Question for those maintaining... - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

DanafromAustin · 03-31-2012, 10:53 AM

I will be on phase 1 till probably sometime this summer, so I'm thinking way ahead here. Is there anyone out there who is maintaining that hasn't let grains back into their life?

I ask this question because, probably like many here, I was addicted to grain products, and now having been on IP for six months, I don't miss them at all. Also after reading a lot about diet and what's healthy and what's not, I really don't feel like grains have a place in my regular diet anymore, so why would I want to introduce them back in starting on phase 3. I will enjoy them on my free day on phase 4, but I don't want them on a regular basis. I've only started thinking about this as I watch my daughter eat her two slices of whole grain bread for breakfast now that she is on phase 3. Where once all I craved is bread, and now it doesn't even appeal to me. I'm seriously looking into the paleo/primal diet as my maintaining diet.

TIA

darbs7 · 03-31-2012, 12:40 PM

I was in maintenance from Memorial Day 2011 to New Year's this year and maintained very well. I took off every Friday from 5pm until Sunday at noon. The rest of the week...I followed phase 1 two days and then the rest of the days I ate 2 eggs for breakfast, salad/meat/cheese at lunch and dinner was meat and veggie...snacks were yogurt and nuts.

But my cheats did involve carbs but limited. I never really introduced sweets back too much...and I tended to eat less carbs on cheats than you would think.

So the last two months....I forgot all of that and gained about 12/15 pounds the last 2 months....so I am on day 7 of a phase1/2 reboot...hoping to at least make another 10 days before my first non-phase1/2 day.

HOpe this helps

Sewmam · 03-31-2012, 01:04 PM

I just started Phase 4, so I'm no expert, but there are other complex carbs beyond grains. Beans, squash. Maybe you could just build on that.

patns · 03-31-2012, 01:14 PM

I am working to get onto phase 3. I would really like to get a few more pounds off but thought my March break would be a good time to transition to phase 3. But I was super cautious as I am intolerant to both grains and diary.

So I tried two days of phase 3 last weekend having yogurt made from goat's milk and Ezekiel bread for breakfast and was up two pounds in two days.

So I put phase 3 on the back burner for a while.

I have not had wheat for years as it totally drains me of all energy. So I knew there is no way I could add that back anyway.

Many people post when people are having cravings that these foods will still be there when we hit maintenance.

The reality is that in some cases they won't be there because there are foods which caused us to be out of control in the first place.

For me I know the safest grain for me is oats so I will add that back first and then move onto brown rice and see how that goes.

I have got the two pound gain off, I seem to be just maintaining on phase 1. I have been at 129 for two months now.

But I am in a stressful situation at the moment with serious unexpected health issues with hubby and also with my elderly mother.

So phase 1 is easier for me at the moment and I don't want to wake the carb monster again at this point in time.
So if my body is getting a new set point by remaining at the same weight for months it is way better to do that at 120 than at 200.

I think you will be able to monitor what grains will do for you as you watch carefully what happens when you gradually add them back in phase 3.

Pat

DanafromAustin · 03-31-2012, 05:42 PM

Thanks so much for the feedback. Of course I still have lots of time to plan and think about this, but it's nice to know I will have options. Just don't ever want to go back to where I started. Thanks!

Momto2cs · 03-31-2012, 07:42 PM

I maintained most of last year on a paleo/low carb diet. If I felt up I just reverted back to phase 1 for a few day.
I never added grais or fruit back, except for unexpected events.
I know that to maintain I will always need to limit carbs and sugar.

Maile · 04-01-2012, 11:13 AM

I only have one grain a day..a high protein low carb cereal or bread. Other than that I stay away from grains. I do eat squash and legumes. I cannot return to grains and sugar.

DanafromAustin · 04-01-2012, 11:48 AM

I'm feeling more confident now thanks to all of you for your feedback. Last night we were out to dinner and the waitress brought over the dreaded bread basket. While I don't miss bread, I also knew that if I had a slice, it would be hard for me to stop. I think other than my free day (when I eventually get there) it will be best for me to just stay away from grains all together.