It is time to go to maintance for me. It was time awile ago but I have a hard time getting my self over the induction amount. I have to try and tell my self that it is ok to move up the latter.

Yes, and I'll tell you, too: it's OK to move up the ladder!

I moved from 20 a day to 25 a day, and now close to 30 a day. I have not gained weight back doing this, and I am enjoying the fact that I can eat blueberries, the occasional piece of low carb toast, etc.!

How about trying it for two weeks and seeing what happens?

Well, I was stuck in wieght having lost and gained the same 10lb for like 6 or 7 months, so I have recently moved to SB. It is naturally higher in carbs and the weight is simply melting away. It is obviously wise of me to mention that it is lower in fat too, but I am still having fat, just not plentiful amounts like I was before.
However, I seriously do think you should move through the stages I think my problem on atkins was I was terrified of moving up the ladder, and therefore I slowed my metabolism right down in not doing so.

I quit counting altogether. I eat foods that are healthy low carb choices. I watch my portions. I never have "seconds". I don't fret over a little cheat. I eat three meals a day and snack only when I must.

I second what black57 said. I snack a little bit more but have a similar philosophy for maintaining. Maintenence is a time to move on and live your life with your LC eating habbits. Do you want to micro manage forever or do you just want to live your life and be slim without dietary vigelance?

I think in your case, you lost a lot of weight quickly without testing the waters. Maybe you are not ready for maintenance. You know how to use the plan to loose weight but have not yet learned to live with the plan. This will come with more time and experience. My advise for you would be to follow out the phases of your plan. You have got to get comfortable with food again.

I feel your pain! I recently went back to Induction after being stalled for several weeks...I'm still at Induction levels today, but have added in nuts (yesterday), occasional yogurt...that's about it. Now, here comes TOM with its usual gain. So I don't know which way to go at this point. I reckon I'll stay where I am for right now and then move on up to 25g per day when my TOM wtgain is gone next week.

I'm about 8-9 lbs from goal...circumstances have always prevented my moving up the ladder. Hope I haven't waited too long now!

Can staying in induction too long or down at that low of carbs to long realy hert your metabolism ?

I don't feel as tho I'm "micro managing" nor "white knuckling"( per another post) it.

Maintanance is indeed learned and some people need to learn that through the tools provided with the plan...not just thrown into maintanance with a "good luck" given for good measure.

I went through the ladder because that's the way the plan is written. With the help of the ladder I was able to learn how foods effect me and how to back down when I've went over my 5 lb buffer.

It's about learning to let this plan work for me and it is. I'm one of the least strict when it comes to maintanance, I do not count anything, I have my endulgences and make choices that work for me. But I do it, because I worked up to it and finally feel comfortable in it working.

Each of us need to go about maintaining in our own way and not be told that the way we're doing it is "dietary vigilance" or made to feel bad because we need to be taught how to maintain.

well I have gone off my plan for a few days and so far no weight gain. Last night I has some KFC chicken with out any weight gain today. I do not want to over do it though.