Maintaining weight loss

kparks2

I have been doing well and losing weight and I do feel I will reach my goal weight. Has anyone on this sighted reached their goal weight and maintained it? What do you do during the holidays?

TKHappy

I'm interesteed in your replies I'm going to be struggling with the same thing soon. I will take a wild guess and say-keep up a workout schedule, continue to track calories and practice moderation.

Beezil

Yes, I reached my goal weight in November of last year. I've kept it off since. I slowly increased my calories until I found a comfortable number that didn't cause me to gain weight, and that's about 2000 calories + exercise calories if I want to eat them. As for holidays - I eat what I want. One day of splurging doesn't hurt you. Congratulations on your awesome progress, and good luck to you in reaching your final goal!

prism6

While I am far from my goal weight, I see it as never being 'done'

kparks2

Yes, I reached my goal weight in November of last year. I've kept it off since. I slowly increased my calories until I found a comfortable number that didn't cause me to gain weight, and that's about 2000 calories + exercise calories if I want to eat them. As for holidays - I eat what I want. One day of splurging doesn't hurt you. Congratulations on your awesome progress, and good luck to you in reaching your final goal!

Thanks for the encouraging words. I am actually good at the 1320 cals(not including the exercise calories I earn daily) i have daily and I do take Saturdays off I am just hoping once I reach it I maintain and not gain. But that helps a lot! Thanks!!

kparks2

I'm interesteed in your replies I'm going to be struggling with the same thing soon. I will take a wild guess and say-keep up a workout schedule, continue to track calories and practice moderation.

I plan on it and I am interested in the replies too. You just often hear of celebritites or even people I know personally that lose weight and within a year or two gain it back granted they did crazy fad diets or weight loss clinics

msudaisy28

While I am far from my goal weight, I see it as never being 'done'

^^this!

I'm a ways from my goal weight as well, but there was a great piece on NPR regarding how those who have lost weight have to generate a deficit of 300-400 calories per day when compared to a similar build person who never had the extra weight to lose.

To me that means that the lifestyle that I'm building now will never end, although my total calorie intake may go up a bit. As for the holidays - enjoy yourself! One day won't kill you, just be sure to get back to those healthy habits the following day!

12by311

There are lots of people on here who have maintained healthy lifestyles over long periods of time.

I personally have maintained my weight loss going on 6+ years now. I am trying to change my body composition more right now.

I keep myself in check. I weigh regularly. If I go up a few pounds, I make sure it doesn't get out of control. I haven't went back to "old ways" of not caring what food I put in my body. I eat healthy but don't count calories when I'm not actively trying to lose weight.

WHAT you learn in the whole process of becoming healthy is priceless if you stick with that knowledge.

During holidays, I don't eat until I feel sick like I did in the past. I enjoy yummy foods (that I don't eat on a regular basis) and enjoy the day with friends and family. I feel satisfied and keep my portions in check.

Great question though!

I find it baffling when people come to these boards and don't read, research, and seek out advice from users of this site who maintain healthy lifestyles over long periods of time and maintain healthy weights (not crash dieters). Good for you for seeking those people!

EBFNP

You can't go back..That is why I always consider losing weight a LIFESTYLE change not just a "diet." if you don't continue on the lifestyle then you will gain it back. No doubt about it. This is coming from someone who lost 35 lbs 7 years ago and gained it back within 1 1/2 years in college.Just because you lost the weight doesn't mean you don't have to work out any more or start to eat a box of pizza every week.

kparks2

Love the positive posts!!!! I appreciate them! They give me strength!:happy:

berkra

I can only second what EBFNP said. I lost a good 30lbs at my mid twenties just to have it coming back.
I have started running twice since then, the last time in Dec 2010. The missing portion was portion control and what enters my body.
Lost ~20lbs on just the running, but since January I added (substracted) another 23. Looking at this page tells me that there will be more struggles to come to get lower, I have walked 34% of my journey t omy goal. But it know that the jouyrney wil be over on this planet only when I meet the lord. I have the great hope that this time around I have the support system that I need to not sway of that path agian.