Time to learn how to @&# maintain!

Jthanmyfitnesspal

Here's my custom ticker (if this works):



Time to f'ing maintain!

Approach this time

- Keep logging and try for a 200kcal negative net most days

- Keep exercising (getting outdoors more)

- Keep eating "diet" breakfast and lunch (e.g., not eating at company cafeteria)

- Slightly increase afternoon snack (e.g., add kind bar to usual piece of fruit)

- Slightly increase dinner

- Keep limiting booze

For the past two years I have dieted in the winter, slowly gained in the summer, then put on several pounds from October - December, and then had to diet again in the winter. The goal this time is to actually learn how to maintain throughout the year.

HappyGrape

very worthy goal, good luck with it! And well done for reaching your goal weight

Your plan sounds good

mechell007

Good luck with your maintenance and congrats on making it here! You got this!

cmriverside

Yeah, that year-round approach is much easier than losing those same ten pounds year after year.

Ask me how I know.


But seriously, I like your plan. It is a lifelong thing, but it does get easier in maintenance as long as you keep moving.

juliawiththequads

If the OP doesn’t mind, I’d like to turn this into a general “what’s my plan for maintenance” thread.

• I will get away from the idea that I exercise to “earn” permission to eat more. For at least a little while I’m going to eat the same macros every day, even rest days. This might change in a few months if I feel I can get to the food-as-fuel rather than reward mindset, because it totally makes sense to eat more when you train, but at this point, my mental game is my priority. My macros are still less than my FitBit says I burn everyday, so I should really just chill out.
• I will acknowledge the massive progress I’ve made athletically. Last September, I couldn't run 200m, now I do a sub-30 minute 5k. I just did 45 65pound thrusters with little trouble, and at Christmas I could barely do a push-up. Like, I’m doing well.
• I will resist the urge to under-eat. I’m not a better person if I have carbs left over at the end of the day.
• Get into some kind of meal prep routine so I don’t have carbs left over at the end of the day.
• I won’t panic every time the scale goes up by half a pound. I will eat at a particular level for at least a week before I adjust anything.
• I will pretend to believe people when they tell me I look good and athletic and even a little bit muscular. If I fake it for long enough, it might come true.