Losing lower than goal for when you reach maintenance?

CoffeeNCardio

Kay, so I heard on the vine the following:

"you may gain 3 - 5 pounds when you go into maintenance, so it's wise to lose slightly below your goal weight. That way, when you are changing to maintenance, you'll end up AT your original goal weight, in spite of the small gains."

I'm just curious as to the accuracy of this sentiment (which I have altered all to heck for the sake of anonymity, but it makes the same statement), and what experiences people have had of this, or any relevant knowledge really, because google just isn't playing fair today.



Note: I know it seems like this is a post that aught to be in the "Maintenance" forum, but I specifically put it here so that people still in loss-mode would see it and could adjust themselves accordingly depending on the answers given here. And because there's plenty of successful people in maintenance who come to this forum to help anyway, so I'm not concerned y'all won't see it. Thank you in advance.

I make no claims as to it's veracity, the whole point of this post is to question it's veracity.

SergeantSausage

You have to *find* maintenance. Numbers on a chart are estimates only.

Leave some wiggle room. There's a learning curve.

CoffeeNCardio

SergeantSausage wrote: »

You have to *find* maintenance. Numbers on a chart are estimates only.

Leave some wiggle room. There's a learning curve.

That's a good point, that hadn't occurred to me, thank you:)

Qskim

Have you read this thread?

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/993576/why-you-gain-weight-if-you-eat-more-than-your-cut/p1

MommyL2015

Yeah, after realizing this, that's why I initially had a goal of 120 but decided to go down to 115, so that when I start maintaining, I'll be maintaining at around 120.

cafeaulait7

I don't really know how mine went that way. I kept losing without meaning to, even though my previous losses per week made that unexpected. I do have about 3-4 lbs of water weight that can sneak up or drop off at any time. Carbs, exercise, hormones all get me all throughout the month same as they did while losing. But it seems like 'the same' 3-4 lbs if that makes sense. It's not 7 lbs now or anything.

CoffeeNCardio

mrsbaldee wrote: »

Have you read this thread?

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/993576/why-you-gain-weight-if-you-eat-more-than-your-cut/p1

I had not, thank you, very well thought out, answers a lot of questions:)

CoffeeNCardio

MommyL2015 wrote: »

Yeah, after realizing this, that's why I initially had a goal of 120 but decided to go down to 115, so that when I start maintaining, I'll be maintaining at around 120.

That sounds like exactly what I need to do! Thanks for your input:)

middlehaitch

I didn't lower my goal, and had no water gain when I went into maintenance because my deficit and maintenance calories were so close.

If you up your intake dramatically when you start maintenance you can have a water weight increase of 5 lb or so. It will even out, and it isn't fat.

A big increase is best done incrementally, much easier physically and mentally. And you can track when you reach the best calorie intake for you.
MFP just gives an estimate.

It is best to give your self a weight range for maintenance, it allows for natural fluctuations, that way you have a buffer zone that you can act upon if you reach the top or bottom. Mine is 5 lb.

Cheers, h.