Switching over to maintenance calories...

I just got to maintenance. I started slowly increase last month when I was 2 pounds away. I an up to 1500-1550 from my original TDEE-20% which was around 1400.

5'6.5"
Start weight 145
Goal/present 135
Age: 41 years.
I think 125 looked ok at 25, but not sure it will be Okay at 41. Now, I feel 130-135 looks good on me.
And I am trying to increase my workouts. Focussing more on "composition',than weight now.

Go slow. I would add 200 calories every couple weeks and make sure you don't start gaining. I can only eat about 3-400 calories above my weight loss level. I think it's from all my years of yo yo dieting. I also found that sodium and refined sugars became my mortal enemies in maintenance. Not everyone experiences that, but I sure did!

^^ 100% agree ( and ditto with the sugar/sodium being my nemesis as well)

The first time I reached GW, I had NO intention of slowing down when I could *see* the "finish line" just ahead....so
I ran towards it.........then hit the brakes and went into maintenance mode.
It wasn't just my metabolism that couldn't take the shock,
neither could my mind.

The ravage beast came alive again.......and it wasn't pretty. I gained 12 pounds back quickly.

The next time I slowed down and did just exactly this. Been in maintenance for over a year now.

So slowly is the key eh? Well bollocks, my hunger lately with a cal increase has gone through the roof and thus putting me in a poor mental psyche, I feel like giving up and bingeing >.<

Don't do that!!
Make sure what you add to your eating it proteins and good fats, not sugary, processed stuff. And keep drinking lots of water!!
And maybe go slower than 200+ a week , maybe just increase 100 cals every two weeks.

I switched to a 0.5 lb/week loss for the last 10 pounds. When going to maintenance I then only had to add 250 calories per day. Slow is best!