How to maintain a loss?

lemasney
lemasney Posts: 67 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hi, all, I have some good news. I reached my goal of 200 pounds just after Christmas, down 95 pounds since April. I feel great, enjoy my new nutritional lifestyle, and want to stay this way forever. Friend me, I try to support people like they supported me.

So now, I've shifted to maintenance. Towards the end, I was crawling to my goal. I am 6' 2", and have a large frame, mostly torso. I have about 17% body fat, and try to get about 10,000 steps a day. I drink my water every day. I was surprised that I was slowing at the end, after a relatively quick drop paying strong attention to the theory implied in MFP tools.

I am surprised, after staying at 203-205 pounds for weeks, with exercise, at 1400 calories a day that increasing to the recommended 2000+ calories a day for maintenance will allow me to maintain my weight. In fact, since I adopted the new maintenance calorie limit of 2200, essentially my BMR, I quickly gained 5 pounds since Christmas. I'm not too worried about it, as I know how to lose it again, but I don't want to make my body crazy with a lot of calorie shifts. It makes sense that more calories so suddenly will add more weight in the short term.

So, my question is, should I just stay the course of 2300 calories, or should I gradually ramp back up to 2300 from 1400? Will it all even out over a few weeks, or am I putting too much faith in BMR for maintenance levels?

Thanks!

Replies

  • ThinGalInside
    ThinGalInside Posts: 16
    For some reason, it's easier to lose weight right away that you've suddenly put on. I'd say, go back to your goal weight, then GRADUALLY raise your calories while seeing if you have to increase your daily activity to maintain your goal. Even Weight Watchers says that maintenance is a real challenge. Let us know how you do. Eventually, hopefully, you will reach a set weight where you don't have to watch your calories so strictly -- you'll eat the right foods because you want to.
  • lemasney
    lemasney Posts: 67 Member
    Good advice. I've gone back to a lower calorie daily goal in my mind, even though I left my maintenance goal on my settings. I was away for the holidays, and did not have access to a scale, or I might have been less excited and more skeptical about my new limit. I usually weigh myself every day, and it's a good way to motivate me to stay under. Once I saw the gain, I was more cautious about the new calorie limit. Thanks for the feedback!

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