Maintenance - What do I do?

stuffinmuffin

Hi everyone!

Okay this morning I jumped for joy when I realised I've hit my target!!! MFP has taught me so much about what I was doing wrong with my eating habits and taught me what I need to know to maintain a healthy lifestyle with a little bit of everything in moderation. I've made some AWESOME friends on here and their inspiration has been second to none.

I now want to work towards toning my new skinnyness up and learn about maintenance - does anyone have any advice on maintaining? I've heard a few people mention that you should up your calories a bit each week, but how many - or is this the best way to do it?

Any advice great recieved.... x

swaymyway

Go into your settings and change your goal from losing weight to maintaining, this will tell you how many calories MFP suggests you need to maintain.

A lot of people suggest you go up around 100 - 200 calories per week but just do whatever works for you - my difference between lose and maintain was only 250 calories so I just did it right away and have had no ill effects.

erickirb

Congrats. Essentially do everything that you did to lose weight but eat more.

Some people exercise a little less as well.

and yes, try adding 100-200 cals to your day and stick with is for 3-4 weeks, then up it another 100-200 for anther 3-4 weeks until you get to maintenance calories. Doing it this way you may find that your real maintenance is higher or lower than what MFP has calculated for you.

yaddayaddayadda

Bump... 2 lbs to go!

Lozze

Not sure, but congratulations! What a brilliant effort!

Shweedog

I upped my cals by 100 per week til I got to maintenance. I kept losing though. And at a faster rate since I had temporarily caused a spike in my metabolism by giving it more fuel. In hindsight I wish I had just started maintenance cals because I ended up losing too much and actually had to work to gain five pounds back. Lol. Then I fell off the wagon and am now working to get back to 130!! Good luck and congrats!!

agthorn

Congrats! There's a group of sorts here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/191617-maintenance-thread (several of us have also asked for a 'maintainers' category on the forums).

I also immediately upped my calories to "maintain my current weight" (I was only at a 250 calorie deficit) but I'm still working to find the sweet spot. My goal now is also lifting; I just bought The New Rules of Lifting for Women (and finding my actual maintenance level is going to be interesting, because that book's formula gave me a maintenance level that is 300 calories higher than MFP!)

But other than that, the fundamental principles of MFP still apply - track your food, eat your exercise calories, and choose an overall healthy balanced diet. Good luck!

CARNAT22

I'm almost there and the difference between losing 0.5 per week and maintaining is just 240 cals!

Once I shift those last few lbs I'll up my cal's by the full amount.

PS - congrats OP - well done you!

ohdear1986

i just take each day as it comes, i have been maintaining since may this year. with a gain of 0.2lb, a loss of 0.2lb etc which is completely normal but this week i have started losing again (1.6lb??!) but i don't track, maybe i need to now though. i am eating 2000+ a day yet i can't keep the weight on. (124.6lb @5ft 7.2")