? for long-term maintainers

macchiatto

I've had periods where I've maintained a low weight for a year or two but then end up yoyoing again for various reasons. Since I've hit goal weight (may or may not try to lose a few more lbs at this point), I'm wondering: What would you say are the biggest keys to your success?

I *am* hoping that staying lower-carb this time will help me! (Previously I did stay somewhat low-carb, but I think if I looked back, most of the time it was more carbs creeping up over time that did me in more than anything. Cue hunger all the time, cravings, etc.)

wabmester

There's a good thread in the main forum for this:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1422943/long-time-maintainers-how-do-you-do-it/p1

In general, the trick seems to be "stay obsessive." That's my plan.

Christine_72

wabmester wrote: »

There's a good thread in the main forum for this:
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1422943/long-time-maintainers-how-do-you-do-it/p1

In general, the trick seems to be "stay obsessive." That's my plan.

Yep, it would be so easy to loosen up the weighing and logging, allowing calorie creep here and there.. I'll also be weighing in everyday so I can nip any relevant gains in the bud asap!

tlflag1620

I maintained for over a year before getting pregnant (so now I'm in the trying to lose camp again), but what was most helpful to me during maintenance was stepping on the scale every day and recording my weight in a journal weekly (it's easy to convince yourself a few lbs are just fluid, but if the weight goes up for three or four consecutive weeks and you have a written record of it, it's harder to dismiss). I stayed pretty strict with food during maintenance, not really adding extra carbs to my days' intake, but rather allowing myself more frequent "cheats"; instead of once or twice a month, I was able to have a higher carb day once a week without issue. The reality of any "diet" is that maintenance won't be significantly different than whatever you did to lose the weight in the first place. That's where, IMO, LC wins hands down - I can eat low carb without logging, counting, or obsessing and maintain my weight; on low calorie I could never do that.

macchiatto

That is a great thread; thanks so much, @wabmester!