INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The Lifetime Maintenance is designed as a long-term plan of healthy eating habits. Continue to follow the guidelines of this phase for life. As during the other phases of the Atkins Diet, you are encouraged to eat proteinsred meat, fish, pork, poultry, etc. In addition, 12-15 grams of your net carbs per day should still come from low-carb, "foundational" vegetables. The net carbs you consume should still not exceed the new CCLL you set during the pre-maintenance phase. As a rule of thumb, you can consume no more than 90-120 grams of net carbs per day if you exercise. However, you will have a better chance of maintaining your weight if you remain at your re-maintenance level CCLL. You may need to alter your carbohydrates up and down depending on your weight and how it fluctuates.

SUMMARY: Begin the fourth phase, Lifetime Maintenance once you reach your target weight. Focus your menu plan on proteins and low carb vegetables. Continue to monitor your carb intake.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you're ever confused when you're writing, test each word to see if it makes sense in the context of your sentence. Try asking yourself these questions as you write to find the correct word: If I write the word "next" instead of "then," will the sentence still make sense? "I will go to the store next" makes sense, so here we would say "I will go to the store then." If I write the phrase "in comparison to" instead of the word "than," will the sentence still make sense? "A used car costs less in comparison to a new car" makes sense, so you'd want to say "It costs less than a new car." The best way to get used to the different uses of then and than is to use them in context. Try writing a brief comparative essay to help you get used to than. Then, try writing out a set of instructions to practice your use of then. Pay attention to your use of then and than in your everyday writing, too. Set aside a few extra minutes to proofread your essays, letters, school work, and documents so that you can check for the correct usage. You can even look for then and than quizzes and exercises online to help you test your usage. Phonetically speaking, native speakers of English use the schwa (, kind of like a soft "eh" sound) because it's more efficient in daily conversations. Consequently, lots of "a"s and "e"s are not pronounced distinctly. However, taking the time to pronounce the words distinctly can help reinforce their use in your mind. Try saying than with your mouth opened wide and the tongue pressed down toward your teeth. The vowel sounds from the back of the mouth and the throat is somewhat constricted. Say then with your mouth partially opened. The vowel rises from a relaxed throat and the tongue rests.

SUMMARY: Test your usage. Practice writing with then and than frequently. Pronounce the words differently.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In the event you and your guy friend do end up as more than friends, you'll have to work to establish extra intimacy. In order to make it clear you're now more than friends, work to show you care. Leave your guy friend surprises. Write him a special note telling him how much you care. Buy him a small present now and then. Be more physically affectionate. Seek to hold hands and cuddle when you're together. Sometimes, the transition between friends and more than friends can be confusing. It's a good idea to take measures to make sure your guy friend knows you want the relationship as much as he does. It may be easier to communicate openly when you started out as friends. You can have open, honest discussions with your partner about what you want out of the relationship, and what expectations you have regarding a romantic relationship. At first, you may have to reassure your partner a lot that you want the relationship. Let your partner know about once a week for the first few months you're happy to be more than friends. Another way to solidify the transition is altering how you socialize. Try to stay together at parties. Interact with mutual friends as a couple instead of one-on-one. At parties, stay in the same conversations rather than talking to people individually. You'll feel more like a couple than friends if you start doing things as a "we" instead of a "you" and a "me." It can take time for a friendship to feel like a romance. Try not to have high expectations in regards to what your relationship will look like. It will take awhile to feel like more than friends, and there may be awkward or confusing interactions along the way. If you're committed to being more than friends, allow the transition to happen gradually. Stay patient and remember, if you really care about this person, the relationship will be worth it in the long run.

SUMMARY:
Show you care. Reassure your guy friend you want the relationship. Socialize as a team. Have patience.