So close and scared

angiek941

I have about 10lbs to go until I get to goal, but honestly, at this point, I look and feel better than I have in a decade. I'm happy but I'm scared. I dream I wake up with all the weight back on.. (I did WW before this, so I've lost 80 in all) Maintenance is looming, and it's freaking me out. I know how to lose, but maintaining is in uncharted waters for me.

vger11

Congrats!
I think when we continue to listen to our body(s) we'll be able to satisfy it without reverting back to old habits.

I bet if you continue to plan and log you'll get it to become old hat and that'll help tremendously...

WTG!

engineman312

at this point, you should lowering (raising?) your "loss per week" goal. it should be at 1lbs per week, and then when you hit 5lbs to goal, you should go to 0.5 lbs per week. it would be the best way to adjust. when you hit your goal weight, you can go to maintenance.

when you hit maintenance, i would stop weighing in every day, or even every week. try every two weeks, or even once a month. your weight fluctuates so much, and with exercise, you'll see muscle gains and water retention, etc etc.

chevy88grl

at this point, you should lowering (raising?) your "loss per week" goal. it should be at 1lbs per week, and then when you hit 5lbs to goal, you should go to 0.5 lbs per week. it would be the best way to adjust. when you hit your goal weight, you can go to maintenance.

when you hit maintenance, i would stop weighing in every day, or even every week. try every two weeks, or even once a month. your weight fluctuates so much, and with exercise, you'll see muscle gains and water retention, etc etc.

What he said - except I'm in maintenance and I do weigh in everyday (it helps keep me honest and on track). I think weighing is a very personal thing - some people can't handle seeing the fluctuations and some people learn about those fluctuations and know what is normal for them.

Maintenance takes some getting used to - but, you can do it. Ease into it gradually.

angiek941

I know you're right. I think I've been fat for so long and thin for only a few months. I guess I need to give myself time to adjust...

Great idea about going down .5 a week! I didn't think about that. MFP is still new to me. Thanks everyone.

LessJos

I just hit goal and I will definitely weigh in regularly (daily and track weekly). There won't be a chance I let it slip without noticing!

I have those dreams too and I think it will take a while to fully grasp the fact that I am at a normal weight now. The mind has not caught up yet!

themommie

CONGRATS on your weightloss and being so close to your goal. I am in the same boat i have lost 90 lbs and have 10 more to go and am also scared of maintenance. I have lost large amounts of weight before and ended up gaining it back. I have heard that it helps to keep making goals for yourself, such as run a 5k or start a new exercise such as yoga, to constantly be working towards something......

angiek941

Yeah, I understand and don't get too freaked out by the fluctuations, so I'll definitely weigh at least once a week. I think it keeps me honest too.

angiek941

I love to run, so I definitely plan to always have a race on the horizon. I can't stand not to be prepared, and if I pay for races, I'll be ready for them ;0) Now I just have to work on toning.

juliapurpletoes

i started maintaining in september after losing 30 pounds and I did also wake up at night with scared feelings - you are not alone! I kept feeling like it was all too good and the other shoe of something bad was gonna drop.

I would agree with the advice above (engineman312) and it is what is working for me. I do have a happy weight range of 5 pounds that i fluctuate in and I still do weigh every day. But I have come to understand the fluctuations as what a normal healthy person does so that is ok!

Keep logging and it is going to be fine!

getfitdiva

I have those same dreams and doubts of maintaining at times (once a month). It's different now because I know what it takes to be healthy and I'm aware of what I need to do as oppose to just eating and doing what I want all the time. I know it's going to take work to maintain a range when I reach it, so I will use what I know. Eat clean & exercise if your pants start fitting tight (not during TOM )

tigerblue

I feel your pain! I've been maintaining for exactly one year now, and it's still scary! I'm happy to say that I am within 2 lbs of where I was a year ago. But I still obsess about gaining it all back, because that is what has happened before. (40 lb loss)

I still log in every day and put EVERYTHING in my diary. I cannot trust my body/mind, because it still wants to EAT. Especially at this time of year with so many treats.

So I just try to balance my calories in and calories out. I do give myself a little leeway, and try to look at the "weekly" picture of calories in and out so I don't totally obsess! I do eat treats, I just compensate by exercising more, or by eating less of something else.

I'm currently (or at least after the holidays) concentrating on also eating more healthfully--cutting sugar and processed foods, etc.

One more thing, be careful of the maintenance calories that MFP reccommends. I find them a little high. I did some research by looking at lots of online calculators, and set my activity level at sedentary (even though my job finds me up and moving a good bit). That seems to have worked. MFP gave me way too many calories if I set it at lightly active. So I use sedentary, as I said, and then I log in every bit of exercise, and sometimes even a bit of daily activity, if I have to wlak more than usual, etc.

So far so good, except for the obsessive mind thing. . .

chevy88grl

Yeah, I understand and don't get too freaked out by the fluctuations, so I'll definitely weigh at least once a week. I think it keeps me honest too.

Weighing everyday has helped me learn a lot about my body (and the fluctuations). I know what foods tend to make me bloat (almonds are one), how much water I need, how pain meds affect me (I take them for pain in the fusion in my spine), etc. It helps to learn what is normal and what isn't normal. For me, it keeps me honest and helps me stay on track. I know other people freak out at the fluctuations and are better if they don't weigh everyday. Do what is best for YOU.

TinaDay1114

It's normal to be scared -- I'm down to my last 4 lbs., and I'm scared too!!
For me (and for a lot of us, I think) I still don't see the fitter / healthier me when I'm walking around everyday. I FEEL great, everything is better, but in my HEAD, I'm still 17-20 lbs. overweight. I think it takes your head WAAAAY more time to adjust than the rest of you.

I find that if I just try not to panic (a little fear is OK, normal), and go back and look at how far I've come, it makes me feel less afraid. You just need some celebration (and a reminder) of what you've accomplished -- then take a deep breath and just stay the course.

P.S. I also dropped my weight loss down to .5 per week (and upped my protein) over the last few months. Good advice.