today!

Good so far...eating my lunch right now. Our students start tomorrow. What do you teach? I teach high school Earth science to 9/10th grades and environmental to 11/12th grades.

Well - looks like y'all have another 1st week Phase 4 freak out on your hands...LOL! I am getting a little antsy with the scale - didn't think I went super nuts on my 'cheat day', followed by the Phase 1 day - I actually stayed at 138 (home scale) the entire time, which was reassuring. Then yesterday I jumped up to 142, and today jumped up again to 145! I don't usually freak out over scale jumps like this, especially when they are this fast & furious, for no discernable reason. But honestly - I haven't been bad, not sure if it's 'water' or the new class at the gym I'm taking, the major increase in my exercise, my body reacting to new foods...or WHAT! I'm going to stick closer to Phase 3, I admit to indulging in a spoonful of peanut butter as part of my snack - not a jar, a spoonful, as that was one thing I had missed - but will be cutting back down and see what the next week holds for me.

I am actually going to San Antonio this weekend and missing my meeting with my coach - I went ahead and ordered a fancy Omrom Body Composition scale so I can keep track of other indicators, as I am more concerned with body fat than the scale number - so I don't want to freak out too much until I can get a true picture of what is going on. My dad is already getting excited when I mentioned that I can drink again (I was his #1 buddy), don't think I will be going too nuts on another cheat day this weekend if I don't see any changes before we leave on Friday though.

Hi, First, I think it's great you don't freak out over the scale when you know it's not true fat! That's easier said than done and I need to either 1. stay off the scale, or 2. not let it affect my emotions at all.

I quoted the portion above because I think it's great that you have a tight relationship with your dad. My dad likes to sit down for a drink or two and it's awesome to get him telling me stories of his childhood and all. I cherish it!!! Very cool! Enjoy!!!

So, today is day 5 of my reboot and I'm down. YAH!!! Gonna go post an update in the reboot section. Hope everyone is doing well!!!

LizRR it is just water weight fluctuations. Consider one or two serious phase 1 day. It will flush. Out.

I returned to my coach to get weighed today. I decided if I am going to stick to phase 1 then I need to have fear of the scale. I am up 9 pounds since spring (really since early August). As usual my muscle mass is up. This becomes a frustrating cycle!

Maintains is really a unending cycle of gains and losses. The smaller you can get the fluctuations the better...

Well, I am two and a half weeks out from Phase 4, but now that I am closer to Phase 3 the anxiety is starting to pick up and my questions are swirling. I will be on this board in no time and probably asking a lot of questions in the first few weeks.

However, I did want to ask a question going into Phase 3. Does anyone have a recommended cereal? I am trying to not have bread in my life too much as it's an enemy of mine. I will have toast intermittently, but I am looking for a different grain to eat instead. Any thoughts?

Thank you for the support you provide everyone as it's been helpful just reading through the thread in preparation.

Congrats on joining maintenance!!! I remember being anxious too, and I have to remind myself to trust the plan. It really does work when it's followed!!! You'll do great!!!

Sorry no cereal tips here, and would love to hear what recommendations are out there. I do Sara Lee whole wheat bread in P4, would like an alternative "carb"!

MAINTENANCE CHALLENGE STARTS: MONDAY SEPTEMBER 10!!!
The maintenance challenge is set up on www.fatsecret.com if you are not yet a member on there and would like to participate in the challenge please join. The way fat secret works you cannot join the challenge after it has already begun so you must join sometime between now and Sunday if you'd like to participate. I found the challenges we did over the course of last fall/ winter to be very helpful in ingraining good habits. Here' s to reinforcing those good habits (and developing them for those who are newer to maintenance )

Maile- I incorporated your emotional well being question into the challenge... thought that was a great one! Maile you have always set such a good example and while I know your calm in maintenance comes at a price of time and preparation... thank you, thank you, thank you... for being that steady rock in maintenance... you are such a shining example of how it should be done...
Mom2cs- Have to agree with your summation of maintenance. It has been a series of ups and downs keeping those two equal and as small as possible does indeed seem to be the name of the game. Good for you for going back to your coach you're totally right that being held accountable to the scale is so important.
Darbs- congrats on recommitting. You seem to be doing very well so far! Keep up the great work...
2ride- I posted the info for the challenge above. I do hope that you will join again. It is comforting to have so many of us that have been on the program for so long still kicking around. Loved your pic of race day! Knowing how much you dislike exercise it is so great to see you undertaking the task of finding something that is workable with your life! Such an inspiration...
NewEnglander- Wooohoooo!!! So happy for you that the scale is moving in the right direction and that you are doing well with your reboot! I've always wanted to visit RI it just sounds beautiful there...
Sneuse & Novoscents- thanks for the support with my 'issue'. Went to the dr. today and he said it isn't that worrisome that it is probably hormonal and switched my bc from the ring to the patch in the hopes that this will help balance things.
I hope both of you will be joining the challenge?
LizRR- my 2 cents have already been stated... but when I first started maintenance I strove to always be within a 2 pound window of goal. If I was outside of that window I Phase 1'd til I saw it again. Usually took two days sometimes 3...
Chicagoboiler- Look for no sugar and a very small ingredient list to ensure that it has been processed as little as possible. Oatmeal, oat bran, fibre one bran. Kashi also has some that are lower in carbs/ calories...

Hi, Maintainers.
I am coming out of lurkdom to officially join your ranks and tap into your expertise. I started Phase 4 on 8/11, while on vacation.

I actually lost weight that week, as I stuck to the spirit of the plan but didn't always get meals in for a variety of reasons. Once back, I am following the P4 rules as written.

Now cutting way back on the cardio and trying to build muscle mass.
But, although the home scale shows me cycling between 116 and 118 and body fat cycling between 23.5 and 25, I have this unhappy thing happening to my lower abdomen. It is pooging a bit as well as this roll of mostly loose skin and some fat at my waist. I mean sheesh you can count my ribs and see my clavicles.

Is this shifting normal? Will it even out a bit more? Will Novilax help?

I really do want to add some lean mass and do understand the scale weight will go up, but I thought it would make me look better (and be able to have a little more wiggle room in overall calories).

My "free" days have been really low key (eating when I want, a little light on protein, adding carbs like popcorn or brownies and ice cream, nothing crazy). I have had a glass of wine a few times with dinner. I've still been having a packet for snack and/or an alternative. I usually have only 1 or 2 snacks.
Breakfast is typical P3: 1/2c (uncooked) oatmeal, 1T peanutbutter, 1c strawberries, and 1c fat free fage yogurt. I mix up the veggies and mix up the dinner carbs and typically measure (I am trying to learn to "eyeball" so sometimes that is what I do).

Any ideas? I will be talking to my coach tomorrow.

Thanks.

Okay I signed up....I started Monday. I feel ketosis today.

It is depressing how even a few extra carbs can cause the abdominal bloat.

Re look at your diet and make sure you are getting sufficient protein and fat. You may want to forgo fat free products as they usually have extra sugar.

Building muscle mass takes time. How often are you working out?

Some people are very carb sensitive, especially to wheat.

One more thing-lean muscle mass burns a very small amount more calories. I wouldn't expect it to give much flexibility in intake, or at least this is my experience...

Darbs: I teach English as a second language to K - 5 who are low in English. I am also implementing a new reading program to ESL kids . You are have your hands full with lots of high school classes. I have kids also.

Liz: It most like it water..You fast and furious scale comment was so true. Hang in there. You can go up 3-5 pounds on water..and it will come off!

New England: glad your reboot is working and that the scale is going down.

Momsto2: I just read a quote by a maintainer..She said, " I am destined to lose and gain the same 5 pounds for the rest of my life." That is so true..You are right..the smaller the window the better...and there will always be ups and downs. Sorry about your building muscle vs the scale battle..frustrating.

Info: I am not sure about the lower abdomen..but working out and strength training helped me.

Cap: Thanks so much for setting up the challenge. It helps me stay focused!!!!!