will you continue to use mfp in maintainence?

ediths6

how to you develop a game plan to not go backwards again?

wonderstruck91

i am transitioning into maintenance right now ... feel free to friend me (anyone in maintenance/going into maintenance). for me, i am gradually increasing my calories by 100 a day every week. i will continue tracking to monitor my weight, and how i am feeling. when i get to a calorie intake where i am able to maintain my weight and feel good, i will most likely continue tracking for several weeks until i feel like its "habit". i think taking the transition gradually is going to be the best way for me to keep my weight constant long term.

debs6

I have been maintaining since early May. With MFP and a Fitbit it is easy. It has become second nature to me so I am unsure about ever discontinuing logging. Why spoil something that is working so well

geekyjock76

I suggest that people do. Anything that can help keep you accountable and aware of how many calories you eat is a useful self-monitoring app. I've used it for cutting, maintaining and now bulking; however, I estimate my energy expenditure needs for each phase and do not let MFP do it.

TavistockToad

I have been maintaining all of 2012, I don't want to ever stop logging!

palmerig88

I don't plan to stop using it, maintaining since July

kathyms13

me to im on here for the long haul.

mmapags

I'm actually in suplus right now on a bulk and logging. If I don't log, I don't have a plan or follow one and I overeat. I don't mind skipping a day everyn once in a while if I'm busy or whatever but I like knowing what I'm doing and where I stand relative to my plan whether bulking, maintaining or cutting fat.

LifeIsNotADressRehearsal

I definitely plan on using MFP for maintenance (just reached goal about 3 weeks ago) just as I did when I was losing. I've been yo-yoing all my life - this time is different!

hesn92

I have been maintaining since April using MFP. I don't log every day but I do most days. I actually went into a surplus for a while now I'm back on a 100 calorie deficit.

OwenEvan

I have shifted my focus off of weight loss and onto training for various things. MFP has been great during this transition because I can still know how I am doing on protein intake, sodium, etc. I dont do well staying in one place (maintainence) so I have to focus on some goal.

47Jacqueline

I plan to use MFP for maintenance. I have 13 pounds to go and then I will figure out how much I can eat to maintain my weight loss

nermal6873

Been on maintenance since May and still on regularly, but don't log quite as strictly as I did while losing. Helps me keep my calories in the right ballpark.

Coffeeholic8

Yes, will be moving on to that soon and I'm going to keep logging every day.

islandnutshel

I will continue, because last time I lost this weight, logged off and gained it back. I have more respect for the maintenance phase now.

californiagirl2012

how to you develop a game plan to not go backwards again?

I've been using it since January for this very purpose. It's a tricky line to walk. It was far easier when I could simply eat less. Now that I'm maintaining less then 12% body fat I can't eat too little, and I can't eat to much. I really floundered when I hit this point last year and I find I need this tool to help me maintain.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/740340-i-lost-60-lbs-at-age-51-anyone-can-any-workout

basschick

I have been maintaining for a little over a year and I have found that I have to keep logging or I completely fall back into old habits of binging. I guess I'll be logging for the rest of my life.

mhotch

I discovered MFP when I started maintenance. In my humble opinion, losing is easier than maintenance. Its a constant yo-yo. I use MFP faithfully, daily. I think logging is the one thing that works for me. Seeing your food intake in black and white in front of you, helps to keep me accountable to maintain that happy balance.

EvgeniZyntx

Most likely to track exercise and fitness. Better goals.

Chigger56

DEFINATELY!!! I plan on using MFP in maintanance. I am NOT gaining this weight back. MFP works so why spoil a good thing.

Deipneus

I have been on maintenance since May. I lost weight about 5 years ago and decided when I hit my goal I no longer needed to log food, exercise and weight. You can guess what happened. I'm prepared to do this for the rest of my life. It was just too painful to wake up one day and realize that the weight I worked so hard and long to lose was back. Never again.

LorinaLynn

Maintaining since June of 2011. It's no different than losing, except with a little more wiggle room.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/LorinaLynn/view/it-ain-t-over-when-you-hit-your-goal-423924

acs4162

I reached my "goal" for my weight in June, but I have been setting other fitness goals for myself since then. Once I decided I was at my goal, I upped my caloric intake to 1440 (from 1300) and I have re-incorporated some dairy and some breads back into my diet. (Paleo 80%) I've also let myself enjoy a few cheat foods/meals that I hadn't had in quite some time.

Unfortunately with school starting back I haven't been as active as I really should be, but MFP has really helped me see what I'm eating each day and it's a great reminder to not go crazy on my favorite splurge foods. I have missed a couple of days here and there, but for the most part, I'm still logging and watching my sugars & carbs.

I think like everyone has been saying, I'll keep logging for a while. I do try to listen to my body for when it's full or when it's still hungry. I'm getting better at gagging if I've had too much refined sugar in one day or too much salt or not enough water.

DPernet

Once I reach my goal weight, I will be using MFP for the next few years. Maintaining and bulking/cutting.

Jill_newimprovedversion

YEPPERS! Been in* maintenance mode* for about 8 months and although I don't always log everything in my food diary
( just quick add my allotted daily calories over the weekends)
I do @ least log in every day and keep tabs on everyone else who's in this with me.

I've found that sodium is my nemesis, so I like to keep track of it- and LOVE the recipe tool MFP offers.

Besides, I've met some WONDERFUL friends along this journey- some further down the road than I,
ones in maintenance mode, and some just starting out.........

and when I said I'd stick by them thru thick and thin, I meant maintenance too.

cmriverside

Personal experience: I lost 55 lbs in 2007-08. Late 2008 I thought, "Psh, I got this. I could do this in my head.." Yeh. I could do it in my head. And I did. For a while.

Thennnnn.....the pants got mysteriously tighter.

One day I couldn't remember the last time I ate vegetables.

I went to the gym once a week.

My friends and I were drinking more.

Slippery slope, let me tell you. By the time I found a scale (mine broke, but, "I got this.") I found I was 20 lbs up again.

The last thing I want to do is have to lose those again.

So, it's better to keep a closer tab than I was doing. I go through phases where I don't log, then I do, but it's a good place to remind me how easy it is to fall.

amunet07

I have learned the hard way that I cannot navigate maintinance without MFP I have tried it and I gained it all back slowly.

Jill_newimprovedversion

I liken keeping my food diary like keeping track of my $funds$ in my checkbook register.

and my scale's like my GPS when I'm traveling- gets me back on track if I stray off course.

TinGirl314

I will continue to log...it doesn't take a lot of time and sometimes I'm still shell shocked at what's in certain foods.
Unless I can learn to spot the calories in something by looking at it, I'm stickin around.

Erisad

Yes because if I don't, I'll have to do this all over again.

jenneal89

Oh yes!! Even more so. That way I won't go over my calories and gain it back