maintenance mode and working out?

Shelby1582

I've been at my ideal weight for a few months now and lately I've been working out less. It's only been in the last two weeks I worked out three days instead of 5 but is this how maintenance works? what are your maintenance tips?

dlbaron

I'm curious about this too! I am pretty much at maintenance and have been working out a lot less and less intensely. I do think I'm losing some muscle definition that I gained while working with a personal trainer, then doing P90X (only for a month or so), then Stronglifts 5x5. Now I'm not doing any of those and I know I need to start incorporating more strength training again so I can keep muscle. But overall I'm not gaining weight.
The negative thing about this is I'm not as cheerful when I don't work out every day! That could also be weather related, but I loved being super active all summer, now when it's colder it's hard to get motivated.

kelseystew

I am curious about this too! I am at my goal and now losing some of the motivation. I am trying to make new fitness goals to keep me motivated, like shaving 10 mins off my half marathon time and getting closer to a 6 pack. I am curious what other peoples tips might be!

summer8it

I'm doing less cardio but lifting more. I also stopped counting exercise calories but instead have my calorie goal set at TDEE.

sfbaumgarten

Bump... out of curiousity.

rebeccawwalters

Now that I'm at maintenance, I'm working harder to tone what was underneath, by weight-lifting, body weight resistance, etc. and less cardio

lucypeaks

Same, I am mainly focusing on toning up now and still careful not to go overboard on the fats and saturated fats...

RoseTears143

I'm not at my goal weight yet, but I have no intentions on working out less once I get there, I'll simply increase calories until I stop losing weight. I enjoy working out, it's a big stress reliever for me. But if working out less is easier for you instead of eating more, that works too! Everyone is different.

lporter229

I set my calorie goal based on TDEE and don't eat back my work out calories so that I don't focus too much on the calorie burn. I think of my workouts as improvements to my overall health and fitness and don't really associate them with my weight. It has completely changed my mindset towards exercise in general. I no longer look at in terms of " If I run this many miles I can eat this many calories extra".

JulieAnn72

I've also been less motivated to work out since getting to my goal. I'm trying to maintain under 135 and I find that I'm starting to creep up (I was 135.5 today). So I really need to get off my butt and workout more again. But I don't seem to be as motivated now that I'm relatively happy with the way my body looks. I figure, though, if I let it go too far, I'll end up gaining again.

MinimalistShoeAddict

For me exercise was never about losing weight. I have been in "maintenance mode" all year and am working out as much as ever.

My goal is to continue to build speed, strength and endurance so I will continue to workout as much as I ever have (currently 7 days a week).

Linli_Anne

I've set my calories to my TDEE, to include my 3x a week lifting program and short runs. If I do a longer run and feel like I need to eat more I do.

I don't think maintenance means working out less, but, it's about finding more of a balance. What are your goals now? I'm looking to gain muscle, and burn fat and will likely do so through a series of bulk and cut cycles. Are you wanting to get stronger, leaner, run faster or farther?

AllonsYtotheTardis

I don't exercise to lose weight, I do it for my health.

My exercise will not decrease in maintenance.

simsburyjet

maintenance for me was eating more but working out even harder.. Changing things up so instead of just losing weight
I wanted to be even fitter. I added more strength training and less cardio. For me that was cutting down on spin classes
and doing more floorwork like push ups and planks.

Oh about the brother are you going to sleep with him again? Do you think he will tell his sister?

marianneread

I exercise the same amount and increased my calories to maintain instead of lose. I love food. I exercise to stay healthy and relieve stress. It's more a way of life than a diet. If I'm dreading my workout, I try to find something new to mix it up.

firstsip

I'm more curious about your maintenance of your personal relationships. Inquiring minds want to know.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I workout more now that I'm in maintenance. The extra food gives me more energy to push harder at the gym.

I think going back to not exercising is one of the pitfalls of maintenance and could easily lead to sliding back into old habits and regaining the weight that was lost.


And did you tell you bff you slept with her brother yet? You might get some good cardio running from her. :flowerforyou:

splashtree2

'm on this maintaining weight and transorming some fat in musclrs,.you can make it ut you got to lower calories anyway and push when you workout so smal pause time....just comeback intraining even though i din't like gyms so much
I've been at my ideal weight for a few months now and lately I've been working out less. It's only been in the last two weeks I worked out three days instead of 5 but is this how maintenance works? what are your maintenance tips?
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In...

...for various reasons.

ciccanti38

Fitness is a lifestyle....I am also at my goal weight but I really want that sculpted look so I am still working out 5 days a week mostly strength training because cardio actually makes me lose weight fast. I am not so hard on myself with eating though. Although I do try & eat clean most of the time! Everyone is different though. You just need to see what is best for you! I have started a Group on here yesterday for people just like us...who have reached our goal weight & can you believe that I only have 1 interested member so far? If interested please join & pass it on to others! It is called Sassyfizeaks!

emjaycazz

Is this how maintenance works?

It's different for every person and their lifestyle/fitness goals. If you just want to maintain a certain weight, you can go about by any way that makes your energy expenditure more or less equal to your calorie intake. The catch is that calorie needs change from day to day AND over time as our bodies response to physiological changes, activity level, etc.

For me, having JUST the goal of keeping a specific weight is no fun at all, so I gravitate towards doing fun stuff (circuit training, deadlifts, squats, etc.)