How long have you been at your goal weight?

Patttience

This question is for the girls only. I figure whatever is going on for guys has not so much relevance to my situation.

And First up let me clarify: The goal weights i'm interested in are pretty low goal weights, say somewhere in the mid range of your healthy weight range for your height or less.

How long have you been able to maintain this weight? How much exercise are you doing to maintain it? And what are your daily calories, height age and weight. (sorry i sort of need all that info to make sense of anything you might report if you are going to offer any info at all about yourself).

But mainly are you finding it hard? Do you ever get surges in appetite that seem difficult to manage over a period of time. and that you can't really pin down to stress, overwork, poor diet, and the only explanation seems to be your body's resistance to being a low weight?

I've just about hit goal but i'm also just starting to struggle with my appetite. My food is really healthy. My macros are pretty good. I ve been doing the 5:2 fasting diet for about 8 weeks i guess. I feel like my body is starting to fight back.

My weight is… was 60.8kg/133-134 pounds at lowest, my height 165cm/5'5", my daily calories are 1400 and 500 on 2 fast days. I don't do much exercise but i have just started doing HIIT skipping which is only a few minutes a few times a week and trying but not always succeeding to do 10000 steps a day. i'm not quite 51 and female.

Thanks for any advice or insights.

rand486

This question is for the girls only. I figure whatever is going on for guys has not so much relevance to my situation.

Right... because we don't have binges, concerns about our looks & health, stress-eating habits, etc? :-|

Moving on, because I intend to be helpful, not argumentative.

The goal weights i'm interested in are pretty low goal weights, say somewhere in the mid range of your healthy weight range for your height or less.

Likewise - I train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and to stay in my weight division, I'm at the bottom of the BMI "recommended" area. A guy my size should be about 145-165 lbs. I walk around at 145-150 lbs.

How long have you been able to maintain this weight? How much exercise are you doing to maintain it? And what are your daily calories, height age and weight.

I am 5'8, about 150 lbs right now, train 10-15 hours/week in BJJ (which I recognize is extreme compared to most people on here), and eat at 1580 on a cut. Maintenance is usually somewhere around 2200-2300. I've been at this weight for about 2 years, with some hiccups (see below).

But mainly are you finding it hard? Do you ever get surges in appetite that seem difficult to manage over a period of time. and that you can't really pin down to stress, overwork, poor diet, and the only explanation seems to be your body's resistance to being a low weight?

Yes, absolutely, I've found it hard to stay in the bottom of that "recommended" area. I often dream of going on a bulk and just putting on a ton of muscle, but I lack the time to take up strength training on top of my already packed schedule.

I took 3 months off training at the start of this year due to a whole slew of financial and work emergencies, and promptly gained 15 lbs from stress eating, and the lack of exercise. I'm only now getting back to my original competition weight.

It may be hard, but damn is it worth it.

"You suffer the pain of sacrifice or the pain of regret"

I've just about hit goal but i'm also just starting to struggle with my appetite. My food is really healthy. My macros are pretty good. I ve been doing the 5:2 fasting diet for about 8 weeks i guess. I feel like my body is starting to fight back.

My weight is… was 60.8kg/133-134 pounds at lowest, my height 165cm/5'5", my daily calories are 1400 and 500 on 2 fast days. I don't do much exercise but i have just started doing HIIT skipping which is only a few minutes a few times a week and trying but not always succeeding to do 10000 steps a day. i'm not quite 51 and female.

Based on your description here, it sounds to me like you're in a place I was a year or two ago - you are bent around the numbers, and treating MFP as "rules", as opposed to a general lifestyle to embrace. You're fasting (which is something I don't tend to subscribe to), obsessing about your metrics, and fretting.

You are eating at maintenance! This should be the easy part - cutting/losing is what sucks. Enjoy life, and embrace your newfound body and lifestyle! Keep using MFP, but remember you are doing this for the rest of your life - have fun

tremroy1

Thats not fair, I thought guys were not allowed to comment. We cant relate.....and why???? weight loss is weight loss. I agree totally but totally with the last comments......by a Man????? very interesting.

cwolfman13

Never mind...just a guy maintaining for a year and a half here...I'm sure I have nothing valuable to share with a female.

BlueBombers

I've been maintaining my weight for almost 10 months now. I have been finding it quite easy actually. I don't do a lot of cardio now other than walking (have a FitBit) and biking, my main focus now is weightlifting. I eat over 2000 calories per day (plus most of my exercise calories). I'm am 36/F, 5'7", 155 lbs.

Edited to add answer all your questions.

Jump4Fitness

I reached my goal weight in July (so maintenance for only 2 months). I have actually dropped another couple of pounds during maintenance as I try to figure out my maintenance calories. This still keeps in me within the healthy BMI range. I am 56, 5 -'4.75" (small body frame), fluctuate between 118 to 120, eat 1600 to 1800 (some days 2000), and workout 5 to 6 days a week. I lift weights with 1 or 2 days of cardio (30 minutes). I log but not diligently (don't want to rely on having to log forever); just enough to make sure that I stay within my maximum calorie allowance and macros (still learning this).
Yes, there are days I am ravenous and crave sweets! My ultimate goal is to gain more lean muscle so that I can eat more calories. I eat 3 main meals a day with 3 snacks (10 am, 3 pm, and 8 pm). I tend to overeat when I go too long between eating. I find the key to maintaining my weight is exercise. I am working on eating better.

jlahorn

I maintained for seven years, once upon a time. This time through, it's been about 2 years.

I work out an average of 5 hours per week, mostly Zumba and hiking.

5'6", 40 years old, 1450 net cals per day.

I find it very difficult; it's a daily struggle. I do get huge surges in appetite that are unrelated to stress, overwork, poor diet, or my cycle. I have no idea what causes it, but I am slightly hypothyroid (Hashimoto's with high-normal TSH), so it could be hormones. I doubt it has anything to do with my body's resistance to being at a low weight because I've had starving-all-day days for as long as I can remember, regardless of my current weight.

Maybe go in for a checkup, tell your doc what you just told us, and see if she has any thoughts.

rand486

Thats not fair, I thought guys were not allowed to comment. We cant relate.....and why???? weight loss is weight loss. I agree totally but totally with the last comments......by a Man????? very interesting.

Never mind...just a guy maintaining for a year and a half here...I'm sure I have nothing valuable to share with a female.

My guess is that she's in the headspace where "It's harder for women", which... is true, to a degree. My female friends poke fun at me a lot because I get to eat more just for being male (ie: more testosterone = more muscle = higher TDEE)

But that doesn't invalidate our experiences, nor does it make her current problem difficult to spot. It's pretty clear that she's still in the "phase" where this is work, must be followed strictly, and hasn't relaxed and learned to enjoy her new body/lifestyle.

I was once in the same place, which is why I went ahead and answered anyway.

OP, to add to my original post - I forgot to note: You mention "very little exercise". That is likely what is making it "difficult" for you, if you're struggling. Do you want to be skinny, or healthy? If the latter, you need exercise, not just low body fat.

Instead, you're beating yourself up over 10k steps/day (!), when there's so many different exercises out there that could help you. Aerobics, swimming, pilates, yoga are all great and newbie-friendly. Get moving!

tremroy1

Wow more good insight!!!! from a man!!!!! must be your feminine side.

Sabine_Stroehm

5'6", 135 today, and 49 years old

I've been within 5LBS (+-) of my goal weight for 13 years or so.

The first 9 years weren't tough at all, as I had developed some really great eating habits and I'm pretty active.

The last few, with per-menopause, have been harder. Some months harder than others. It seems now, with all the same habits (and increased activity even) if I blink, the scale nudges up a bit. And there's not much rhyme or reason to it, right now, except refined carbs play into my weight gain.

So, I'm more diligent, and more careful about refined carbs than I was even before.

ETA: When I was younger, I'd have a lot of hormone related cravings. After I changed my eating habits, that was less of an issue.

ETA: I eat somewhere between 1500-2000 calories a day (estimated, I don't log). I walk about 12,000 steps per day. I run 3 5k 3x a week and walk 5k 3x a week.. I bike commute (2miles each way), I do Pilates 2x a week, and I lift weights 2-3 times a week.
On weekends we hike, ski, walk the dogs, cycle...I walk to the market....

cwolfman13

Thats not fair, I thought guys were not allowed to comment. We cant relate.....and why???? weight loss is weight loss. I agree totally but totally with the last comments......by a Man????? very interesting.

Never mind...just a guy maintaining for a year and a half here...I'm sure I have nothing valuable to share with a female.

My guess is that she's in the headspace where "It's harder for women", which... is true, to a degree. My female friends poke fun at me a lot because I get to eat more just for being male (ie: more testosterone = more muscle = higher TDEE)

But that doesn't invalidate our experiences, nor does it make her current problem difficult to spot. It's pretty clear that she's still in the "phase" where this is work, must be followed strictly, and hasn't relaxed and learned to enjoy her new body/lifestyle.

I was once in the same place, which is why I went ahead and answered anyway.

OP, to add to my original post - I forgot to note: You mention "very little exercise". That is likely what is making it "difficult" for you, if you're struggling. Do you want to be skinny, or healthy? If the latter, you need exercise, not just low body fat.

Instead, you're beating yourself up over 10k steps/day (!), when there's so many different exercises out there that could help you. Aerobics, swimming, pilates, yoga are all great and newbie-friendly. Get moving!

Good points...I'm grumpy today...long week...and I'm getting old...turning 40 in a few days.

OP...see the bold text. Exercise is very good for you in general...and it is very important to maintaining a healthy weight in that is just makes things so much easier. If I didn't exercise...even with being otherwise lightly active, I'd only be allotted around 2300ish - 2400 calories...which leaves me wanting to be sure.

With regular exercise I eat around 2,800 - 3,000 calories of awesomeness...and it's awesome. I ride for about an hour 4x during the week and a longer 2 hour ride usually on either Saturday or Sunday.,..this equates to around 80 - 90 miles per week. I hit the weight room 2-3 nights per week depending on my schedule...but at least 2x weekly for a full body resistance workout.

RaspberryTickleChicken

Okay first of all - to all the dudes who were a little 'put-off' with the exclusion - WHHOA - chillax guys! :flowerforyou:
Just something to consider - perhaps OP was specifically soliciting feedback from women because women has menstrual cycles which does only pertains to well ... women. Hormonal driven cravings associated with that time of the month can be rather challenging for some. Of course I don't KNOW that was the intent but it's definitely a possible reason. ... just saying :flowerforyou:

ANYWHO - onward with the reply:

How long have you been able to maintain this weight?
About 10 mths (yay)

How much exercise are you doing to maintain it?
Reduced duration of cardio from 45 - 55 min to 30 min & revved up the intensity to compensate. Frequency remains the same - 5-6 times a week. Have recently incorporated weight barring exercises 2-3 times a week in addition to tone. :bigsmile:


And what are your daily calories, height age and weight. (sorry i sort of need all that info to make sense of anything you might report if you are going to offer any info at all about yourself).
1215 [I can hear all the gasps now ... I'm the size of an average 4th grader so yea ... my daily caloric intake can't be the same as someone who is 6' tall] :smooched:
4'10"
94 lbs

But mainly are you finding it hard?
I have to admit - initially I did freak out a little at the thought 'O-M-G I'm going to have to continue the regular exercise & catalog my food intake for the rest of my life!' HOWEVER, after almost 2-yrs of doing so it's now as automatic as putting on my seat belt every time I'm in the car. I literally don't even think about it any more - for me it was never about a 'diet' it was always to be a true lifestyle change.

Do you ever get surges in appetite that seem difficult to manage over a period of time. and that you can't really pin down to stress, overwork, poor diet, and the only explanation seems to be your body's resistance to being a low weight?
Of course - Everyone does! Particularly challenging the week right before my cycle starts. I have NEVER believed in self deprivation either. If I want some chips, I will eat a portioned size (according to the food label) of chips. I think it's just human nature to want more what has been deemed forbidden so I've NEVER tried to put anything TOTALLY off limits - no matter where I was in my caloric count for the day. If I ate it I logged it. If I went over, okay I went over. Going over once or twice a week shouldn't really impact the overall scheme of things. I think many times it's easy to get caught up to reaching that almighty goal and miss the main point of a true lifestyle change is learning balance ... at least for me.

I did use to feel disappointment in myself & bummed when I went over my daily allotted calories. But I read an article that really put things into perspective for me. NO ONE can be on track 100% of the time for the rest of their lives in ANYTHING! :laugh:

SO now I subscribe to the 80/20 rule (for me it's more like 90/10) & it has alleviated a lot of my cravings simply because I no longer have that self-imposed guilt associated with a little indulgence. I always keep it portioned control and tbh since I've adopted this approach, I've found maintaining 94-95 very very easy.

Best of luck to you!

Mischievous_Rascal

I've been maintaining for 10 months now. I'm (almost) 46, 5'5, fluctuating between 133-138 and my maintainance calories are 2500. (I use the TDEE method, so my exercise calories are included in my daily total.) I do a little barbell work (deadlifts, mainly) and some bodyweight stuff 3xweek (45-60/session) and I walk 3xweek (30-45 minutes/session). Some days I'm hungrier than others, for sure. Some days I have a protein shake to make sure I get enough in me. I also don't believe that any food should be taboo. (Except soy, but that's because I have an intolerance for it. I have a milk intolerance as well, but there are pills for that. lol)

I also do intermittant fasting, but I do it daily with a 10 hour eating window. I tried 5:2 for about a month, but I was ravenous all the time, even though I was getting the same amount of calories averaged over the week. IF can play tricks on a woman's hormones, so you may want to try tweaking that and see if that helps.

Have you figured out your maintainence calories yet? You should be lessening your deficit the closer you are to your goal weight (ie, eating closer to maintainence).

rand486

I'm (almost) 46, 5'5, fluctuating between 133-138 and my maintainance calories are 2500.

Wow! That's a lot more than I expected for a woman to hit maintenance haha.

I also do intermittant fasting, but I do it daily with a 10 hour eating window. I tried 5:2 for about a month, but I was ravenous all the time, even though I was getting the same amount of calories averaged over the week. IF can play tricks on a woman's hormones, so you may want to try tweaking that and see if that helps.

Yeah, everything (reliable) that I've read has said Intermittent Fasting is NOT a good idea for women. I'm curious why you chose to do it, and how you tweaked it.

I tend to live by, and suggest to interested friends, "moderation in all things, including moderation". No concerns about timing, just follow your suggested calorie amount, hit your protein goal, and enjoy the rest of your life haha. It's much easier to live by!

jkwolly

I'm (almost) 46, 5'5, fluctuating between 133-138 and my maintainance calories are 2500.

Wow! That's a lot more than I expected for a woman to hit maintenance haha.

I was surprised at how low your maintainance was for being so active, actually!

rand486

I'm (almost) 46, 5'5, fluctuating between 133-138 and my maintainance calories are 2500.

Wow! That's a lot more than I expected for a woman to hit maintenance haha.

I was surprised at how low your maintainance was for being so active, actually!

1580 when I'm cutting, 2300 or so for maintenance. Yes, I spend 10-15 hours/week training, but drilling and class are much more relaxed. Actual sparring (we call it rolling) is VERY intense, but as you improve, you use less energy.

If you hit up Youtube, you'll see white belts "spazzing" and going crazy, but black belts look like it's just another day at the office - no facial expressions, calm, relaxed... I lost weight a lot more easily back when I was new at this sport haha.

georgiaTRIs

I'm 5'5 and 150 lbs. I started at 251 lbs. 6 years ago. I have been at my current weight for 3 years. I have decided to get another 10 lbs. off. I work out every day. I now do marathons anf TRI's. at 69 years old I feel great!! I recently took up Cross-fit and love it. I recently finished classes and got certifird to be a Personal Trainer. You feel so much better after working out and can enjoy life!!!!

harribeau2012

I've been at my goal weight for 30 years...it's the additional 5 stone on top of the goal weight that causes me issues. :happy:

dolliesdaughter

I am shocked that no tall woman have answered. I am 5'9", I am close to goal but not yet.

Mischievous_Rascal

I'm (almost) 46, 5'5, fluctuating between 133-138 and my maintainance calories are 2500.

Wow! That's a lot more than I expected for a woman to hit maintenance haha.

I was surprised at how low your maintainance was for being so active, actually!

I'm just coming off a four month recovery from surgery, so we'll see where it falls after I get my strength back! My pushups SUCK right now! Eating more would be a chore, so I may have to cut out cardio completly. lol

Yeah, everything (reliable) that I've read has said Intermittent Fasting is NOT a good idea for women. I'm curious why you chose to do it, and how you tweaked it.

I didn't chose IF, it's just how I've eaten since high school. I only enjoy breakfast if I'm really hungry (like today) so I've always skipped breakfast. Now I just do it consciously.

IF is fine for women, it's just it may have a detrimental effect on hormones, etc., for some women. I'm one of them. After a few months of doing 16:8 it was like I had PMS constantly. That's why I do 14:10 now.

themommie

I am 51 5'6" 152 lbs and have been at my goal weight for almost a yr. At times Ifind it easy and at other times it is a struggle. I walk 3xs a week ride my exercise bike 3xs a week and do strength training 2xs a week.

farfromthetree

What Sushi said!! I am 5'4'' and stay between 125 and 130 lbs. This has only been for about 2 months? maybe a little longer. I weigh daily so if I am creeping up towards 130 I cut back a little. So far it has worked.
I have days when I am a bottomless pit. I just try not to go too crazy and usually the next day is better.Protein shakes help a little.
I do CrossFit 3 times/week and try to do walk/run intervals the other days.

Edited to add...I am not a fan of intermittent fasting. Just my opinion. I have nothing to back it up with, it just seems too regimented. On 500 calorie days I might kill someone.

tremroy1

I dont think tall woman are permitted to comment on this topic. They cannot relate to shorter women's problems. Now I know men know nothing about mentrual cycles and such. lucky for us we have internet and You Tube and the Discovery channel.

PaytraB

I've been maintaining for 1.5 years now. I allow a range of +/- 5 lbs. I find that I've never gained more than about 3 or so before dropping down again but I also never drop below my goal weight more than a pound. So, basically I'm maintaining well.
At times I find it easier than other times. There are days on end where I'm constantly hungry and have to be careful about better food choices and other days where I'm not hungry very much. It all balances out, though, is what I'm finding.
I run 3x a week and do a little bit of tai-chi, consisting of one class per week and some practice.
I am 5'10", 160 lbs, 56 yrs old and aim for approx. 1700 -1800 calories per day (average).

rand486

I dont think tall woman are permitted to comment on this topic. They cannot relate to shorter women's problems. Now I know men know nothing about mentrual cycles and such. lucky for us we have internet and You Tube and the Discovery channel.

Alright, alright... let's chill out a bit. I think the point has been made (and drilled into the ground).

There's some great advice in here, from men and women alike. Fact of the matter is, we (men) do get to enjoy about 300-500 calories more per day, so I can understand how a woman in her 50's would be struggling, given some of the guys in here get to eat literally double what she does...

I never intended to make this thread so polar...

bkw61

I reached my goal weight in July (so maintenance for only 2 months). I have actually dropped another couple of pounds during maintenance as I try to figure out my maintenance calories. This still keeps in me within the healthy BMI range. I am 56, 5 -'4.75" (small body frame), fluctuate between 118 to 120, eat 1600 to 1800 (some days 2000), and workout 5 to 6 days a week. I lift weights with 1 or 2 days of cardio (30 minutes). I log but not diligently (don't want to rely on having to log forever); just enough to make sure that I stay within my maximum calorie allowance and macros (still learning this).
Yes, there are days I am ravenous and crave sweets! My ultimate goal is to gain more lean muscle so that I can eat more calories. I eat 3 main meals a day with 3 snacks (10 am, 3 pm, and 8 pm). I tend to overeat when I go too long between eating. I find the key to maintaining my weight is exercise. I am working on eating better.

This is simulair to me ^^^^^. I have been maintaining a bit longer- since May. But have also lost a few more pounds while figuring it out. I also use fitbit to gage my calorie burn. I am 53, 127lbs. Med. body frame, 22bmi and stick to 1650 calories a day. I do not eat back my exercise calories. I eat three meals, three snacks a day, and am close on macros. I walk between 100-13k a day, and do light wieghts and pilates three times a week.

SyzygyX

The men in this thread.



Your tears are so sweet.

auddii

Ok, I'm not at goal yet, so take this with a grain of salt. But, most people I know who do 5:2 intermittent fasting are doing it to create a deficit. Since you're maintaining, wouldn't it be easier to eat the same amount each day? As it is, you are maintaining on less than 1200 calories a day, which for a lot of people is less than what they need to eat to lose weight.

Have you been maintaining long? Are you actually maintaining at that calorie level or are you continuing to lose? What does MFP say is you maintenance levels? If that is your maintenance level, I would think it would be difficult to maintain long term just because it's pretty low calorie. If your maintenance level is that low, I'd agree with others and try to add in some more exercising, even if it's just going for walks. Something to get your calories higher so that it will be easier for you to stick to long term.

libbydoodle11

bump

RaspberryTickleChicken

Edited to add...I am not a fan of intermittent fasting. Just my opinion. I have nothing to back it up with, it just seems too regimented. On 500 calorie days I might kill someone.

ahhm yea I'm right there with you ... we would be cell mates & I don't look good in fluorescent orange! :laugh:

mamadon

I'm 52, 5'4 and weigh 145. I've been maintaining for about 7 months. I don't do a lot of formal exercise and I maintain at about 1850 a day. I tend to eat around 1300 to 1600 during my work week, and around 2500 a day on the weekends.
ETA: I find it as hard as losing, except I get to eat more.