When to switch to maintainance calories?

Jubee13

Yesterday, I tried on all of my “small” clothes that had been far too tight to wear, and everything fits fine. I weighed this morning and am two pounds away from my goal weight. I was thinking about going ahead and switching over to maintenance calories because I feel good at this weight. But part of me wants to push forward and lose those two pounds. When did you switch to maintainance? Any advice?

deannalfisher

remember that maintenance is a range that you stay within - maybe its your goal weight, plus or minus 2lbs - if that's the case, you could slowly transition to maintenance now - and maybe lose another lb or two along the way

BeccaLoves2lift

If you reverse diet into maintenance slowly you'll probably lose a bit more weight while you transition.

ITUSGirl51

I’m also 2-4 lbs from my goal. I have been feeling very hungry and exhausted, my blood pressure even got below 90/60 so I decided to take a diet break last week. I’m one week into eating at maintenance and am happy and feel so much better. Actually I’m still eating 150-300 calories less than maintenance according to my Apple Watch, so I’m thinking of just calling weight loss done and go to maintenance. Maybe I will lose a couple more pounds very, very slowly. What do you guys think? My biggest hesitation is that I have a cruise in 5 weeks and I know I will gain 3 lbs of water weight. Should I wait and do a bigger deficit after the cruise to get rid of the last lbs or go back to a deficit after my two week diet break next week and push to lose 2 lbs before the cruise?

Add: I’m 51 and 5’8” and weigh 161.4 lbs. I’ve lost 67 lbs in 13 months using MFP. I have been obese or overweight my entire life. I’ve gained and lost over 50 lbs about 9 times in my life. I’m so, so sick of it. I’m determined to keep it off this time. No more crash diets and starvation and then gaining it all back!