Transition to Maintenance

LightenUp_Caro

Okay, so I'm nearing the end of my weight loss and I'm about to begin the transition into maintenance.
My only fear is that I will actually gain weight instead of maintain. I'm currently at about a 400 calorie deficit, and if I go over my allotted calories, I will see a spike in the scale. So basically, if I'm not losing a TINY TINY bit, I'm gaining. Will adding back calories slowly be enough to keep a noticeable gain from occurring?

Maintenance is the scariest thing for me because I've never had luck with it. Classic yo-yo.
I know that I won't continue to gain once everything levels off, but should I lose a couple of extras just to compensate for my gain back into maintaining?

I'm not so concerned about it being a number, but more of a mental defeat which triggers me into gaining. It kind of sounds silly typing it here because I really just want visual results, not calculated, but I'm just concerned its going to spin me back into another cycle of gain/loss.

Any tips or advice would be GREATLY appreciated. :flowerforyou:

adopt4

You've learned about your body already. So if you are at a 400 cal deficit, work your way into a 200 or 100 calorie deficit, wait a month, and see what your body does. The numbers here are "general" and may not be the actual numbers your body needs.

Don't lose extra weight just so you can gain it back. It may require some experimenting to find out exactly what your "number" is for maintenance, but once you learn it, you've got it! And remember, that number can change over time, so you may have to adjust it every once in a while. Doesn't mean you're doing anything wrong- it's just nature.

WTJoyce

I've found that it depends on how active you stay. If you continue with a regular exercise program and an active lifestyle, and keep an eye on your caloric intake you should be fine.

I actually continued to lose weight duirng my first 3 weeks of maintenance, but it leveled off in week four.

For me the biggest learning piece was portion size and what foods to just avoid.

rheston

I agree with WTJoyce, you've already got the tools in hand and have experienced what you can and can't do so your lifestyle change should be in place now and all you will do is keep your daily log and gradually add calories (small increments at a time) while you maintain your exercise routine and you should be able to balance things out for yourself.

Congratulations!

kimber607

Hi and great job!

I lost 27 pounds here form Jan08-April 08
it's been about a year and I've kept it all off , minus 3/4 pounds
I was initially eating 1490 to loose weight and bumped my cals up to 1800-2000 to maintain
My activity level is pretty hight being a SAHM to a 4/5 yr old and yesterday as far as working out I walked/ran on the treadmill for 45min and did J/M 30 day shred level 3.,...so I am assuming I burned maybe 500+ cals

I know some people hate the scale but my advice is to weigh in weekly or bi-weekly
don't stress if u put on a pound or 2 (I didn't ) but I think it 's a reality check and prevents things from getting too out of hand if u start to gain

Kim