Yoyo on a short string - why not?

55in13

As I approach my goal, I am considering how to maintain it. For several years, I yoyoed between 175 and 185. It would take me 6-8 months to gain and I would do some quick diet (cabbage soup was one of my favorites) to drop back down in 6 weeks or so. Wash, rinse, repeat... I did this from my early 30s to my late 40s. I am not sure why I blew by the upper limit a few years ago, but I did. I kept setting the bar a little higher, putting it off a little longer until it got overwhelming and at some point I accepted it creeping up and that I could deal with being that size. At 225 I finally decided it was a trend that was continuing far too long and I had to turn it around. So here I am back in the upper 170s (177 as I write this) aiming to get below 170 and maintain that. From all that I have learned, the yoyo idea is bad, but it's not entirely clear why. If I dropped to 165, set the upper limit at 175 and stuck to it like I did for so long before, what would be wrong with that? Yes, I let it slip past that before but I did not have this experience behind me to motivate me not to ever let that happen again. I am anything but decided. I will certainly be eating healthier.

For those doing maintenance successfully, do you have little mini yoyos? How long is your string?

jonnyman41

interesting topic. I do wonder how I will maintain if I ever get there (by staying strict or relaxing a little and checking myself when I need to) so I am looking forward to replies from people who manage this.

yksdoris

I'm *trying* to fluctuate within 4 lb up and 2 lb down from my "official" weight. Psychologically it's pretty tough though, it's hard to just let that "extra" bit be and continue on with the plan.

jstika

I seem to have 10 pound swings every year also. I ride a bike for transportation year round, but in the winter I don't go out for rides quite as much, so I tend to put on weight. I'm kind of tired of this as well, as I've been in the 15-20 pound overweight range for a while and I don't want that anymore. It's mostly from over eating and beer (I'm a homebrewer...put on 15 pounds when I started 4 1/2 years ago).
Anyway...I only recently discovered fitness pal, so that's helped me realize what I'm eating a lot more. As far as the maintenance part...I still have 10 or so pounds to lose, but basically just a life style change is in order. Eat how you intend to eat once you reach your goal, but lose the weight through exercise. That's basically what I'm doing, not over eating too often, exercising regularly...commuting by bike helps with that, just generally being aware of what I'm eating and if I over eat, I try to do some kind of exercise to work it off, whether that be go for a 20 mile bike ride, or whatever. I think I'm going to start running again too...

Curious to read what others have to say.

ferocityturbine

This is EXACTLY what I've done for the last few years. It would take me 6 months to gain 9lbs, and then I'd diet for 6 weeks and lose 9lbs. I always thought I'd much rather be able to enjoy life and eat whatever I wanted, not worry about someone bringing in cakes to work, going to a big meal, etc. I couldn't be bothered to spend the rest of my life counting calories and never be able to eat something really indulgent without feeling guilty.

To be honest, it worked just fine for me and I loved it because I've always been very disciplined when I lose weight and because your metabolism is settled, the weight comes off pretty quickly when you shock your body into a diet again. Personally, I've just got fed up of the 6 week diets, even if they are only twice a year because I think as I'm getting older I feel less bothered about a couple of lbs extra and I'm less disciplined.

I've decided to lose my 9lbs for the last time and then actually work on maintenance as everyone else seems to do it purely because I feel unhealthy,and tbh uncontrolled, when I'm letting the weight creep back on. But that's me. I'd say do it if you have the discipline to keep it up and do not go crazy when you're on your upwards swing, but by the sounds of it you don't if it takes you that long to put the weight back on.

Maintenance will be a different journey for everyone, and what works for some won't work for others. What you're suggesting worked for me for quite a long time and if it works for you, then I'd say go for it

55in13

I'm *trying* to fluctuate within 4 lb up and 2 lb down from my "official" weight. Psychologically it's pretty tough though, it's hard to just let that "extra" bit be and continue on with the plan.

A tighter window might be a good idea. Not sure if it was clear in my original post, but I am considering 5 lbs over my goal as the upper limit even though I said it could be a 10 lb swing. That's because I expect that when I stop trying to lose I will probably get a small bump up, so I plan to always lose to about 5 below my goal.

yksdoris

I'm *trying* to fluctuate within 4 lb up and 2 lb down from my "official" weight. Psychologically it's pretty tough though, it's hard to just let that "extra" bit be and continue on with the plan.

A tighter window might be a good idea. Not sure if it was clear in my original post, but I am considering 5 lbs over my goal as the upper limit even though I said it could be a 10 lb swing. That's because I expect that when I stop trying to lose I will probably get a small bump up, so I plan to always lose to about 5 below my goal.

I meant the... er... monthly fluctuation/ weekend binge fluctuation/ vacation, let's have a few coctails fluctuation. For example 2 weeks ago I was on vacation and freely ate whatever I wanted for a whole week. Now I'm back and what with eating patterns doing a number on my digestive system or bloat or whatever; but on the day I returned, I weighed 6 lb above my "official" weight. I'm now 4 lb above my "official" weight and will try to get to it within another week or 2.

55in13

I meant the... er... monthly fluctuation/ weekend binge fluctuation/ vacation, let's have a few coctails fluctuation. For example 2 weeks ago I was on vacation and freely ate whatever I wanted for a whole week. Now I'm back and what with eating patterns doing a number on my digestive system or bloat or whatever; but on the day I returned, I weighed 6 lb above my "official" weight. I'm now 4 lb above my "official" weight and will try to get to it within another week or 2.

The matter of small fluctuations that I don't consider as having changed my weight is something different. That's one reason a tighter window might be a good idea. Before I know for sure that I have actually gained 5 lbs, I might see a weight 10 lbs higher. I am one of those "daily or more" weigh in folks that likes to see how much I fluctuate.