But what happens when you reach your goals?!

meggiemaye

Hey all!

I've just been thinking about how I've seen people who say their weight loss failed because they were 'afraid' of reaching their goal. Maybe it's because I've only been overweight for a year or because I never felt I had a problem with food (I gained weight from hormone therapy), but I never understood that--I didn't feel like I'd be a different person.

But that same idea led me to one thing I DO worry about. I have lived and worked in Italy for years---mmm. We love our food there. The thing that terrified me is that I went into this so gung-ho, concentrating only on losing the weight and gaining the muscle, and being healthier. I didn't think about the maintenance involved once you reach those goals! I don't want to be counting my calories for the rest of my life.

I know it's a lifestyle change. We take so much joy in our food when I'm in Rome. We don't overeat but we definitely eat whatever we want in moderation, and drink lots of wine. I can't imagine monitoring myself and worrying for the rest of my life. I guess I was sort of looking at it as a destination, and I know that's the wrong mindset.

Does anyone who's experienced these feelings or reached their goals have any advice on this?

Nikstergirl

Honestly, as someone who's been overweight for a long time.. and has yo-yo'd a bunch of times, the hard part is keeping it off. Once you get to goal, you think "oh, I can have a treat for being so good" and then another, and then another... and so on! Usually for me, this happens when I do fad diets where I've been denying myself for months. This time will be different because I'm not doing that! If I want chocolate, I eat what fits in my day! Even if I have to work for it, I allow myself that treat. That way I'm learning not to just sit and eat the bag of candy, or three helpings of whatever... I can have those things, just portion out how much I can fit in!!!

This is just my experience, but as you haven't struggled like many of us have, I understand your confusion. I'm going to get there this time, and STAY there!!! My life now consists of weighing and measuring my food, logging my calories, and working out. This has never been easy, and probably never will be, but I'm getting there! I feel like my life is just beginning to get good... and I just turned 39!!!! I have so much more to live for... and I will be healthy and thin to enjoy it!

LJCannon

It probably has a lot to do with the fact that you have only been overweight for a year. You may be able to keep eating in moderation and exercising and be fine, once you get to maintenance. As someone who has been Obese most of my life--and I come from a Large Family--I believe that I will always have to be very concious of Calorie Counts. Kind of like a Diabetic monitoring their Blood Sugar every dayu, I will have to monitor my weight and my Calories very carefully. But I have only been at my Goal Weight for 6 months so we shall see.
Good Luck on your Goals, and congratulations on your progress so far.:flowerforyou:

KatyE213

As you said, its a lifestyle change. You reach your goal, you either keep watching what you eat and balancing that with exercise, or you stop and put the weight back on! Thats why so many people are yo-yo dieters. It doesn't mean denying yourself forever, just practicing a bit of moderation.

Terri73

The finish line is just the beginning of a whole new race x

kristie778

I was thinking about the very same thing! My focus has been on becoming healthy and fit, not losing weight, so I guess I am a little worried about the same issue. Also, I'm afraid I'll get bored with exercise when I stop seeing results and need to maintain.

As for food, I think food was meant to be enjoyed! (in moderation, of course) I agree that calorie-counting would be tedious to do for the rest of your life!! I am reading a book called "Intuitive Eating" by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, and this seems like a good balance - learning to listen to your body AND enjoy food!

kristie778

Honestly, as someone who's been overweight for a long time.. and has yo-yo'd a bunch of times, the hard part is keeping it off. Once you get to goal, you think "oh, I can have a treat for being so good" and then another, and then another... and so on! Usually for me, this happens when I do fad diets where I've been denying myself for months. This time will be different because I'm not doing that! If I want chocolate, I eat what fits in my day! Even if I have to work for it, I allow myself that treat. That way I'm learning not to just sit and eat the bag of candy, or three helpings of whatever... I can have those things, just portion out how much I can fit in!!!

This is just my experience, but as you haven't struggled like many of us have, I understand your confusion. I'm going to get there this time, and STAY there!!! My life now consists of weighing and measuring my food, logging my calories, and working out. This has never been easy, and probably never will be, but I'm getting there! I feel like my life is just beginning to get good... and I just turned 39!!!! I have so much more to live for... and I will be healthy and thin to enjoy it!

Totally agreed!! I think that is a great perspective regarding portioning out what you can fit in if you want it. And I totally can identify with the "I can have a treat for being so good" when you reach your goal - that's why I've been losing and re-gaining the same pounds!

capricorn144

I have always failed at maintaining my weightloss...many times over many years.

What I keep asking myself THIS time is Why is THIS TIME different?

I think it is harder when you back slide and stop paying attention.
It is harder when you are older. Each year that passes makes it very hard to keep your metabolism up and running.
You really need habits that are healthy and you need to keep aware of them.

In my experience I have fallen back into comfortable old ways and took my eyes off the prize of staying at a steady, healthy weight when I got there.

This time I want it to be my last time. I do not want to start all over again from scratch with the added 10 lbs that ALWAYS seems to join the rest when I go back to my old unaware ways.
It will be a real life change this time ...that is my intention.
You can never get sloppy with what you consume and how you expend energy once you reach the maintenence level. Or you will be like me and start over again for the umpteenth time.

I am glad to be back at this in a serious way but it is with constant thinking and planning and being creative to avoid boredom and slippage.
At least that is my story. :flowerforyou:

bmontgomery87

The finish line is just the beginning of a whole new race x

Agreed. Hit one goal, make a new one. You should always be striving to better yourself.

JennLifts

I've been maintaining since Nov 10, and I've realized that I like this body. I like the way it feels, and I like the way it's received. I definitely do not want to lose it. Therefore, it's worth it to me to track what I eat daily. Now i'm kind of hooked on it, and dont really enjoy not tracking. It's not worth it to me to enjoy cake because everyone else is, or to go out and kill myself with mexican. I've worked far too hard and long to ruin any of it.

JennLifts

The finish line is just the beginning of a whole new race x

so true. Once you get there, you have to learn things all over again, just like you did to lose it

capricorn144

The finish line is just the beginning of a whole new race

I love this quote!