Keeping it off.

coopervince10

Now that I’ve reached my goal, it’s a question of whether or not I can keep it off. Wondering if there is anyone else in this position?

xbowhunter

Yep been there done that.

AmunahSki

Am there, doing that…!

Congratulations on your achievement! Have you got a plan for maintenance?

I didn’t have a plan the first 2/3 times, as I thought I could wing it: turns out I was wrong. This time, I am still logging and staying accountable, and finding different challenges to exercise my willpower!

AnnPT77

Finding, practicing and sustaining reasonably happy new habits - eating and activity - habits that can run almost on autopilot when other parts of life get challenging . . . IMO, that's key.

If you didn't focus on that during loss, focus on it now.

Too many people do "lose weight fast": Restrictive eating, punitively unpleasant exercise. That can't continue life-long. At least, I can't do that forever. (Nonetheless, I've been in a healthy weight range for 8 years anyway, after about 30 previous years of overweight/obesity.)

Easy. Pleasant. Tolerable. Practical. Finding that kind of routine: I think that's the ticket.

Everyone maintaining after loss is in your same position, I predict . . . at least for the first decade or so.

jspecies11

Great comments. I think it’s also knowing your personal “why” to keep you healthy and going when you feel old habits kicking in.Think of yourself as a healthy strong person and you will act and behave as one. Don’t expect perfection from yourself but have a plan for your new life style to carry you through each day.

cmriverside

Yeah, I'm 15 years post weight loss.

If you don't really WANT to keep the weight off, it's going to be very hard.

I have experienced such a huge positive change with being at a healthy weight that I don't ever want to go back.

I'd say for me the first year post weight loss was the hardest. I hadn't *really* made all the changes. Heck, I'm still making changes...

I don't want to be fat. End of story.

spiriteagle99

I've been maintaining for over 10 years after decades of yoyo dieting. For me, I need to keep doing the things that helped me lose weight: log what I eat and stay active. By logging daily, I can't pretend that having an extra cookie or another beer won't matter. But it also lets me know I can have a couple of cookies or one beer if it fits my daily goal. Staying active gives me flexibility so I am not feeling overly restricted. It is also necessary for both my physical and mental health. I'm happier if I get exercise. At this point, it is more than habit that keeps me active.

CrazyMermaid1

The biggest “trick “ for my continued success Is to weigh myself every morning and record it in my journal along with planning out how to handle upcoming challenges for the day. Going out to dinner tonight? How do I prepare? What were yesterday’s successes and failures? What did I learn and how can I carry that lesson forward? It’s not for everyone but it works for me.