Has anyone tried maintaining in the middle of weight loss?

amazon35

I was thinking about it today. I may decide to try and maintain for 6 months after my first 100lbs. Just so my body and mind can have a break and get adjusted I guess. I'm also thinking it'll help me make this a permanent change. Then after the 6 months jump back on it and loose the last 40-50lbs but do it super slowly until I figure out what weight I want to stay at. Does this make sense? Has anyone done this?

melimomTARDIS

yep I have. Its good practice for future weight maintenance, and helped me to assess what weight I wanted to be at.

BigLifter10

I did exactly that. When I started about four years ago, I was scared I would lose it and have it all pile on again. I had 35-40 lbs to lose, so I dropped the first 24 easily by changing what I was eating and doing a bit more for walking. Then, I maintained (on purpose) for six months. I knew I could do it after that - I proved to myself I could maintain and not just puff up again. Then I lost another 12 and basically was were I wanted to be (not accounting for shaping and needing to do resistance exercises). I started lifting and varying my cardio... then, over time, my body changed shape little by little and I haven't worried about the scale since. My clothes fit how I want them to and I am, for the most part, satisfied. I still change things up from time to time, but the body fat itself has stayed away -and that was my main goal. So, yes, it certainly is one way to do it.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I didn't plan it that way but I took two pretty long maintenance breaks in the process of losing weight. It seemed to work well for me.

SezxyStef

Yup sounds good..I would say max 6 months as you might find you want to go back to losing in 3 months...

I have done week long "breaks" here and there...they do help mentally.

amazon35

BigLifter10 wrote: »

I did exactly that. When I started about four years ago, I was scared I would lose it and have it all pile on again. I had 35-40 lbs to lose, so I dropped the first 24 easily by changing what I was eating and doing a bit more for walking. Then, I maintained (on purpose) for six months. I knew I could do it after that - I proved to myself I could maintain and not just puff up again. Then I lost another 12 and basically was were I wanted to be (not accounting for shaping and needing to do resistance exercises). I started lifting and varying my cardio... then, over time, my body changed shape little by little and I haven't worried about the scale since. My clothes fit how I want them to and I am, for the most part, satisfied. I still change things up from time to time, but the body fat itself has stayed away -and that was my main goal. So, yes, it certainly is one way to do it.

That's what I'm trying to avoid is gaining it all back again. I lost 50 or so in 2013 and gained it all back plus 17. So I have a different mentality this time, that I know I can take it all off it's just keeping it all off that is worrisome. I gained the weight back because my mind wasn't ready for the changes. Now I know what to expect. Just want to find a way to handle the changes better

beemerphile1

That is exactly my intentions. I have three goals and three phases planned. Phase two is maintaining for four months.

tephanies1234

I'm currently going to try and maintain for a month and then keep going.

bainsworth1a

i've done it but not on purpose. vacations, holidays and other special occasions come up an end up kind of like maintenance. also I've recently had a hard time staying on target. For me it is important to still log on everyday and enter my food diary good or bad.

thomasgfloyd

I'm a 61 year old male. Iwas 280 in September of 2014. November 24, 2014 I was 277. That's the day I got serious about getting healthy. Today I am 198. My doc would like me to get to 180 but first he told me to get under 200 and maintain that for awhile. I've been maintaining for about 3 weeks now. It's tough knowing how much I should eat. I exercise 6 days a week doing cardio. But I'm slowly increasing my calories. I hope it works.

arditarose

Yep. I actually go into maintenance whenever I feel like it. I find that after a few months, a break for a week or two does my mind and body good.

Ekatrina

So glad I found you ladies. This is exactly what I am doing. I lost 48 and want to keep it off until September (6 mos) and then I will go back and lose another 10-15...

BunBun85

I take breaks at maintenance too. I think when you have a lot of weight to lose that it really helps you keep the stamina that you need. I've lost ~160lbs in the past three years and still have ~20lbs to go. I think it's good practice for when you get to your goal weight.

2_FitNFab

I went into maintenance mode for the last two months. I gained 5 pounds, back at it strong now and wanting to lose 10.

40andFindingFitness

Yes. I'm unintentionally doing it now.

_incogNEATo_

arditarose wrote: »

Yep. I actually go into maintenance whenever I feel like it. I find that after a few months, a break for a week or two does my mind and body good.

I'm trying that this week, and maybe next.

The hardest part for me has been keeping in mind that there's really no time constraints or restrictions. Allowing myself to eat at maintenance isn't going to spoil my hard work from the past 6 months. My thoughts anyways...

gramarye

Absolutely. They aren't always intentional or mindful -- I realized recently that instead of putting on weight at the start a relationship (back last autumn), I'd unintentionally gone into maintenance, lol.

But sometimes they are. Especially when there are other life stressors going on, such as job drama or mental health issues. Not having to deal with internal pressure to lose on top of the external stress does me wonders once in a while.

Also, I think it's important to learn a) how to maintain and b) that maintenance is possible, especially when you've either always been fat (yo) or never really learned how to do it before.

austinartgirl

ILiftHeavyAcrylics wrote: »

I didn't plan it that way but I took two pretty long maintenance breaks in the process of losing weight. It seemed to work well for me.

Me too. Wasn't planned necessarily, but I've had several periods of lose then maintain. I really think it has helped me, in the long run.

nathan_haveagoodday

At the current rate I am going I should hit my first goal of losing 25 pounds (out of 120) in about a month. I plan on taking a two week maintenance break and jump starting my weight lifting routine. Right now I am at a 1000 calorie deficit and I can only weight lift twice a week due to long recovery times.

juliet3455

arditarose wrote: »

Yep. I actually go into maintenance whenever I feel like it. I find that after a few months, a break for a week or two does my mind and body good.

It wasn't planned but I went into maintenance during the Dark Cold Dog days of winter. With only 8 hrs of daylight we end up going to work in the dark, coming home in the dark etc. Actually had about a 3 month period of flat line stability and has worked out for me so far. Also I am in the push for the last twenty pounds and that is always a slower process so its nice to come into it refreshed by a break and the increased energy/attitude from spring and summer weather.

jessicapk

I did that during the winter. I partially counted calories and partially just tried to do it naturally. Between December and February, I put on about a pound (after subtracting the water weight that dropped off my first week) so I do think I'll have to count to maintain long term. However, it was a major boost to my motivation when I started back in February. It's nice to take a break for a while but make sure you set a firm date to start back and watch your weight closely so you don't regress. I think it's a great idea to do from time to time if you have a lot to lose.

Koldnomore

I normally switch to maintenance in winter as it is very difficult to get a whole lot of activity in around here during the coldest days. I'm in Canada and it isn't out of the ordinary for it to be so cold around here that hey will caution you NOT to go outside. I do what I can but it's nothing like the activity I get in the warmer months.

GaleHawkins

amazon35 wrote: »

I was thinking about it today. I may decide to try and maintain for 6 months after my first 100lbs. Just so my body and mind can have a break and get adjusted I guess. I'm also thinking it'll help me make this a permanent change. Then after the 6 months jump back on it and loose the last 40-50lbs but do it super slowly until I figure out what weight I want to stay at. Does this make sense? Has anyone done this?

From the research that I have read that is the only way real way to prevent a 100%+ regain.

The source I was reading stated to lose 10% of starting weight and maintain it for 6 months then lose another 10%.

The point seems to be if you can not maintain a new lower weight for 6 months you are not going to do it for 6 years. We know today a person who is 150 pounds (any amount) should NOT lose a pound if they are just going to regain it because they may shorten their life. Yo Yoing weight is a killer.

Over the last 18 months I have lost 40 pounds. The first 20 was the old CICO method that has always equalled 100%+ regain over the last 40 years. The last 20 pounds has been by LCHF. I have not lost/gained a net pound in 3 months. Now I want to lose 10 more pounds to get me to 199.

Over the last 3 months I have been eating like 3000 a day with carbs <50 grams daily and about 70-80% fats. I lost one inch in the waist which is the only measurement I have tracked. I will soon be buying my second new belt.

In my case if I regain one more time it will be a premature death for me without question. Thankfully I have proven if I leave off the carbs my body will drift towards its ideal weight eating at 2500 calories daily and I can maintain at 3000 calories.

tephanies1234

GaleHawkins wrote: »

amazon35 wrote: »

I was thinking about it today. I may decide to try and maintain for 6 months after my first 100lbs. Just so my body and mind can have a break and get adjusted I guess. I'm also thinking it'll help me make this a permanent change. Then after the 6 months jump back on it and loose the last 40-50lbs but do it super slowly until I figure out what weight I want to stay at. Does this make sense? Has anyone done this?

From the research that I have read that is the only way real way to prevent a 100%+ regain.

The source I was reading stated to lose 10% of starting weight and maintain it for 6 months then lose another 10%.

The point seems to be if you can not maintain a new lower weight for 6 months you are not going to do it for 6 years. We know today a person who is 150 pounds (any amount) should NOT lose a pound if they are just going to regain it because they may shorten their life. Yo Yoing weight is a killer.

Over the last 18 months I have lost 40 pounds. The first 20 was the old CICO method that has always equalled 100%+ regain over the last 40 years. The last 20 pounds has been by LCHF. I have not lost/gained a net pound in 3 months. Now I want to lose 10 more pounds to get me to 199.

Over the last 3 months I have been eating like 3000 a day with carbs <50 grams daily and about 70-80% fats. I lost one inch in the waist which is the only measurement I have tracked. I will soon be buying my second new belt.

In my case if I regain one more time it will be a premature death for me without question. Thankfully I have proven if I leave off the carbs my body will drift towards its ideal weight eating at 2500 calories daily and I can maintain at 3000 calories.

What's your source on "yo-yoing weight being a killer"?

krissyrey

That is the exact question I wanted to ask? Can you please share that source about yo-yoing weight being a killer? Thanks in advance.

Allelito

Umm, isn't yo-yoing weight exactly what cutting and bulking is?
I seirously doubt there's anything "killer" about yo-yoing weight.

kickassbarbie

Yes, I maintained about 12 lbs from my original goal weight, it has really helped me mentaly. Stopping losing gave me the time to reevaluate my goals and focus on my health fitness goals for a while instead of my weight.

Tbh my goals changed massively once I switched to maintance and got out of the losing frame of mind. I'm back at losing again this last few weeks no problem and with a different outlook and renewed drive.

Edit: yo-yo dieting is never a good thing but how did we get to your will kill you on this thread?

JayRuby84

I've been maintaining throughout my cut for a while now...not on purpose. Just eating too much. But now I know what my maintenance intake should be.

barbecuesauce

I dieted for 8 months with only two breaks (of 10 days and two weeks), while losing 56 pounds. I'm now eating almost to maintenance most days. I still have 9-19 pounds to lose, but having a current BMI of 23.2, I just don't feel the urgency.

I'm tired of it. Tired of saying "no" to other people and myself when food is offered. Tired of shrinking out of clothes the day after I wear them for the first time. Tired of constantly having to pull at my too-large underwear because I don't want to go out and buy more again. Tired of feeling unable to bake because I know it means I will either be over my calories or under my protein goal.

I'll get back to it when I get my mind right, or maybe I'll just continue this 100-200 calorie deficit and recomp. IDK. I'm going to keep tracking my intake--maybe that will be a lifelong thing for me--but I'm done with the 500+ calorie deficits I've had.

Tubbs216

As someone who is now less than 15lbs to my initial goal weight, these perspectives are really interesting. Thank you.

callsitlikeiseeit

I've done it for short amounts of time - a week or so. Usually if I know life is going to be chaos, or holidays. When I reach my next goal I may 'break' for a week or so at maintenance.