Nervous about what is next

AlsDonkBoxSquat

So as of 2 weeks ago I had lost all of my goal weight except ½ pound (yay me!). I was excited; I changed my goal weight loss from 2 pounds a week to ½ pounds per week so that I could just lose that last ½ pound. I then went out and spent money I didn’t have doing the necessary task of refitting my wardrobe with the basics (thank goodness for 4th of July sales). I have unfortunately not been able to weigh since then, so tomorrow morning I’m weighing in for the first time in 2 weeks.
I’m nervous about maintenance. I think in that time I’ve lost more inches, if not weight (more than my ½ pound) taking me below goal. I don’t want to buy smaller clothes (I’m a size 0/2/4 depending on the designer), I’ve just spent too much money on clothes to have to replace them again. I’m nervous about being too thin; I was anorexic and bulimic 15 years ago, when I was in high school and don’t want to go back to that place. I’m nervous about eating too much, I’m nervous about eating too little, I’m nervous about losing muscle mass and energy . . . I like being powerful and defined.
It feels good to be back where I was before I was sick in high school, at a healthy and attractive weight and size for my figure, to be honest. I never thought I’d be able to be this fit again. However, the prospect of maintenance and finding that balance is nerve racking.

kimmerroze

If you are worried about eating too much (like I am) When it comes time to set your calorie goals, just set it about 100-150 calories below your maintainence... in my opinion this will give you(and me) a buffer so that you don't over eat, but yet it lets you eat a lot...

keep working out... but cut it back to every other day or only 4 times a week, this way you don't over work yourself but you dont' get out of the habit of working out either.

Keep a positive attitude... nothing can be more detrimental than having that fear there, so work on meditation, and as long as your numbers are in the right place, then you have nothing to fear...

and last

keep with MFP... its good for the mind and body...

and good luck! I cant wait to be at maintainence.

Eleisabelle

Congratulations on your success--you did it! Now just learn to love your body, don't let stress sabotage you, and learn to see food as fuel and something to enjoy, not as something to fear or drown in. Have you heard about "Intuitive Eating?" It's a maintenance plan that helps you move past your fears about food and "perfect weight" maintenance and gets you used to the idea of listening to what your body really needs and providing that sustenance.

It can be a difficult journey, but what we all need to get past is the idea that our bodies can sit on a specific weight and stay there. Your weight is going to fluctuate--sometimes as much as 3-5 pounds--over the course of the month, based on water weight, sodium intake, hormonal changes, etc. What is better for us than looking at weight is making sure that we're satiated without using food as an emotional crutch, and fed without feeling guilty about whether we really should have splurged on that one doughnut.

You know what? You might put on a pound or two. But if you learn to trust your body with food, and it learns to trust that you will give it what it needs and not starve it or use food to compensate for stress, you'll stay where you need to be. It just takes time. You've come this far--you can do it!

AlsDonkBoxSquat

Thanks ladies. I have learned to enjoy and respect my body. For the first time in my life I appreciate the things that my body can accomplish and the definition I see in the mirror. I'm planning on keeping up with my food diary on here, I think it's important to maintaining success, I've already proven that I can't do it on my own. I'm just nervous about ending up back in an extreme, I feel like I'm standing in the middle of a teeter totter and I'm not sure what direction it's going to fall . . . hopefully I'll be able to figure it out over the next couple of weeks.

ptheders

I feel the same way, although I am not as close to my goals as you are. I don't want to be dieting for my whole life. I am a lover of food and I don't want to constantly feel deprived.

I don't really feel qualified to answer your question, but in my opinion, the key is to train your brain to understand the connection between food and exercise and act accordingly. If you have a day where you eat more than you feel comfortable with, work it off!

Its all about trying to rewire your brain I guess. Its so much easier said than done. I think that once you reach your goal, the second your pants feel a bit tight you'll reign it in. Everyone's weight fluctuates from time to time, its just a matter of keeping it all within your control.

Hope that my amateur theories are helpful! Ha ha! Either way, congratulations on all your success!

sugarlovebug

No real advice, but....

You are awesome! You can do anything you put your mind to and you have proved it! You will do great at maintaining your weight and will not relapse!

marvel927

You have an awesome story. the most important thing is if you can overcome you situation, you can overcome anything. you just have to continue doing what you are doing now but to maintain a healthy body weight. just because you have reached your goal doesnt mean you can stop working out or stop eating healthy. you just have to make adjustments to fit your current lifestyle and most importantly, dont let fear get the best of you.

you are doing great. keep it up!!