question to those who are maintaining

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Replies

  • BCSMama
    BCSMama Posts: 348
    I can totally relate to what you're saying and am actually glad I'm not the only one feeling this way. I'm pretty much at goal (5'10" and about 150 lbs). However, I'm terrified of upping my calories to maintenance levels for fear of gaining everything back. I don't have a scale at home because I was/am afraid that I'd become obsessed with it, but I may need to get one just to make sure I'm maintaining when I do start upping my calories.
  • DPernet
    DPernet Posts: 481 Member
    if you put on weight, eat less,

    if you lose weight eat more

    You want to find that spot where you stay the same. Might take a bit of trial and error :drinker:
  • secretlobster
    secretlobster Posts: 3,566 Member
    I'm maintaining very well on about 1500 calories a day plus calories burned during exercise. I've been doing this for about three years now. But I'll add, my metabolism is not good. I run a few times a week, but not doing any heavy lifting right now. You'll find that the women who eat a lot to maintain or lose weight are usually the ones who lift heavy weights. If I start serious lifting again, I'll definitely increase my caloric intake by a couple hundred calories.

    135lbs, 5'6", 29f
  • flabulous4
    flabulous4 Posts: 599 Member
    I've been maintaining for a few months now. I fluctuate between 115 and 119 pounds (I'm short, 5' 2.5"). I did find it hard at first to stop thinking so much about what I ate or drank...but to be honest I didn't log food except for the first couple of months on here to get the idea of it.
    I'd suggest that it is trial and error. When I started maintaining I also started running longer distances, so that complicated things too. However, it also gave me a different focus as I was training for a half marathon! Sometimes having something else to think about is good. Now I eat pretty much what I like...but I've noticed that I can't eat as much as I used to and my food choices are different.
    Good luck!
  • qtiekiki
    qtiekiki Posts: 1,490 Member
    I had been maintaining since high school??? I weigh the same since then, except for pregnancies and postpartum before the weight came off. I got on MFP to lose my post baby belly. I started with 1200 calories and exercising (I always eat my exercise calories). I upped my calories when my body leaned out to MFP calculated maintenance calories, but I started losing weight. I guess it could had been normal fluctuation, but the number was too low for me to see on the scale. I upped it again by 150 calories to 1600 (+ exercise calories) and am maintaining. I think my maintenance is actually higher than 1600 because I am always over that, but I don't worry about it since it hasn't affected my weight/physique. Even if it did, I can always cut calories again. It's not permanent until I let it be. So take it easy and slowly up your calories. I am 5'3" and 108lbs, eating at least 1600 a day with most days closer to 1800-2000 total calories.
  • sazzydee1
    sazzydee1 Posts: 55
    I know what you mean. I have been maintaining for just four weeks and, like you, I was scared initially of putting weight back on. I lost very easily at 1280 per day (20 lbs) since June and am now on 1770. I am 5 ft 7 in and weigh 136. However, I have lost a pound over the last four weeks so need to increase my daily calorie allowance. It is a bit of trial and error as some days you are more active than others but I still eat back exercise calories. I had a weekend away with friends, ate a curry on Friday night, Chinese on Saturday night and still haven't put any on! Makes me wonder sometimes why I weigh everything out when I'm at home!!!
  • 70davis
    70davis Posts: 348 Member
    Bump
  • rogerbosch
    rogerbosch Posts: 343 Member
    Maintaining is more of an art than losing. It's also an everyday evaluation of your calories/weight. When I was trying to lose 10 kilos I ate 1600 cals, to maintain I've noticed that I can eat almost twice that!

    But as someone here said: if you notice the scale is up, eat less. If you notice it's down, eat more.
  • Anya06
    Anya06 Posts: 95
    thanks everyone...I shall work very hard on allowing myself eat more :) I love food so really I dont understand why thats an issue for me to eat more lol I also need to set myself none scale goals...so my first one is to be able to do a 10k under 55min by xmas...I think its quite achievable as I already do 7k in around 40min.I also want a more toned bum so will work on that....anyone there with similar goals add me...we can work together ;)

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