I am looking for advice on losing the last 20 pounds. Not pre-maintenance, not maintenance -- I'm not there yet. But I am finally acknowledging that it appears I need some experienced advice in how to tweak the basic lc way of eating enough to lose these last pounds.

I have had good success with Atkins since I began on July 7, 2003. I stayed on induction for five months. I went up to 30 carbs a day and stayed there for a good while, but avoided bars, shakes, bake mixes, and lc processed foods. I use stevia for sweetening iced drinks; avoid other sweeteners or other sweet foods most of the time. I stopped losing weight months ago, but kept losing inches, and feeling/looking more toned. I love this way of eating and feel fantastic. Significant aches and pains and little health problems melted away along with the pounds. (I am 53, by the way.)

I love drinking water and drink close to a gallon most days. I love lc eating. I love the delicious, rich food, and the freedom from inner struggle over amounts of anything but carbs. I promised myself to stick with my "long, lean project" when I began this, and I also promised myself no misery, no unnecessary deprivation.

In February I found I was willing to try an experiment of two weeks without any of the known stallers: no sweeteners (not even Stevia), no bars, shakes, mixes, smoked or processed meats, creams or cheeses, etc. I lost two pounds, and they have stayed off, but I also realized that I would not be willing to commit to that kind of eating for the long haul -- it edged toward deprivation, and it took major effort to maintain it in the real world. I would not have that energy and commitment for a lifetime.

Yet I still want and need to lose more weight/size in order to have good body fat and lean body mass percentages, and even to get in the middle of the (inflated) "normal" weight range for my age.

Four weeks ago I stumbled on this post: http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthre...&threadid=29683
and with great excitement began the fitness part of Body for Life. I stayed with lc eating but upped carbs to 45 -- that's a good level for lifting weights intensively three times a week. The visible body reshaping and confidence boost from this precise program are astounding -- I am deeply excited about how these four hours a week are changing my life for the better. Because of the way the reshaping works (heavier muscles replacing lighter fat) I am considering changing my eventual goal weight up somewhat, but even so I still need and want to lose at least 20 pounds and 1 1/2 - 2 more sizes.

So I ask for advice from people who have successfully negotiated those last 20 pounds after losing significantly more than that on Atkins. What, if anything, did you change? (Within the lc framework, I mean).

The Maintenance Club is not much help, not quite right yet, and it is not a very active forum. Hoping this forum, which has helped me so many, many times, still attracts people who have experienced success with the challenge I face now.

Thanks to all!