I’m at my goal size (I don’t weigh. Scales make me a crazy person.) I also had my body fat % checked by calipers last week, after asking around town who does it accurately, and so know I know that is what feels “right” and healthy for me, and I’ll get it re-tested in 2023 around 1 year into this, out of curiosity. I do lift and walk and now run again, bike, and do yoga, so maybe it’ll shift down slowly. Maybe not. Either is okay.
Everything in my closet fits and the larger sizes are in a box in long-term storage or they got tossed. I celebrated by buying myself two new bras in vivid colors. I have plenty of jeans, shorts, and t-shirts that fit, one dress, and that’s all I need for my casual lifestyle. I wouldn’t mind taking another inch or two off my belly, but I suspect that will happen slowly without my doing anything but staying the course for the next year.
I’m eating almost carnivore. Vegetables have never bothered me, I never had IBS or immune disorders, and I do enjoy a nice homegrown tomato, so I eat one twice a week. I find I love the simplicity of shopping and cooking with carnivore. I often eat the same meals all week long. I thought I’d be bored. I’m not! I’m not even sure it’s possible to get bored with bacon, but I’ll let you know if it ever happens. I bought extra beef fat at a butcher and am adding an ounce or two to my steak every night, as they cut too danged much fat off them these days! I shop the meat sales and it’s not at all expensive. I do eat dairy; it doesn’t trigger me or puff me up or anything. Without it, I’d have a hard time eating enough calories to avoid further lowering of metabolic rate. I prefer semi-soft cheeses, mozzarella or asadero from the Mexican grocer.
I was worried about maintenance, and I was worried about the six month mark, which is historically a point when I can slide away from my plan. But I’m six weeks away from that, and I honestly don’t think it will be a problem if I’m not 1) eating fruits or any nut flours and 2) limiting veg to what I can grow, and only two servings per week. I’m no longer interested in adding back more “healthy” carbs and eating whole 30, which I’ve done in the past, because it always seems to lead to a slow spiral up to too many carbs and fat regain. To repeat the same action over and over and expect a different result… Right?
I’ve cycled up and down the same two sizes for 25 years, since I first found low carb, and this time, my skin did not come with me. It may tighten up over the next year, but it may not. So peeps, GET THIS DONE and figure out how to maintain before the age of 65! This time, nope. My own fault. The best I can say of my last 25 years is: I never let it get too far out of control (could have been cycling four sizes, not two!), and I was low-carb enough of that time that my blood work is always exemplary. So I give myself a C+ average over 25 years.
But I’m A+ now, which is nice. And feeling I can eat this way forever, which is nicer.