Terrified of maintenance

magerum

I am absolutely terrified of moving to maintenance calories. What are some ways people have used to overcome the mental barrier? I understand the method of scaling up... I lost 140 lbs in 7 months on 1200-1300 cal, adjusted up to 1800 for about a month, then up to 2300 for last two months... I'm still loosing about a pound a week, but I'm terrified of eating the calories needed to stop loosing. It will be between 2900 and 3100 depending on the formula used. I guess I'm afraid I'll wake up fat.

Any suggestions will be welcomed!

Thanks in advance!

SmartAlec03211988

How about instead of going straight to maintenance you add 100 calories every week until you do? And just watch your weight as you do.

CMmrsfloyd

I'm not quite there yet, but I understand that feeling of anxiety. I would just take it a step at a time (like pp said bumping up slowly) and also keep in mind that if you gain a pound, you know you can lose it within a week or two so really no big deal. Keep tabs on your intake/output and weight but don't stress over it, you already know how to lose it, so if you gain a little bit while trying to get maintenance right, it's not a problem. :-)

packalpha

great idea smartalec! very supportive CMmrsfloyd!

i too am very worried about maintenance mode.. i don't think i will stop my daily weight ins anytime in my life and if i stay active my weight will not go up. my lifestyle has changed for good

Di3012

How about instead of going straight to maintenance you add 100 calories every week until you do? And just watch your weight as you do.

this ^

OP you cannot be expected to automatically know exactly what your maintenance calorie level is, therefore, it will be hit and miss for a while until you find it.

As Alec suggested, just up it bit by bit until you find the correct level.

By the way, I know exactly how frightened you are feeling, you have not worked hard like you have done only to want all the weight to go back on, but it won't do that, not if you keep your eye on things and up your calories bit by bit x

amyy902

How about instead of going straight to maintenance you add 100 calories every week until you do? And just watch your weight as you do.

what he said. most sensible thing i have heard in relation to this.

harriet_tubman

I was scared to switch to maintenance at first too. You could try easing into it. Slowly increasing your calories every week or so (I'm probably repeating what other people have said). You'll be fine.

andreabball

I feel your pain. I'm not to maintenance yet, but am totally afraid of going off the deep end. Or, conversely, afraid that I won't let myself increase my calories for fear of weight gain. It's all a slippery slope really...
-Andi

ATT949

How about instead of going straight to maintenance you add 100 calories every week until you do? And just watch your weight as you do.

Agree.

I moved my number up but then, because I'm so used to "staying below the line", I still wasn't eating enough calories so I kept losing weight. Not good.

odonogc

I'm so glad I found this, I have a lot of anxiety about it too.

JacksMom12

I made a post with this EXACT same title about a month ago. I'm 3 lbs from my goal and dealing with the same fear! According to MFP my maintenance calories are only around 1550, so I'm totally nervous about figuring it all out. Good luck, and Congrats on yur awesome weight loss success!!!

firesoforion

I was, too. Don't worry about it. The worst that can happen will be that you gain a couple of pounds, but in the grand scheme of things, that isn't so much or bad. But then, I didn't even gain because of it!

magerum

Thanks everyone. I know what I'm supposed to do and have a good idea on how to do it. I just have this irrational fear of "waking up fat". I appreciate the support! That's what I need I think. I'm sitting at 2200 calories for the day right now, which should be a 700-1000 cal deficit for the day. Yet I'm afraid of eating more! On top of that I don't think I should lose much more weight.

I'll get over it I'm sure, especially with the support here. Perfect strangers that have nothing to gain or lose by being supportive. Just genuine support by like minded people. I appreciate it, truely.

Thanks again for the support and excuse any typos or gramatical errors, I'm replying with my phone.

M