Maintenance Fears

hopeitworks

So, I'm about ten pounds away from my goal weight. The closer I get to my goal, the more nervous I get. So far, I've been able to deal with the dieting part. It's almost like getting into a set routine and following it. What scares me is how to handle things when I reach my goal and no longer have to diet. I know that I will still be following a plan of eating right and exercising, but not having to have the discipline of "dieting" (I know I'm not supposed to use that word) kind of scares me. Have any others thought about this?

hopeitworks

So, I'm about ten pounds away from my goal weight. The closer I get to my goal, the more nervous I get. So far, I've been able to deal with the dieting part. It's almost like getting into a set routine and following it. What scares me is how to handle things when I reach my goal and no longer have to diet. I know that I will still be following a plan of eating right and exercising, but not having to have the discipline of "dieting" (I know I'm not supposed to use that word) kind of scares me. Have any others thought about this?

SallyAnn

Think about a 5lbs rule. Weigh yourself no more than once per week and if you gain 5lbs cut back again. Don't stress a pound or two until you hit 5lbs above goal. Slowly add "healthy" calories back into your life post diet. Keep up with the exercise. Find something you like todo.

P.S. When you hit your goal weight celebrate (non-food). Go to the spa for the day or take a friend to get a pedicure. Plan a fitness vacation (cheap) go hiking and camping. Make a healthy picnic lunch and take everyone who supported you or put up with your diet.

elli

hi there - i read your post and looked at your profile - you and i are kind of in the same boat. I've lost the weight probably 5 times during my lifetime but (obviously) ALWAYS gain it back. This time - i lost 40 pounds about 2 years ago and slowly about 15 crept back on. I realized i was kind of "addicted" to the losing - the maintaining is HARD! This time i at least caught it before it was the whole 40 pounds and i joined mfp. I REALLY like it - I've lost 4 pounds so far, so I have about the same to go as you. My plan THIS time is to stay with mfp, and use 1500 calories for maintenance and still put in my food and exercise for at least 6 months until i feel like i have a grip on the whole thing. Maybe even longer. I know we can do this - and the good news is we're doing it NOW 'cause it's getting SO much harder to lose it as i get older! hang in there! elli

Wolfena

Seriously.... when you hit maintenance, not much changes. You get to eat a whopping 500 extra calories every day - all the kinds of foods and exercise you've been doing remain the same. Well, maybe instead of eating more you'll chose to exercise a bit less to gain those 500 calories. 500 calories is super easy to eat!

Don't think of it as maintenance, Just up your calorie goal and still think of it as "dieting" if you have to - just long term dieting!

thejarviclan

I didn't have trouble maintaining (for 5 years) as long as I exercised. I basically ate whatever I wanted, too - but after learning about food and calories, I didn't want as much as I had previously!

It wasn't until I went back to work full-time and STOPPED exercising, that I put on 21 pounds (and it took a year.) Now I'm back into the swing of Right again. :happy:

kerrilucko

Seriously.... when you hit maintenance, not much changes. You get to eat a whopping 500 extra calories every day - all the kinds of foods and exercise you've been doing remain the same. Well, maybe instead of eating more you'll chose to exercise a bit less to gain those 500 calories. 500 calories is super easy to eat!

Don't think of it as maintenance, Just up your calorie goal and still think of it as "dieting" if you have to - just long term dieting!

exactly. not much with change. I have 6 to go til I'm there. I plan on counting every calorie still. I'm going to do exactly what I'm doing now but I'm going to do it with 500 extra calories. If you hit your goal and decide, "ok, I'm done, back to my old life now" you'll OF COURSE gain it back, but if you continue what you're already doing, with the neccessary changes, you'll be fine :flowerforyou:

kendallalissa

I hit my goal last Friday! Woohoo! So, I'm on the road to maintaining. Because I refuse to decrease my workout routine lower than 5-6 days/week, my nutritionist said to just add more to my meals, but don't actually add more snacking. For instance, when I was trying to lose my breakfasts consisted of:
-regular oatmeal
-2/3 C 1% milk
-half or whole fuji apple
-coffee with coffeemate
Now that I'm maintaining, I include 1/8 C walnuts to my oatmeal and some peanut butter. As for my lunch, I've added a salad in addition to my sandwich and fruit. Just little things like that. It's amazing how much 400 extra calories makes you feel! It was very exciting to know that I am now able to go from 1310 to 1710!!!

Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

kimber607

Hi

I came here in Jan 08 and my May lost almost 30 pounds
From May until December I went up/down a pound
The Holidays came and I stopped weighing in and had too many excuses to splurge
I went up about 4 pounds...since then I've cut back and am down 2....
It is a HUGE fear of mine to gain the weight back
I think all we can do is work-out, and FOR ME....weigh in weekly (no more/no less)

GOOD LUCK
Kim

chulie

Im exactly the same way....Im not so much afraid of the diet part. I think Im pretty much gonna stick to what I need now, just not freak out over maybe going over once in a while...but my biggest thing is i dont want count calories the rest of my life. I'm afraid to stop counting calories!hahaha..Nothing changes, I have the same food in my diet but still it's like a krutch. Im trying right now to not log calories on the weekend and see how that goes. Not that means I get to eat what I want, I just want to see if I can make good judgement calls on my own. If that works then Ill cut my days slowly over time and if I start to gain I'll go back to counting. I reached my goal on Sunday so Im in the same boat. Good luck!

LeanLioness

I know exactly what you mean...........

I lost 98 pounds in 2003 and gained about 60 pounds back and have yo-yo'd those 60 pounds back and forth for the past 5 years...........

I am taking it off for good this time and my whole mindset has changed as far as "dieting" or a "change of life"...............