Maintenance is tough, it's a super fine line for me.

Typically, I avoid ALL fat in food. Recently, however, I have noticed that some fat helps with maintenance/loss.

On days where I stick to Protein and small to moderate amounts of fat, I either lose a pond or two or maintain.

On days where I allow a small amount of carbs, even if healthy carbs, I can gain 1-2 lbs by the next day.

Is this unusual?

I understand that some fat is needed to absorb certain nutrients & Vitamins so maybe that is a contributing factor??

Well this is weird to me, since I lost most of my weight eating Keto, high fat, and basically no carbs.

Your body needs good fats, you have no biological need for carbs. If you are a female and you want young healthy looking skin, you need fat in your diet. There is a reason I look 10 to 12 years younger than I am. FAT.

So you basically eat just pure protein each day? What are your macros like, on a normal day?

She talks a lot about diet here, don't be mislead by the title.

Kudos for being so strict. My NUT believes in more balance. I'm allowed 2 multigrain servings a day and 2 fruit servings a day plus 3 healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, nut butters, avocado).

Maintaining iS tough and recently I started a HFLC eating plan. I have three meals a day compared to the three and two snacks I did have and I feel satisfied for longer. It's only been a ten days but my skin has really improved from being very dry to what I would consider normal and healthy. I haven't weighed myself as I am not trying it for weight loss rather a new way to maintain.

Kate

4 hours ago, TheRealMeIsHere! said:

On days where I allow a small amount of carbs, even if healthy carbs, I can gain 1-2 lbs by the next day.

Is this unusual?

This is quite normal. When doing a low carb diet, one's glycogen (short term carbohydrate energy stores) levels are being kept at their minimal level in the hope that the body will burn fat instead. On average, the body will keep around 2 lb of glycogen on board, which is kept in solution by about 8 lb of water. The body wants to get those glycogen levels back where they should be if tehy are low, so any additional carbohydrate consumption beyond ones normal minimal "low carb diet" level will result in some quick short term water weight gain. The amount is limited, and doesn't happen if one is on a normally balanced human diet. I never ran into this particular issue as i kept the carbohydrates and fats in relative balance throughout the whole process, so my glycogen levels, and associated water weight, never yo-yo'd all that much (that, and I couldn't afford the side effects of the overly low-carb/keto type diets.)

The flip side of this is when marathoners carbo-load before an event by loading up on pasta, etc. - they are trying to maximize their glycogen levels to improve their endurance.

@RickM thank you for all the info!! I will definitely be reading more about that.

@_Kate_, me to, I think. I've been doing low carb, low fat, high protein but it seems I may need to add more fat to my diet. I'm hoping that will make maintenance less of a tightrope, lol

@TheRealMeIsHere!

Keep in touch and let me know how you get on!

Kate

@OutsideMatchInside, yes primarily fat free protein sources and low carb veggies, such as lettuce, cukes, radishes, spinach, kale, etc.....

On 3/6/2017 at 1:08 PM, Airstream88 said:

Kudos for being so strict. My NUT believes in more balance. I'm allowed 2 multigrain servings a day and 2 fruit servings a day plus 3 healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, nut butters, avocado).

I actually CRAVE meat, protein & non-starchy veggies. Rarely, bread, pasta, rice potatoes, sugar, etc..... so it's not so much being strict. That is why I knew I wouldn't have a problem following my NUT's/surgeon's program.

I know it seems crazy to some people but there are lots of us that have never liked carbs to begin with so not eating them is not a sacrifice. I have never liked pasta, or rice. I only ate bread with sandwiches so that is easy to give up if I can have the meat inside. Not eating carbs for me isn't a sacrifice, it is a pleasure.

20 minutes ago, OutsideMatchInside said:

I know it seems crazy to some people but there are lots of us that have never liked carbs to begin with so not eating them is not a sacrifice. I have never liked Pasta, or rice. I only ate bread with sandwiches so that is easy to give up if I can have the meat inside. Not eating carbs for me isn't a sacrifice, it is a pleasure.

Same here! I noticed, even in childhood that carbs were not satisfying. My mom would take us to IHOP, first, I noticed that pancakes or juice on an empty stomach caused (what I know now) symptoms of low blood sugar. I was the kid with steak & eggs at IHOP, lol!!!

Then, into adulthood, I would see that if I had eggs & meat for breakfast, I felt great & satisfied. If I had the same breakfast but added toast and/or potatoes, I was hungry very quickly.

Now, when I eat dense protein, a little fills me up and keeps me satisfied, therefore consuming fewer calories in the long run. If I eat protein with veggies such as a salad, it is less satisfying.

I did used to enjoy a good Italian sub or ham & cheese sandwich, which I now re-create with salads, all of the flavor and none of the bread (which really adds nothing for me anymore)

I feel almost 'dirty' if I eat bread, pasta, rice, etc.... though I will, rarely, take a bite, never a full or even half a serving