Switching from losing to maintaining

No. I'm so happy that I can eat more. Maintenance is so easy compared to losing. I love even cheating sometimes, knowing it won't matter because I don't need a deficit.

No guilt at all. Why would you feel that way. As long as I generally stay within the guidelines I set for maintenance, I am happy.

Im dreading the conversion. I know in my head that you're supposed to eat more once you hit maintenance, but wrapping my head around +500 calories (or whatever your deficit is) is pretty intimidating. I would, I guess, recommend easing yourself into it gradually. Add in your 500 over the course of a week or a month (I wouldn't take too long!) I think that is what I intend to try doing. Though I may be so happy to have +500 calories back I could just switch that day :laugh:

I think maybe seeing it from a health perspective --to keep losing isn't healthy and chronic caloric deficits have been shown to reduce metabolic rate. Use that as motivation to get your calories in!

I gained 1.5 lb over two days on maintenance. I know that scientifically urban should't be fat because I did't eat 7000 too many calories in two days, but it put me back in the 140s dang it! It is probably just extra food working thru my system and maybe I had too much salt. Still stinks to see!

The biggest and best switch in my thinking was to let go of the number on the scale and focus more on my body composition. Muscle takes up less space than the same weight of fat (A pound of fat and a pound of muscle both weigh a pound :-)... but a pound of muscle takes up much less space than a pound of fat). So even though the scale stays the same or goes up... I LOOK different and better because I am losing fat over my muscles.

I am heavier than a friend of mine, but I look smaller (we are the same height and body style This is because she doesn't lift weights and does a lot of cardio, whereas I lift weights (heavy weights). I wear one size smaller than her, even though I am heavier scale-wise. Again, the way you look and feel in clothes (and out of them) is way more important than what the scale says.

For going into maintenance mode, I added on 100 calories per week until my weight stabilized. It's still hard for me to get all my calories in some days, but I try really hard to get as close as possible most days.

in the past when I reached target weight i found if i just held steady for a few weeks to let the new weight become my default setting, I found I could gradually eat more and I didn't gain weight. It was a real surprise to me cos i was worried if I increased my eating my weight would go straight up. I think the settling during the first few weeks was really important though. Personally I found maintaining weight more tricky than losing it. Instead of tempting choices being a simple "No" I found being able to say maybe, or yes required more self control.

I know just what you mean. I almost posted this same question to the forum a couple of months ago when I was looking down that same barrel and kind of feeling freaked out. It's tough to switch from a mode of "ultra-careful-and-restrictive-and-I-don't-really-need-that-so-I-won't-eat-it", to a mode of "gee-I-really-can-"indulge'-a-little-and-it won't-be-the-end-of-the-world". I've been adjusting for the last 6 or 7 weeks, and so far what feels like a high calorie count (and quite indulgent) hasn't made any difference at all on the scale or measurements. Whew! I'm trying hard not to let the new freedom get the best of me, for sure. I think it's just one of those things you have to take one day at a time. As soon as I see measurements and scale start going up, I know I'll have to reign it back in, but I'm figuring out what makes that happen. I'm just working on that balance. Good luck!!!

went searching and I figured out how to readjust to maintaining - have a good night everyone!