So what happens when you reach your goal weight?

kandrews24

You've gotten tons of great comments and while I'm generally an ubber positive person . . . keep in mind that the number of calories you can eat get's less as you age. To me, 1500 or 1700 sounds like a feast!

I'm 47 years old and 5'2". Once I reach goal, I'll be allowed 1200 calories daily (if I'm lucky). I have a desk job and even if I exercise, it will be 1350 or whatever.

So, enjoy it while you're young (or enjoy being tall) or whatever. Anyway, try to appreciate the food you're eating. There is more to lfe than food and certainly food can be divine even if you don't eat huge volumes of it. I find that I can have any one treat any given day. I can even have one nice large meal any given day (and keep the others small).

Lastly, veggies are the secret. They are so good for you and high in fiber and make you feel full. I eat a huge salad (enough for four people) in addition to what I'm having for dinner. I feel great!

You can do this. Don't expect too much change too soon.

erickirb

So after you get to a certain size - how do you maintain it? I am reading that when I am my goal weight I naturally burn 1500 calories a day. Even if I ran 30min a day (to burn 200 cals) that is still only 1700 I can eat without gaining weight! Is that really the only way to keep the weight off once you reach your goal? It almost seems like it isn't worth it to lose weight if I can't enjoy eating ever!

You are right, but you could just burn more than 200 if you want to eat more.

DKBelle

Doing same thing as before It is not a diet , but a lifestyle therefore you gotta continue if you don't want to gain back the weights that you lost.
I pretty much moderate my foods, cakes and workout 30 minutes 6 times a week which is doable

Here you can see my moderated recipes with pics :
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cooking-ideasHomemade-Healthy-Foods/179121125503371

ashnm88

All you people just "trying to get skinny" really irritates me! I am doing this to get healthy, to be proud of myself, and to prove that I am worth more than a f***ing cheeseburger! Once I reach my "goal", I'm going to train more and do things that I could only dream about a year ago (rock climbing, pole vulting, hangliding, running a marathon!). If you don't completely change your habits then your going to end up they way you where in the first place, fat, tired and depressed!

This is so true. I'm doing this to get healthy as well. I also don't want to back to where I was.

trishstrain

I've lost more than 120 pounds and kept it off for 16 months now. You have received a lot of good advice here. What I found for myself is to take the information I've read and learned throughout my weight loss journey and then fashion a plan that works for ME. That's what I had to do to lose weight, and it's what I have done to maintain.

I am envious of those people who now "crave" only healthy food. If you told me I could never have another french fry, I would give up right now. So, since I have always been a person of extremes, what works for me is to watch what I eat very carefully Monday - Friday (and yes, that means counting calories and tracking food and exercise), and then eat as I please on the weekend - with no calorie counting or food tracking. This, combined with exercising at least 45 minutes 5 days a week, has allowed me to both indulge in the foods I enjoy from time to time, and maintain my weight loss. Everyone is different. You will find what works for you!

d2footballJRC

This is one of the reasons I like the spike way of dieting/life style.

I eat in deficit 6 days a week (currently 1900 cals.) an done day of eating a spike day (Currently that is 4.4k cals). Make some minor adjustments per the program book and keep eating along those lines. I don't plan on stopping though. Once I hit my goal weight I will be trying to gain muscle and going through gaining and cutting cycles to get the body I want.

bcattoes

That's the way you should eat most of the time to maintain. But you can go over occasionally and not gain weight. The trick is to make sure those days remain occasional.

DonM46

All you people just "trying to get skinny" really irritates me! I am doing this to get healthy, to be proud of myself, and to prove that I am worth more than a f***ing cheeseburger! Once I reach my "goal", I'm going to train more and do things that I could only dream about a year ago (rock climbing, pole vulting, hangliding, running a marathon!). If you don't completely change your habits then your going to end up they way you where in the first place, fat, tired and depressed!

I'm sorry I irritate you.
People who unnecessarily use the F word as a common adjective irritate me.
So, I guess we're even.
I reached my goal in mid-November and have stayed within 2 lbs (some over, some under) since then.
Having a 'dead' leg below my right knee, I can't physically perform the feats you delineated; however, my blood pressure and my cholesterol levels are that of someone 1/2 or 1/3 my age. THAT's enough to motivate me to maintain.

erickirb

All you people just "trying to get skinny" really irritates me! I am doing this to get healthy, to be proud of myself, and to prove that I am worth more than a f***ing cheeseburger! Once I reach my "goal", I'm going to train more and do things that I could only dream about a year ago (rock climbing, pole vulting, hangliding, running a marathon!). If you don't completely change your habits then your going to end up they way you where in the first place, fat, tired and depressed!

I'm sorry I irritate you.
People who unnecessarily use the F word as a common adjective irritate me.
So, I guess we're even.
I reached my goal in mid-November and have stayed within 2 lbs (some over, some under) since then.
Having a 'dead' leg below my right knee, I can't physically perform the feats you delineated; however, my blood pressure and my cholesterol levels are that of someone 1/2 or 1/3 my age. THAT's enough to motivate me to maintain.

you could focus on upper body strength, pull-ups,bench-press etc.

cardbucfan

I think after a point, it stops becoming a diet and starts becoming a way of life. When I'm not training for a race, I can eat about 1800 cals/day for my height and activity level. Most of the time, I hardly make that because all I want (yes WANT) to eat is fruit and veggies and lean protein.

But also remember, a low calorie requirement doesn't mean you can never go over. You can balance it with eating less the day before (or after - similar to calorie rotating that some people use to lose weight) or exercising.

Also, a bit of tough love here: think to yourself, what sort of habits with food made you overweight in the first place? In some respects, if you don't change those habits, then yes, your struggles right now won't be worth it because the weight won't stay off. Changing your relationship with food will make it worth it - and remember, you are definitely worth it!

This^^^^^!

ImKindOfABigDeal40

I can't speak for everyone, but I have decided to adopt a healthy lifestyle. I quite like things the way they are. I don't miss eating junk food, etc... I often find myself in a severe calorie deficit and having to force myself to eat something in order to meet my calorie requirements.

maews

good answer

maews

i so agree ashna 88,that' the truth

maews

It should be more about getting fit and stonger and healthier,not pencil thin.

JoolieW68

http://www.shapefit.com/calorie-intake-calculator.html# <<I especially like the zig zag. It lets me have bigger days.

After I am done losing my fat, I plan to try getting just generally more fit. I'll eat lots of protein and concentrate a little more on strength (I only do strength a couple times a week right now).

Nice link, thanks for sharing.

NHGirl23

bump

tigersword

So after you get to a certain size - how do you maintain it? I am reading that when I am my goal weight I naturally burn 1500 calories a day. Even if I ran 30min a day (to burn 200 cals) that is still only 1700 I can eat without gaining weight! Is that really the only way to keep the weight off once you reach your goal? It almost seems like it isn't worth it to lose weight if I can't enjoy eating ever!

Build up muscle. Your metabolism increases, and you can eat more, plus you're much stronger, and in much better shape. Win-Win.