Just Started Maintenance Officially Today!

HavenIryxia

So I just started maintenance today and I can't get passed my fear of gaining. We all know how we got to be overweight (we ate too much as well as poorly and didn't exercise). So its probably a common fear that if we are supposed to be eating maintenance level calories (mine is almost 500 above what I had been eating while losing) that we could gain weight. This is my biggest fear, and I don't know how to get past it.

I have lost 55 lbs since February 2011 and I want to keep it off. I know that my TDEE is around 1694 or so, and MFP tells me to eat 1680 + whatever I exercise calories I gain from working out. When I work out (6 days a week usually) I can burn anywhere from 500-900 calories and I don't see it being possible for me to eat that on top of the 1680 that MFP has allocated for me daily.

I have the fear of gaining because to me that is a huge amount of calories to eat, and I also keep finding myself thinking I am a fat *kitten* for eating so many calories, even though I am on maintenance and this is what we are supposed to do. I love to workout and get an awesome burn, but in the end I am going to have to eat a portion if not all of those calories back if I want to stay neutral.

I guess my question is how did you guys get passed the negative voice in your head telling you that eating that much is still going to make you fat? And how did you get past the fear of gaining? I am really really struggling with this and I am not sure what to do about it. I appreciate any kind of advice you can give me, I could also use some maintenance buddies to help me out and encourage me because I can tell I will be running an uphill battle even while on maintenance just getting past these fears. Thank you for your time!

-Ashley

lunalulu2

I started on maintenance around Thanksgiving and I am still working to get my calories sorted out. I was scared at first too. I would suggest raising them slowly maybe 100-200 every week or so. That will allow your body to adjust and give you a chance to see what works for you. Don't worry you will be able to eat them once you get used to it and realize that you are not gaining. I burn a similar number of calories as you on most days. I am currently eating around 2300 calories per day and I just lost another 2lbs.

FITnFIRM4LIFE

I have maintained since May 2011. I eat 18-2000 cals a day. Ex of some sort, walk, dvd etc 30-40 mins 3-4 days per week, 2-3 days per week I lift weights and strength train 30-60 mins.

I started to zig zag my cals months b/4 mainenance like 1500-1600-1800-2000-1900 etc. Then by may I kept always around 2000-2200. I have been staying same except at times I go 2 pounds up and then it goes back. I attribute this to Sundays, for me, is a spike day, which while losing i did too. I eat pretty high cals on this day and it's also my rest day. I also eat my ex cals.

It's understandable to worry about gaining. But, you will be fine. I still at time zig zag to confuse my metabolism. I am starting to lift heavier and considering adding a few more cals. My focus now is muscle/definition and strength. Since may I have been at 115-117.
You have to play around and see what calorie amount works for you.

Good Job for getting to maintenance, It is hard work. However,it seems harder to maintain mentally verses losing,due to the result/loss factor. I feel its important to find a goal in maintenance since pounds off is not the motivator. My goal since maintenance was to rescupt my body. attain definition and strength. I am 46 and the muscle building allows more calorie burn and also makes me feel strong and healthy.

Good luck;-)

keiraev

You won't put weight on by eating 1600 + exercise calories! If you don't eat them you will keep losing weight, it's hard to get your head around but you will probably find you can actually eat far more than what mfp gives you & stlll not gain.

MJ7910

i am experimenting with my calorie total for maintenance. weird things happen. i used to gain weight on 1600 and recently i am not gaining weight on 1600, i'm losing... so i think i'm going to just have to increase a little every few weeks until i find what works for me. i wonder what it will end up being... i workout about 6x a week, burn about 240 calories each time. 5'4 about 123 lbs... so i am thinking like 1750 but i'm not all the way worked up to that yet so i don't know.