SparkPoints: (83,341)
Fitness Minutes: (73,076)
Posts: 11,620
10/13/07 12:53 P

I continued tracking my calories for several months on maintenance. I was afraid that if I didn't I would go back to eating too much. Then I was gone for a week and didn't track, so I decided to keep going and see if I could do it. I have been maintaining for about 5 months now with no tracking at all. I just stick with the habits and routines that work for me, and I know how much is too much and when I need to cut back. I also weigh every day so I am able to get a handle on gains before it's too late.

Posts: 11,371
10/13/07 12:18 P

Have had some ups and downs but I've found that not logging food did lead to some gain, and not acknowledging that made it worse than it had to be. But I started logging again when I decided I didn't want to go completely backward, and got it back under control.

I've been logging my workouts and making sure my calorie burn is good, and lately have started reading "Mindless Eating" by Brian Wansink, and trying to keep that in the front of my thinking. As it turns out, I am very susceptible to hidden food cues (as are most of us), and when I pay attention, I'm less likely to mindlessly pop those extra calories in, especically the ones that are nutritionally lacking. Lately it's been a little easier to pass by those open candy dishes, because I have a healthy snack waiting at my desk. And this morning I was very near the bottom of my weight goal range for the first time in months!

current weight: 0.5  over

5 2.5 0 -2.5

-5

Posts: 1,256
10/11/07 11:08 P

It's a challenge. I go between not eating enough and eating too much. I still want to lose some but am struggling.

current weight: 150.0

166 157 148 139

130

SparkPoints: (35,806)
Fitness Minutes: (25,984)
Posts: 2,129
10/11/07 5:39 P

First I moved my caloried into my new maintainance range. This felt like a pretty big jump that I wasn't ready for so I have decided to try setting it for a 5 lb loss at a slower rate. Now I have a new range (1540-1890) to ease me into eating more. I do plan on trying this for a couple weeks and then adjusting my range again.

My goals were to actually do more exercise and add weight training into the mix to start maintainance. A few set-backs (no car to get to the gym) have hindered that a little bit but I still plan on using weights to trim up those areas that weight loss & resistance exercise with body weight alone did not tighten up. Exercise def. has to become a way of life....once you get into the routine it feels so much better when you do it and actually feels bad when you don't get in your daily dose. :)

SparkPoints: (118,656)
Fitness Minutes: (54,966)
Posts: 3,009
10/11/07 9:33 A

I agree with CFOSTER. For me, though, the one thing I was DETERMINED to take out of my weight loss was that exercise was to be a habit.

And it is. And I'm thrilled.

I'm certainly not perfect, after 11 months of maintanence. My weight recently crept back up a few pounds and I've been beating it back down. Of course, I beat myself up pretty hard but I got THAT under control, too, reminding me that I could do it because I already had.

But I'm not confident enough to not log my food and that sort of thing. I'm not sure I'll ever be. I think I might be the type who goes "WHEE! FREE FOR ALL!" if given the opportunity. Someday, I might try and see what happens. But I'm content enough to use SP and keep on keeping on for now! And it's pretty much worked...

... I just bought my one year weight loss maintaining reward! (a month early... but shhh!)

SparkPoints: (17,662)
Fitness Minutes: (11,525)
Posts: 1,657
10/11/07 8:25 A

I agree with CFOSTER1966. I'm trying to actually gain a few pounds while still keeping toned and strong, so I'm getting in a little more protein gradually. Everything else is staying pretty much the same. It's nearly second nature. But it is hard to resist the treats :)

Posts: 3,206
10/11/07 7:51 A

I am doing everything the same except I eat more calories. I still keep my protein/carb/fat ratios the same, I still cycle calories, I still have free days, I still weigh once a week, I still cut calories if I gain a few pounds, I still do the same amount of exercising. Maintaining is just another process, just like losing weight. After doing this for well over a year and a half it is like second nature. :)

SparkPoints: (13,295)
Fitness Minutes: (6,232)
Posts: 409
10/11/07 7:20 A

I am using the WW core plan to maintain. I think you need to do to maintain the same thing you did to lose with a few more calories. You still need to watch what you eat and exercise. I admit, I am having trouble finding the boundery between relaxing a little and over-endluging!

SparkPoints: (35,806)
Fitness Minutes: (25,984)
Posts: 2,129
10/11/07 2:04 A

Everyone that has reached their goal weight would have to agree that maintaining is just as challenging (if not more) than losing the weight itself. It's so easy (at least for me) to give into junk food to get those extra calories or skip a workout because I am happy with my weight now. However, I refuse to go back to my old lifestyle!! I love to exerise and cook healthy meals and will keep it up... SP gave us a step by step structured plan to lose the weight... I am curious as to how others have/are transitioning into maintainance?