Maintenance Thread
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Thanks DeeDee that video was a bit of a shock! :noway: wish I could get my hubbie to watch what he eats as well but like you its an uphill battle lol,
Vickie welcome to maintenance, you have done brilliantly! :drinker: I also like to try and keep a few pounds below my maintenance goal weight so I have some to play with but at the moment I am a pound over goal..... but thats not so bad considering all the Christmas and Birthday celebrations, this is the worst time of year for me :bigsmile:0 -
Hi to everyone. I have just attained my weight loss goal yesterday, so I guess that means I am beginning maintenance phase. I do plan on reducing by a few more pounds because I would really like to have a little bit of a cushion as I work towards learning how to maintain. I feel like I have definitely learned how to reduce my weight, but the maintenance part might be a little trickier. Anyway, just wanted to check in with all and say I've finally attained my goal.
Blessings
Vickie
Congrats on getting to goal weight. Maintenance is an entirely new challenge that you will surely meet! Welcome.0 -
I think the fat is already gone. But the scale is being stubborn!MadMadame, you are still doing wonderfully! Those two pounds will find there way out soon!
(Did you mean to type MaD instead of MaC? That's a very funny typo. And somewhat appropriate.)You really can't change another person. They have to find it themselves.
So true. My husband frustrates me as well. He gets bigger and bigger and more out-of-shape and actively resists any efforts on anyone's part to eat healthier and move more. He's a heart attack waiting to happen.0 -
YES! A typo...sorry about that!!!:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:0
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DeeDee, that is so scary! I am glad he is feeling better. I try to get mine to exercise more, he has a sit down computer job and travels a lot as well. It is hard to get into a routine when you are constantly changing scheduling, time zones, etc but I am afraid it is going to catch up with him as well. He eats good and bad foods so I try to bring home more of the good stuff but if I dont buy some bad food he'll buy it and get the really bad stuff
Unfortunately, I think they have to really want to do it on their own and I hate to nag him. I just try to keep doing what I can to give healthy meals and every once in a while i will ask if he wants to run with me or go to the gym. He does play soccer once a week with me. Love it!0 -
Dee, I can't thank you enough for sharing this link (and the links it shows you can click on after), it's always such a good reminder to see something like this to help me realize healthy is ALWAYS the best choice and if I chose to make a not so healthy food for a meal, the consequences that occur.If you do a google search you can find all kinds of references and video clips that show what blood looks like before a fatty meal and after a fatty meal. (If you are interested copy, paste, and watch... http://www.articlesbase.com/videos/5min/326711986 )
One bad meal can make a difference.
The small seemingly insignificant changes make a difference and can either build up our health or tear it down.
We can do this!
You really can't change another person. They have to find it themselves.
Here's to a great day for all of us!! :drinker: (today it is water in that cup instead of tequila!)
D
This video really spoke to me and I can think of so many it would help. But as some of you have shared, a person has to be ready and we can't 'make them ready' except perhaps by our example.
:drinker:
So glad to have this thread to jump in and know I'm not alone in working on maintenance, always great to see you all when I pop in:flowerforyou: which I'm looking forward to doing more of. The thought of adding more cals in after reaching goal is still a bit scary for me but I've upped my workouts and really can't do this to my body without adding more healthy fuel, it's simply not fair to my body. As has been often shared comparing it to a car, we need to keep it fueled to keep it moving well.
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Hey DeeDee, hope your husband is doing better...maybe this will scare will help him get on track. Sadly sometimes it takes something like this to wake people up. Good luck to him.
Thanks for the support - I am trying... the support and encoragement helps.
Just logging in from over the weekend. Was real busy - didn't get to actively exercise but... we re-did our bedroom. Painting, moving furniture, cleaning etc. Took ALL day - didn't eat much so went ou to eat at Red Lobster - split the meal and eat the other half for lunch on Sunday. Not too bad that way. Went to the store and loaded up on healthy foods for the week. So I have some homemade cauliflower soup for lunch.
I did get up this morning and ran on my treadmill - I bit too cold outside this morning. (30 mins.)
So I am starting my mini goals today.
1,) No snacking
2.) All my water plus another 8oz.
3.) Nothing after 9:00 (should be 8:00 but I am work in progress this week.
4.) Get my walk in tonight.
So there it is... my mini goal for today.
Hope everyone has a happy healthy day!!!!0 -
Been a bit naughty this weekend, to be honest haven't really quite got back on track since Christmas. I'm at my goal weight (I'd dropped too far below before christmas but now gained it back) but feeling bloated and flabby and I'm finding it hard to get back to eating healthily. Although it's much easier now I'm back to work and in my exercise routine, just need a return of the will power too.0
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Dee, I can't thank you enough for sharing this link (and the links it shows you can click on after), it's always such a good reminder to see something like this to help me realize healthy is ALWAYS the best choice and if I chose to make a not so healthy food for a meal, the consequences that occur.If you do a google search you can find all kinds of references and video clips that show what blood looks like before a fatty meal and after a fatty meal. (If you are interested copy, paste, and watch... http://www.articlesbase.com/videos/5min/326711986 )
One bad meal can make a difference.
The small seemingly insignificant changes make a difference and can either build up our health or tear it down.
We can do this!
You really can't change another person. They have to find it themselves.
Here's to a great day for all of us!! :drinker: (today it is water in that cup instead of tequila!)
D
This video really spoke to me and I can think of so many it would help. But as some of you have shared, a person has to be ready and we can't 'make them ready' except perhaps by our example. :drinker:
So glad to have this thread to jump in and know I'm not alone in working on maintenance, always great to see you all when I pop in:flowerforyou: which I'm looking forward to doing more of. The thought of adding more cals in after reaching goal is still a bit scary for me but I've upped my workouts and really can't do this to my body without adding more healthy fuel, it's simply not fair to my body. As has been often shared comparing it to a car, we need to keep it fueled to keep it moving well.
I just watched that video and whilst I wouldn't in anyway claim that eating fat is not harmful the example used was pretty extreme, The twin eating the 'healthy' meal ate 37g of fat, which I would actually view as a pretty bad choice, I would rarely eat a meal that had that much fat even as a treat and I'm not super good. The twin whose blood showed the difference ate 208g of fat, that is an insane amount but I guess it is possible if you eat as much junk food in one go as she did, that was more like three meals rolled into one.
Umm and the only links that I could've clicked on after were (not wanting to offend anyone) how to make homemade sex toys and how to achieve the female orgasm!!! :blushing: I hasten to add that I did not click on them :laugh:0 -
Hi there! I have been on MFP for about a year and a half, but just found this maintenance thread. I find maintenance so hard--more frustrating than losing the weight in the first place! But have been pretty steady for about 7 or 8 months. I haven't read through everything here on the thread but it looks like all of you are in the same place? I'm 41, a mom to a 6 year old. I chose to stay at home a few years ago, but now that my son is in kindergarten I'm on a quiet quest for reinvention..but don't know what to do, where to start, etc..... This summer I was down to about 121 lbs, at 5"6'--super happy, but feeling a little obsessive about keeping myself there. I took some advice a few months ago from some other MFP'ers and stopped weighing myself, so have been just judging how I fit into my clothes. Well, I was not smart a few weeks ago, thought I looked thin and safe to get on the scale, so I did. I found my weight crept up a few. Right now I'm kind of questioning whether this really matters--since I'm still fitting nicely into my clothing--should I care? Or, do I start obsessing again? Right now I switch back and forth based on my mood of the day. Anyway, look forward to keeping up with you folks!0
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Kadetr...you will fit right in here. I for one struggle immensely with the obsession. I don't know what a good weight even is anymore. Everyone tells me I look great but maybe I just don't look "fat" anymore. I want to be really fit and I know that I am not where I want to be yet. I am way better than when I started years ago but there is still more to do to be truly healthy.
Bravo to you for tossing the scales. I am still too addicted to them. They do not dictate what I do but they are sort of my friend and enemy...always watching and monitoring me...making me accountable.
121 sounds really thin for 5' 6", but then only you can really judge that. If you are basically saying that being in the 120 somethings is a comfortable weight that you were able to maintain for 7-8 months I would say that is probably a really great weight for you. Are you exercising? I imagine so...and probably exercising a lot. Do you feel toned and fit?
Congrats!
D0 -
DeeDee, thanks for the welcome! It's funny to hear you say that--you don't really know what a good weight is anymore. I originally joined thinking I needed to lose 8 lbs and just kept readjusting my goals down as I kept losing....I guess I had no idea I could be this low. But then I just stopped--I didn't change a thing with eating or exercising, my body just didn't want to lose anymore (although I secretly was curious if I'd see a number in the high teens...it didn't happen). Because of this, I still struggle with how many calories to eat and how much exercise I really need.
I do cardio about 6 hours a week. I know i need to mix it up more, but I have been using my trusty elliptical for most of it. Some walks and some yoga/stretching exercises. During this weight loss and maintenance journey I have realized my perception of how I look and feel (whether I look thin, or toned, etc....) is totally warped. I still look in the mirror and see places that need lots of toning. I still wonder why when my pants bag out I have those annoying love handles. I think that's why using clothing to judge my weight helps. I have one pair of jeans in particular with absolutely no give--so if I put those on and they are tight, it's time for some clean eating. I'd highly recommend putting the scale in the closet and trying it if you are sick of the yo-yo answers you get from the scale. Within just a few days the anxiety over those numbers just went away......until I saw that extra 4 lbs on the scale a few weeks ago. Back in the closet that scale went!
Anyway, look forward to getting to know you and the other regulars!0 -
It's nice to have a zone and not a specific weight if you can. A 5-10 pound range makes those eventual fluctuations easier to take. I've been weighing myself everyday and I think this might need to change in the near future to once a week to avoid the scale obsession. I don't think I want to go much longer because I no longer log my foods and would like to stop gains before I have to go back to actively seeking to lose weight.0
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Funnily I'm more the other way, I'm still obsessive about logging my food but not so worried about weighing although I do weigh roughly every week at the moment, I think I might change to fortnightly though.
Kadetr I can relate to what you say about body image and those places that need toning. What really bugs me is that I can clearly see my ribs yet I have a bulge of flab by my armpit. Grrrrr.0 -
Mine is loose skin. So no matter what I do, it won't go away.What really bugs me is that I can clearly see my ribs yet I have a bulge of flab by my armpit. Grrrrr.
So are other people finding that once you get down to a normal weight, that the number on the scale doesn't necessarily tell you what's going on? I am finding my body composition changing constantly while my weight stays fairly steady and I'm not sure if that's normal or not.
Kadetr- I wouldn't worry about the scale if your pants still fit! I have been 118 and my pants were tight and 120 and my pants were loose. (Of course, I've been 120 and had tight pants too. :laugh:). I figure the scale number isn't tattooed on my forehead so, if I still take up the same volume in space, that's what's everyone sees.0 -
Hi everyone :flowerforyou:
I'm not new to MFP, or to maintenance, but I just stumbled upon this thread...nice to find a group that I can relate to a little better. I've met some great people along the way, but it gets tough with all the talk of losing when I'm trying to be happy where I am.
Well, some about me...I've been on MFP for over 2 years -lost most of my weight before coming here. I have maintained my 105 pound weight loss for 19 months...I've given myself a happy range of 145-150, which is where I am most comfortable and happy. Being 5'8", I don't know that I'd really ever want to go lower than 140. Just trying to focus on improving my body composition and getting stronger at this point. That, and wanting to stay at my happy point while I start looking at wedding dresses. A little bit of vanity never hurt anyone, right?
Looking forward to getting to know some of you!
Shuntae0 -
So are other people finding that once you get down to a normal weight, that the number on the scale doesn't necessarily tell you what's going on? I am finding my body composition changing constantly while my weight stays fairly steady and I'm not sure if that's normal or not.
I weigh exactly the same thing now as I did this time last year, but am at least 1 size smaller. Seems like it is changing all the time.0 -
Hey all,
kinda slipped a little these past two days. Didn't go to spin last night and didn't run this morning.
. I did walk though... Kinda sad again... some days it just hits me - had a bad day at work on Monday and kinda not feeling well today. Not sure whats up other than I am still really sad/depressed some days. I keep trying...
So my goal for today is:
1). to eat my healthy salad I made for lunch
2.) drink my water
3.) have my healthy apple with peanut butter snack this afternoon.
4.) try to get in an extra walk tonight.
Also, I already have healthy turkey chili w/veg. made for supper tonight. Top it with a little low fat cheddar cheese and I am good to go.
Hope everyone is having a happy healthy day!!!0 -
I like the zone/range Idea Rae, that's a good idea. I guess when I weighed myself I was still in the right zone, just hate to see any increase. You just have this feeling if it's 4 lbs now, what if another few creep up, then suddenly your are close to 10! UGH...paranoid!
Yvonne--you sound just like me. If I didn't see that size on my jeans, I wouldn't actually believe I was a size 4. It's almost like your eyes readjust to making you think you have body issues no matter what size you are....
MacMadame -very good to know what you said about the weight not necessarily telling you the whole story regarding body composition. That wasn't really on the radar screen. Maybe I need to use the measurement route a little more to see how those are changing..
Satellite---when is the wedding? Congratulations--wow, 105 lbs. I'm sure you have the determination to look fantastic today and on your wedding day! What an achievement.
You are all great---this should be a fun thread to track... have a great day!0 -
lobster888 Sorry to hear your feeling sad today:flowerforyou: thinking of you x 0
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So are other people finding that once you get down to a normal weight, that the number on the scale doesn't necessarily tell you what's going on? I am finding my body composition changing constantly while my weight stays fairly steady and I'm not sure if that's normal or not.
Yep I find this a lot and I'm sure it's not just my perception of how I look. My weight is still the same this week but there's definitely a hint over flab bulging out the waistband of my tracksuit bottoms today which wasn't there last week. I guess that's where I notice it most, sometimes my tummy is nice and flat and other times more bloated and there's no obvious link with what I eat.0 -
For me, I get "fluffy" in the winter. I don't do much exercising in Dec. It's my month off from serious training. But my appetite is still there so I'm eating like I'm training for a marathon or ironman or something. :laugh: At first the scale doesn't budge. But I start getting the muffin top. I figure it didn't move because I lost muscle while I gained fat. Then, come Jan., the weather gets better and I get motivated again and I start up on the training. By March I'm heavy into it and have a lot of lean muscles and the flab is all gone.
At least that's what happened last year. I can only hope it happens this year. I'm definitely eating more than I ate last year and working out less. But the doctor today said I need to work through the scar tissue in my calves and not be afraid of the pain so it looks like I'm cleared to get back into training. That should help a lot.0 -
I'm definitely eating more than I ate last year and working out less. But the doctor today said I need to work through the scar tissue in my calves and not be afraid of the pain so it looks like I'm cleared to get back into training. That should help a lot.
I am eating more but still exercising the way I always do. HOWEVER I DO find that maintaining the weight is harder than losing it. I've introduced some foods that I normally don't eat while trying to lose.
Eg: I love having my wine at night but lately I've been getting sloppy and gained 2 pounds back. It's a delicate matter trying to find a lifestyle of eating and exercising that keeps your weight where you want it.:ohwell: But then, I try to be honest and weigh myself every week no matter how bad I think it may be. Our bodies must be saying...."What the heck is going on????":laugh:
BirdieM0 -
I'm definitely eating more than I ate last year and working out less. But the doctor today said I need to work through the scar tissue in my calves and not be afraid of the pain so it looks like I'm cleared to get back into training. That should help a lot.
I am eating more but still exercising the way I always do. HOWEVER I DO find that maintaining the weight is harder than losing it. I've introduced some foods that I normally don't eat while trying to lose. Eg: I love having my wine at night but lately I've been getting sloppy and gained 2 pounds back. It's a delicate matter trying to find a lifestyle of eating and exercising that keeps your weight where you want it.:ohwell: But then, I try to be honest and weigh myself every week no matter how bad I think it may be. Our bodies must be saying...."What the heck is going on????":laugh:
BirdieM
I now what you mean about finding the balance. Personally though I never worry about a 2lb gain, as it's likely to just be a natural fluctuation. If I find my weight goes up 2 weeks in a row or is close to the top of my goal range I just clean up my eating habits for a while and find I lose the weight by next time I weigh in.0 -
One of the problems I have that will probably keep me logging for ever, is that I tend to be about 10 days to 2 weeks behind my behavior; good or bad. So, I can know that I am eating poorly, like I did over Christmas, but get on the scales and not see a big change...and even if I change to good behavior it is about 2 weeks later that I see a ballooning of my weight.
So, the scales are definitely not a good way for me to really measure day to day, rather I look for trends.
I wish I had an accurate way of measuring body fat percentages. My gym has a hand held one but I have heard they are not that accurate and that you are supposed to do it on an empty stomach, which is impossible if I am planning on working out. What are your thoughts?
A range is the best plan, for sure.
One of the body image issues is also loose skin! I thought that when I reached this weight I would look like I did years ago at the same weight. Well, WRONG! 25 years and 5 kids and hormones have a way of doing really bad things to your skin! So, my legs, even though have a weird sort of droopiness to the skin...it sort of sags down in tiny ripples. (gross) No amount of toning is going to change my skin.
Well, I probably have more to say but I am tired and fear that I may just start rambling.
You should each be so proud of yourselves for the amazing accomplishments that you have achieved!
Here is to our better health! :drinker:
D0 -
Good Morning all, so this week hasn't been the best - but too bad either. I didn't go to class - and I skipped a run on wed. But I did walk instead. This morning I got up and ran on the treadmill and did really well. I keep logging in and being accountable - so it is helping. My food choices have been healthy too. So, i am getting there.
Hope everyone is havng a great day!!!0 -
One of the body image issues is also loose skin! I thought that when I reached this weight I would look like I did years ago at the same weight. Well, WRONG! 25 years and 5 kids and hormones have a way of doing really bad things to your skin! So, my legs, even though have a weird sort of droopiness to the skin...it sort of sags down in tiny ripples. (gross) No amount of toning is going to change my skin.
D
I know what you mean!:embarassed: I'm 62 and although my legs have real muscle form to them, there's the droopy, wrinkled part that isn't going anywhere
My upper arms are saggy too, so sleeveless clothes are not very flattering:grumble: But it's better than what I had before. There was fat that filled each wrinkle.....so my heart knows I'm better off. It just puts a limit on style, which when I was younger wasn't an issue But I still look much better in my clothes than before and have MORE options than when I was overweight.:flowerforyou:
BirdieM0 -
Checking in for the week. Good discussions this week, been too busy to read this until today. I finally got some of my holiday weight off and now back within maintenance range. Dee Dee, you might be right about the delayed weight gain. It seemed to hit me a week after the New Year and that was discouraging!
Welcome Kadetr and SatelliteCrush80!
Kadetr, we are about the same with weight and height (5'6" and right now I am 126) I dont think I want to go quite as low as you but I was shooting for a low of 123. Got to 125 over the summer but crept up a few over the holidays. I have 3 boys including a 7 year old so about the same as your son. Cute pics of apple picking!0 -
Hi Gals, happy Friday!
DeeDee, interesting about your 2 week delay. It does make sense. I'm finally starting to feel like myself again after the holiday. I ate poorly then, then went right into the TOM, then for the last few weeks have been working like crazy to normalize my eating. Clothing is finally fitting better. I'm still not going to make the mistake of weighing myself for awhile though...no thanks! Love your after 5 kids description of the body.....too funny.
Kath, great to know our stats are similar. And glad you are back on track too after the holidays. Once on maintenance it is kind of depressing to go back into loss mode.
Just some food for thought to compare since I think we are all so similar....I have 2 questions: What do you all use for maintenance calories? And, how much do you exercise now that you are on maintenance?
I'm always playing around with my maintenance base and think mine seems low but when I eat more I do seem to gain weight. I had been using 1410, and my goals were set at activity level "lightly active" and "lose 1/2 lb a week". I was using this because I was too nervous to move my goals to maintenance and eat the 1500-1600 or so they suggested. Then I just moved it down this week to 1290 temporarily to clean up my act w/eating. Are you all safely using a base of 1500 or so??
As for exercise, I have my HRM set for "maximize fitness" and it spits out this 6 hr number for me to work towards. Sometimes I wonder if this is overkill for maintenance too. It's hard to get in an hour a day, with only 1 rest day. What are your routines?? Are any of you maintaining on less, or about the same exercise? I think it would be an interesting discussion to hear comparisons.
hope you all have a great weekend!!0 -
Not sure how similar I am to you weight/size wise but I'm 5'4 around 118lbs and eating 1600 calories and have my activity level set to lightly active too. I can remember feeling nervous about increasing my calories and stayed at the losing 0.5lb a week setting for a few weeks after I reached my goal weight before going for it and increasing to maintenance. I currently cycle to work everyday and go to the gym 3 times a week. Sometimes I eat all my calories including my exercise ones and sometimes I don't. Like you this week I have been eating fewer calories but didn't bother changing my goal. I find my exercise level/food/calorie allowance seems pretty balanced. Think I have gained this week though, not sure if it is to do with my body being 2 weeks behind too as I have found that in the past or (apologise if TMI) coming off hormone contraception, have read some horror stories about side effects and people putting on weight soon after stopping. :frown:
More on the exercise question- I was at times doing more cardio whilst losing. My 3 sessions in the gym are predominantly weight training for about an hour and anything between 5-20 mins on the cardio machines. The weight training helps as the muscle gained helps to speed up your metabolism and some studies say you have an increased calorie burn for upto 36 hours after you finish exercising as opposed to cardio which stops pretty much as soon as you stop the activity. My personal trainer subscribes to the theory that if you have limited time do strength training because of the benefits, plus I get my cardio in by cycling. Also the rest days in between are important for recovery, continued muscle growth and to let the levels of cortisol which are released as a stress response when you exercise return to normal before the next session otherwise they keep getting higher and higher.0
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