Which is most difficult to accomplish maintaining weight vs losing weight

SonJayBeFit

I find it much more difficult to remain consistent while maintaining weight. This puts me in a constant lose or gain struggle. When it's all about losing weight I'm definitely more focused. What are your thoughts?

I love the pursuit of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, it keeps me occupied daily. My goal is to remain consistent and maintain weight. Accountability is vital throughout the process as well as patience.

livingleanlivingclean

Maintaining is harder imo, you don't have a specific goal.... You're trying to not do anything in a way. I find it easier to set a physique goal - trying to gain muscle, or fuelling myself for heavier lifts etc.

Charliegottheruns

It should be easy for you to maintain with your background in the art of ninjutsu. I would suggest talking to splinter and maybe cutting back on the pizza.

TimothyFish

I don't know of anyone who thinks maintaining is the easier of the two. With weight loss, you have a goal and you have something you can do to reach that goal. And though you may have some setbacks (a.k.a cheat days), your calorie deficit is constantly pushing you toward that goal. As you near your goal, you see results. With maintenance, your goal is to remain the same, with no end in sight. If you have a setback, you'll eventually have to do something different or it'll stay with you for a long time.

When you think about it, weight loss is easy compared to maintaining.

snowflake930

Definitely maintaining for me. The statistics show that it is harder for most people to maintain and over 80% gain back all the weight lost and some gain even more weight back. Getting there is only a small part of the battle. I lost a lot of weight (over 1/2 of my current weight) and it was way easier to lose for me.

20yearsyounger

Loosing was more difficult for me. Now I do less and eat more. I also have good fitness friends that post often and remind me (through positive peer pressure) to get off my butt. In addition, I set weekly fitness goals.

sijomial

Far, far easier to maintain than to lose - I absolutely hate having to diet.

Even though I was fat for twenty years I actually maintained at a fat weight - it wasn't a constant increase in weight unless I tried intuitive eating which was an abject failure for me. I just now maintain at a lower weight and in a different way.

nxd10

I think they're both equally easy. It's not a 'hard' thing to do. It doesn't take talent. It just requires following the directions and being persistent. You log your food and make sure you eat what you're supposed to. Healthy food and healthy exercise help too.

That said, losing was more rewarding. But by the time I got to maintaining (9 months) I had the rest of it down. And every time I step on the scale and I'm still in my goal range, I feel another sense of accomplishment. 3 years and it hasn't gotten old.

arditarose

I've been in maintenance for a couple weeks and it's ticking me off. In my last 5 pounds of losing, I could eat above my calorie goal and accept the stall. Now, I eat above my calorie goal and I'm like....FREAK OUT

besaro

Ive come to realize that having the 5-10 pounds as a goal has kept me more engaged in the process then reaching my ultimate goal.

Timorous_Beastie

Psychologically, maintaining is harder for me. There's so much positive reinforcement built in with losing that it's an adjustment from the highs of fitting into new clothes, seeing the number drop on the scale, getting compliments to same old, same old. No one ever says, "Hey, congrats on staying the same size for a year. Good job."

arditarose

Timorous_Beastie wrote: »

Psychologically, maintaining is harder for me. There's so much positive reinforcement built in with losing that it's an adjustment from the highs of fitting into new clothes, seeing the number drop on the scale, getting compliments to same old, same old. No one ever says, "Hey, congrats on staying the same size for a year. Good job."

lol

That's one fun thing about trying a recomp though. I'm hoping I'll still see changes.

Unknown

This content has been removed.

TimothyFish

sijomial wrote: »

Far, far easier to maintain than to lose - I absolutely hate having to diet.

Even though I was fat for twenty years I actually maintained at a fat weight - it wasn't a constant increase in weight unless I tried intuitive eating which was an abject failure for me. I just now maintain at a lower weight and in a different way.

If we're counting being fat as maintaining, maintaining is the easiest thing in the world.

sijomial

TimothyFish wrote: »

sijomial wrote: »

Far, far easier to maintain than to lose - I absolutely hate having to diet.

Even though I was fat for twenty years I actually maintained at a fat weight - it wasn't a constant increase in weight unless I tried intuitive eating which was an abject failure for me. I just now maintain at a lower weight and in a different way.

If we're counting being fat as maintaining, maintaining is the easiest thing in the world.

I think the point went completely over your head!

I maintained at around 198lbs and now I maintain at around 164lbs. It's no harder to maintain now just because I'm lighter. The bit in between was the hard bit to me - losing weight. Tiresome, irritating and a complete chore.

I don't know of anyone who thinks maintaining is the easier of the two. With weight loss, you have a goal and you have something you can do to reach that goal. And though you may have some setbacks (a.k.a cheat days), your calorie deficit is constantly pushing you toward that goal. As you near your goal, you see results. With maintenance, your goal is to remain the same, with no end in sight. If you have a setback, you'll eventually have to do something different or it'll stay with you for a long time.

When you think about it, weight loss is easy compared to maintaining.

So now you have met someone who thinks maintaining is easier. My goal is to maintain at this weight and that's no less a goal than weight loss was, doesn't need an end date and is far more rewarding than the tedium of weight loss to me. Maybe when you get to goal and maintain for a while you might understand. You seem to be fearing the very thing you have been working towards.

When you are losing weight sometimes you see good news when you step on the scales, but often you don't - I see good news every day.

20yearsyounger

"sijomial wrote: »

When you are losing weight sometimes you see good news when you step on the scales, but often you don't - I see good news every day.

So true!

randeeolive

livingleanlivingclean wrote: »

Maintaining is harder imo, you don't have a specific goal.... You're trying to not do anything in a way. I find it easier to set a physique goal - trying to gain muscle, or fuelling myself for heavier lifts etc.

Maintaining is definitely harder. I obsess minutely about food. How do I just let go, eat well and not worry?!

rainbowbow

Maintaining. Especially with the added pressure that you worked so hard for so long to lose it initially.

Sarasmaintaining

For me-the transition period between active weight loss and maintenance was the most difficult part (about 6 months of time). I couldn't get my weight to stabilize, dropped down to an underweight bmi, struggled to get back up to a healthy bmi etc. I also started exercising for the first time during that time as well, and that added a level of stress as well. It was also really hard to transition mentally and that was pretty rough.

So weight loss/maintenance, pretty smooth sailing. Transition period between the two-sucky

acquiredgains

Maintaining isn't hard because I've already developed a habit of healthy eating and working out

TimothyFish

sijomial wrote: »

TimothyFish wrote: »

sijomial wrote: »

Far, far easier to maintain than to lose - I absolutely hate having to diet.

Even though I was fat for twenty years I actually maintained at a fat weight - it wasn't a constant increase in weight unless I tried intuitive eating which was an abject failure for me. I just now maintain at a lower weight and in a different way.

If we're counting being fat as maintaining, maintaining is the easiest thing in the world.

I think the point went completely over your head!

I maintained at around 198lbs and now I maintain at around 164lbs. It's no harder to maintain now just because I'm lighter. The bit in between was the hard bit to me - losing weight. Tiresome, irritating and a complete chore.

I don't know of anyone who thinks maintaining is the easier of the two. With weight loss, you have a goal and you have something you can do to reach that goal. And though you may have some setbacks (a.k.a cheat days), your calorie deficit is constantly pushing you toward that goal. As you near your goal, you see results. With maintenance, your goal is to remain the same, with no end in sight. If you have a setback, you'll eventually have to do something different or it'll stay with you for a long time.

When you think about it, weight loss is easy compared to maintaining.

So now you have met someone who thinks maintaining is easier. My goal is to maintain at this weight and that's no less a goal than weight loss was, doesn't need an end date and is far more rewarding than the tedium of weight loss to me. Maybe when you get to goal and maintain for a while you might understand. You seem to be fearing the very thing you have been working towards.

When you are losing weight sometimes you see good news when you step on the scales, but often you don't - I see good news every day.

I maintained at about 208 from 1997 til about 2005. I don't have an exact date on when I quit. That's part of the reason I lost my handle on it. I stopped paying attention. Then the stress of working 60+ hours a week took over and I began gaining weight. The thing that makes maintaining hard is that you can't force yourself to always care. Even after maintaining a weight for more than five years, it is possible to reach a point where you don't care that you are gaining weight, and though you could do something about it, you don't.

GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS

I'm 2 weeks into a strict caloric medical weight loss program; I seem to do better on weekdays than on weekends because my husband cooks a good breakfast. I find now that it is easier for me to try to be on the losing end and trying to get to my goal weight. I will continue to weight out my food and use other measuring cups and spoons for side portions. I'm hoping this will continue with my weight loss until I reach my goal and then to realize that this is a lifestyle change and hopefully near the end; I will know what I can eat out and still maintain that weight my weight goal; only at that point will I be able to tell when I get there.

20yearsyounger

From the beginning I recognized it as a lifestyle change and so I always ate the calories I would have been eating at my goal weight and used exercise to increase the deficit. I formed good habits and never gave up my favorite foods. So maybe thats why I think it is easier. Rather than burning 8000 calories a week, I can do just fine on 4000.

weightjim

Most of the chaps on my Alpha programme find maintenance hard. Many have stated that not having someone there to support you is their biggest problem. So perhaps forums such as this are a great way to garner support and encouragement.

20yearsyounger

weightjim wrote: »

Most of the chaps on my Alpha programme find maintenance hard. Many have stated that not having someone there to support you is their biggest problem. So perhaps forums such as this are a great way to garner support and encouragement.

True, I have good maintenance friends on here as well as friends still losing.

rainbow198

Hmmm. When I first started losing, it took me a while to get into a groove and figure things out. Once I did and was consistent, the pounds and inches started melting.

When I transitioned to maintenance the main difficulty I had was eating more so I didn't continue losing. My mind thought I was going to gain those 80 lbs. right back. Once I got over that, ate more and saw that I did not gain I was okay.

I developed healthy habits when I was losing and and I didn't do anything hardcore. I still had pizza on Friday nights, I never gave up any foods or followed any ridge diet or workout plans etc. It took me a little longer to reach my goal, but I was okay with that.

Not to say either was easy, but I didn't have too tough of a time with losing or maintaining. I made sure everything I was doing to lose was sustainable so all I had to do was up my calories a little to maintain, but I work at it everyday maintain my shape.

sardelsa

Maintaining is so much easier (for me). I hated losing/cutting... but the worst by far was gaining/bulking - mentally, physically, the meticulous tracking. It was worth it though, but makes everything else seem a lot less difficult for sure.

snappy36

Timorous_Beastie wrote: »

Psychologically, maintaining is harder for me. There's so much positive reinforcement built in with losing that it's an adjustment from the highs of fitting into new clothes, seeing the number drop on the scale, getting compliments to same old, same old. No one ever says, "Hey, congrats on staying the same size for a year. Good job."

Snappy 36 I totally agree with you. All they ever say is "don't lose anymore," and I wonder if it was worth the effort. I just have to think they are jealous.

SonJayBeFit

20yearsyounger wrote: »

From the beginning I recognized it as a lifestyle change and so I always ate the calories I would have been eating at my goal weight and used exercise to increase the deficit. I formed good habits and never gave up my favorite foods. So maybe thats why I think it is easier. Rather than burning 8000 calories a week, I can do just fine on 4000.

Agreed it's a mindset of healthy living, I feel like mentally reaching a goal we think the journey is over.

TimothyFish

Nasimquadir wrote: »

20yearsyounger wrote: »

From the beginning I recognized it as a lifestyle change and so I always ate the calories I would have been eating at my goal weight and used exercise to increase the deficit. I formed good habits and never gave up my favorite foods. So maybe thats why I think it is easier. Rather than burning 8000 calories a week, I can do just fine on 4000.

Agreed it's a mindset of healthy living, I feel like mentally reaching a goal we think the journey is over.

Perhaps, we should turn our attention to a new goal. If we focus on fitness goals, keeping our weight under control may be part of how we reach the goal, since it is easier to go faster, farther, or stronger if our weight is under control.

PokeyBug

To be honest, I don't think one is harder than the other. I'm doing exactly the same thing I was doing to lose weight. I thought that maintaining would be harder, but there's no difference for me.