Impossible to maintain my weight.

Go search for the forum post titled "why you gain weight when you eat more than your cut". I think it will answer a lot of your questions.

I'm with you. I got married at 108 lbs. I have worked for years to stay at 120 or just below. Less than that just isn't happening.

Nobody weighs exactly XXX Lbs all of the time. Do a little research on natural body weight fluctuations. Your body weight isn't static, you are going to fluctuate up and down day to day due to any number of reasons that have nothing to do with fat. I've been maintaining for 8 months or so and I fluctuate anywhere from 179 - 185 Lbs with my 8 month average being 182 Lbs.

Also, you may need to adjust your expectations of how much you should weigh...just because you want to weigh a certain amount doesn't mean it's healthy or your body will oblige that. If you are underweight or close to underweight, your body is always going to try to get you to a healthier level.

It IS impossible to maintain an exact weight consistently every day. Have a range that you maintain within rather than specifically 115.

Alternate between one week eating maintenance, and one week eating 200-300 cals below for a while. Over time they might balance you better than trying to hit the maintenance target every day?

How do you exactly know that you only need 1400 kcals? We know your weight but we don't know your height, and your activity level. If you're very thin, very short and very sedentary it might be okay, but otherwise I think you could mantain with more calories. Also, if you really eat at mainteinance you cannot really gain weight. Your weight might fluctuate a bit, but the concept of mainteinance is: if I eat like this, my weight stays the same (more or less). If you gain more than a few pounds constantly, then you're probably eating more. It doesn't obviously have much to do with weighing 2 lbs more one day and 2 lbs less than 115 at different times of your life. Also, there is not a single ideal weight for each of us. There's a range in which your weight is considered ideal, by your BMI as much as just your idea of your own body. I honestly doubt someone can avoid eating during celebrations or special days or just when we feel the need of a small treat: if you eat more for one day, and a bit less the next, you can always make up for it. It's like compromising.

It IS impossible to maintain an exact weight consistently every day. Have a range that you maintain within rather than specifically 115.

Agreed....I used to be the same way but realized quickly that there is no such thing as ONE ideal weight....For instance in my case, my range is from 92-95lbs ....I'm happy with anything in between ..anything over THAT, that's when I start to panic but quickly get back into my "normal". I don't think you should weigh yourself daily either just because you are in a state of mind where your counting every pound. From what I hear, you sorta have this mentality where there is going to be a time where you won't need to count calories and your trying to get to that...well I don't mean to burst your bubble but this is a lifestyle change that your making if you actually want to maintain your weight. I know everyone is different and everyone has different methods, but I would think that after reaching your goal you more so know what to eat, when to eat, what to avoid, etc...so maybe you can take a break in keeping track but just always be conscious of what your consuming! I don't ALWAYS keep track, especially on the weekends..... lol! But I am highly conscious of what I'm eating and I tend to guestimate....and so far, I've been doing this for months and it has never failed me.... I think its a good way to take a little break without actually breaking your diet

I'll never be 115 consistently.

exactly.

you'll probably go up and down about 5-10 pounds.

Yep! You need a maintenance range of 3-4 pounds either side of your goal weight.

I am with you on how you feel-I have been at goal for 5 years-but I do go up and down 5 pounds-I know its hard and it drives me crazy also-so maybe go to 112 pounds that way if you go up it won't be so hard on you-I like being able to count calories-and add my workouts in-so for me that works-so yes I may go crazy with the scale-but you will find your balance I did-ii lost almost 100 pounds 5 years ago-and I do go up-5-poundss-then I take it off-but it drives me nuts-so good luck to you-on your journey

maintenance is a very long term project -- based on a comfortable set point and range (2-6 pound fluctuation you can live with happily) Just because you think you look best at 115 doesn't mean that your body can maintain that weight based on your average daily diet and calorie burn (BMR + exercise.)

Several years ago I got down to a number on the scale that I thought was awesome. Little did I know, at the time & for the next year -- that I could not sustain the maintenance level to stay at that weight that I thought was "me at my best."

When I came up with the plan to make the healthy lifestyle change for good, this time around, I set my new goal weight with a coach who was aware of my primary struggle to maintain several years ago. Together we set a goal for an amount that would be healthy, and a BMI that would be attainable and sustainable based on my eating habits and time I could devote to healthy exercise each day.

So, my suggestion would be: set a maintenance goal weight range that is sustainable for your healthy lifestyle, AND weigh in once a week for you official "this is where I am" check-in. Be happy with a fluctuation range of 2-6 lbs. I think you'll find that if you are logging what you eat, and calories from exercise honestly -- MFP can be a great resource tool to keep you on track.

I don't find 1400 to be so terrible.

In fact, if I want to party on the weekend, then I've got to eat less than that during the week, like around 1250, either that or exercise a lot.

It does suck to not be able to eat good food in mass quantity, but there isn't too much to do about it, except exercise, or not.

I recently started eating slower and concentrating on my food more, trying to enjoy those 1400 cals. lol

Like other have said-you need a maintenance window, not a set number. Your weight will fluctuate day to day, based on things not related to actual gains/losses (sodium, time of month, exercise, illness etc etc). Lots of people go with a 5lb window, I prefer a 3lb one

Some people find they prefer to count calories daily. I don't like tracking so I just spot check a couple times a week. But, I'm pretty in tune with my body/eating habits and I estimate pretty closely where I need to be at. I also eat slightly less calories during the week, so I can have epic weekends :bigsmile:

Also, how many calories do you think you get for maintenance? It sounds like you're eating pretty low calorie yet? My maintenance calories (as figured by the TDEE method) are around 2,200 a day. I'm 35 yrs old, 5ft, 6 in, have a maintenance range of 117-120lbs and do 30 minutes of low impact exercise 6 days a week.

When I reach maintenance, I'm going to aim to keep my weight within a 10-pound range, otherwise it's going to drive me nuts. I normally fluctuate by about 3 pounds throughout the day.