Adjusting calories to maintain

sjacks14
sjacks14 Posts: 68 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've reached my goal weight and now want to maintain. Should I just simply up my calories all at once or gradually? BTW, I did up my calories from losing 1lb a week to .5lb a week about two weeks ago. That gave me 200 calories per day. I'm just a little nervous about suddenly upping my calories and then putting on weight. What have any of you who reached your goal weight done?

Thanks!

Replies

  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    If your deficit is only 250 calories, it would be fine doing it at once. Many people will just maintain the 250 or 1/2 lb deficit due to possible errors in measuring.
  • sjacks14
    sjacks14 Posts: 68 Member
    bump
  • kluvit
    kluvit Posts: 435 Member
    CONGRATULATIONS ON MEETING YOUR GOAL!!!

    I met my goal last spring and decided to go ahead and lose a little more, but once I decided not to lose anymore and start to maintain, I eased into it. Like you, I set it to 0.5 lb per week loss goal for about a month and continued losing, so I changed to manual 100 calorie per day deficit to account for under-estimation of food or over-estimation of exercise calories. And, finally after about a month or two of successful maintenance, I stopped logging everyday because I eat a lot of the same foods, so I "know" my regular menu and how many

    Now, I just log when I want to "check" calories on something new; when I notice a change in my habits such as snacking more, or when I see an extra pound or two on the scale. Otherwise, I just enjoy my new body by sticking with my new lifestyle choices that helped me earn it.
  • woodsy0912
    woodsy0912 Posts: 323
    Now, I just log when I want to "check" calories on something new; when I notice a change in my habits such as snacking more, or when I see an extra pound or two on the scale. Otherwise, I just enjoy my new body by sticking with my new lifestyle choices that helped me earn it.

    THIS is my ultimate goal! Can't wait to be here. :laugh:

    Although I will probably continue to accurately log for at least a couple of months after switching to maintenance just to be sure. And I really like the 100 calorie less idea as well for errors.
  • karint74
    karint74 Posts: 131 Member
    Congrats on reaching your goal! I reached my (initial) goal in December. Since I was only netting 1350 calories after exercise (I eat back all of my exercise calories), I bumped up my calories by about 100 per week for a month until I was up to 1820. I figured an increase of 500 or so all at once would be too great of a change and would cause me to gain several pounds all at once before re-losing it as my body adjusted. That would have been de-motivating for me. I continued to lose during that month, fractions of a pound per week. By bumping it up a little at a time, it's easier to see when you stop losing, and therefore find your true maintenance calorie goal. Mine is quite a bit higher than MFP would have calculated for a 5'5.5" 48-year-old woman moderately active before exercise. Bonus: if your weight stabilizes a couple of pounds below goal, you have a little wiggle room for water fluctuations.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member

    Although I will probably continue to accurately log for at least a couple of months after switching to maintenance just to be sure. And I really like the 100 calorie less idea as well for errors.

    i've been maintaining for over a year now, and i'm still here!!!!

    but then thats just cos i love it!

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