phase and quickly switch to OWL until you again reach your goal weight. Do this and you will never have more than 5 pounds to lose.
The Nitty-Gritty of Maintenance
What you should be asking yourself is " What level of carbohydrate consumption do I feel best on?" That ' s a more rational goal than trying to find the highest number of carbs you can get away with. This may mean you actually stay slightly below your CCLM. Many people find they feel better on a low level of carbs-perhaps only 30 or 35 grams a day-than they do on the most liberal version of the plan. That might be two salads and a couple of helpings of other vegetables. Together with satisfying portions of protein and fat, such an approach could provide good nutrition if you were vigilant about opting for nutrient-dense foods.
Other people feel best on twice that amount of carbohydrate and have the metabolism to support it. That is why CCLMs can vary so greatly from one person to another. This is your opportunity to individualize a perfect eating plan for yourself. Remember, your best carbohydrate level is the one on which you can be happiest and healthiest without experiencing cravings and regaining weight.
===================================================================== Rules of Lifetime Maintenance
• Adhere to your Critical Carbohydrate Level for Maintenance( CCLM).
• Continue to eat natural, unprocessed, nutrient-dense carbohydrates.
• Exercise regularly.
• Continue to take nutritional supplements, modifying your regimen to meet your needs.
• Develop a strategy for dealing with temptation.
• Never let yourself get more than 5 pounds above your goal weight. =====================================================================
A Lifetime of Delicious Meals
What most of my patients discover by the time they reach the Lifetime Maintenance phase of Atkins is how endlessly varied, rich and satisfying this way of eating is.
Donna Miller, who came to see me a couple of years ago drained of all energy, beset with allergies and 30 pounds overweight, had always been a bread, bagels and pizza freak. In four months, she went from being a size 12( almost bursting at the seams, as she admitted) to being a size 8. In addition, her energy returned almost as soon as we took her off of wheat, sugar and milk. But what was she going to eat?
She was a resourceful woman, and I hope her eating plan sounds as attractive to you as it does to me. For breakfast now she often eats smoked salmon and a small salad or two scrambled eggs with tofu. For lunch, she ' ll stir-fry or steam vegetables the way the Japanese do, and with them she ' ll have corned beef or a lean hamburger patty or some fish. For dinner, along with chicken,
136