The pre-maintenance diet is started usually when a person comes within 10lbs. of their goal weight. It is the diet that allows you to slowly increase your carb consumption until you are no longer losing weight. The idea is to reach this level of carbohydrates as you reach your goal weight. The lifetime maintenance diet is what you are on for the rest of you life. During the pre-maintenance diet, you found where you ideal carbohydrate intake is. That is how many carbs you are allowed during the lifetime maintenance diet. Part of the maintenance diet is to also monitor your current weight. Our bodies change over time, and your tolerance level for carbohydrates may also change causing you to lose or gain weight. If you lose weight, you can always increase your carb intake. If you gain weight (5 lbs or more from your ideal weight), then it is time to go back onto the Induction diet, where you can easily lose the weight in a week or two. The nice part of the lifetime maintenance diet is that you can cheat from the diet (in moderation), and if you gain some weight, you know you will lose it rather easily.