Question about Low Carb/Atkins

Rebecca_MT
Rebecca_MT Posts: 25 Member
edited November 20 in Health and Weight Loss
I started eating low carb (under 20grams a day) 5 days ago and am down 3.4lbs. I honestly really like it and can see myself doing this until I finish my weight loss and to slowly build myself up into maintenance. (A little background: I had my daughter 3 months ago, am down 40lbs and have another 25lbs to go for my goal. However I'm only 7lbs away from my prepregnancy weight). Long story short I always hear about how people gain once they finish eating low carb. Is that true even if you track your calories and eat at maintenance? I weigh all of my food so it's discouraging to think that even eating at a healthy calorie count could eventually make me gain the weight back because I include carbs again. Any insight?

Replies

  • MichelleSilverleaf
    MichelleSilverleaf Posts: 2,027 Member
    I think the reason most people gain weight back whenever they do a diet like keto or atkins or whatever purely for the weight loss is they go back to eating freely. If you go to eating at your maintenance, there's no way to gain weight unless you suddenly develop a medical problem or are eating more than you need. If you feel you can eat low carb the rest of your life, then do so. If you feel that you can slowly transition out of low carb when you've reached your goal weight, then do so.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    I regained 2kgs when i went back to moderate carbs from low carb. It was water weight which eventually dropped back off, not fat weight.

    You're right, if you continue to weigh and log your food and up your carbs when you get to maintenance you won't regain the weight you lost.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    MichelleSilverleaf wrote: »
    I think the reason most people gain weight back whenever they do a diet like keto or atkins or whatever purely for the weight loss is they go back to eating freely. If you go to eating at your maintenance, there's no way to gain weight unless you suddenly develop a medical problem or are eating more than you need. If you feel you can eat low carb the rest of your life, then do so. If you feel that you can slowly transition out of low carb when you've reached your goal weight, then do so.

    Ditto this. If you go back to the way you ate while gaining, you will probably gain again. You'll need to learn how to moderate your calories without low carb if you stop eating LCHF.

    There is also the option to continue low carb if it works for you. But again, you can gain weight if you eat too much while low carb too.

    I find it easier to control my calories while low carb. I rarely overeat meat and veggies. ;) It helps my health so I stick with it.
  • Rebecca_MT
    Rebecca_MT Posts: 25 Member
    edited August 2017
    Thank you everyone! That makes more sense, I was concerned though because people make it seem like if you stop eating low carb it all comes back. It's nice to know that's not the case if you still moderate what you eat.
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