What's YOUR secret to maintaining the weight loss?? .

Like you i've done this a few times, and although i've never been one for fad diets I have only been successful at losing properly once before, and then clearly that wasn't truly successful seeing as i'm here now. :laugh:

Last time I did it, and every other time I tried, I made the huge mistake of having an all-or-nothing attitude. I think it's just part of me, so it has been very hard to change this BUT in doing so it has enabled me to move forward and to really change my cognitive perception of 'diet' and food/exercise. Whereas before I would simply refuse to eat anything that I perceived to be 'naughty' (how daft!) and would work out as often as possible, I now keep a nice balance and nothing is banned, allowing me to enjoy the food I love and still lose weight, and be healthy! Win win.

The other thing that is different this time is that I really want to lose the weight. I know that sounds daft as obviously everyone who tries to lose wants to do so, but I am exponentially more determined this time, and that is down to having goals that I didn't have before. I've plans to enter several different races and have lots of physical based activities to attempt that I need to get fit for, so having a goal for fitness and being lighter has become the focus more.

And of course, having support helps a great deal too! I did use a paid calorie counting website in the past but logging was inconsistent, and MFP is way better anyway, in my opinion. :-)

Good luck in your journey! And well done on how far you've come so far. :drinker:

Keep on logging! Every time I have been successful in the past, I've stopped logging (this is decades ago, when I would log my calories consumed on paper, long before I ever heard of MFP) once I had reached my goal. Inevitably, the weight would creep back on when I stopped logging. This time, I am keeping the weight off by continuing to log calories in and calories out. I am currently on a 807 day logging streak.

YES! Logging is essential! For me personally I have the whole gaining/losing weight thing backwards, I'm very on again off again with MFP I have like 3 accounts used so rarely I forgot how to log into them LOL anyways when I log I realize even though I think I eat ton I only consume 600-850 calories day so my body's in starvation mode 95% of the time and I never lose weight. But when I log I manage to get a good 1,200 a day and lose weight. This (or last summer 2013 ) I lost 50 pounds by logging daily, working out like crazy, and eating enough. Now I'd assume for most people who eat too many calories t
he result would be the same. Also once a week eat junk food in moderation that way you won't be deprived stop dieting and go all crazy. Good luck!

Weighing in daily. I know that people have different attitudes about this, but it helped me keep off a previous loss from 10 years ago. It was only when I stopped daily weigh-ins (only because I moved and didn't have a convenient place for my scale) that my weight started creeping up a few pounds. I joined MFP to rein that in and lose more. I expect I'll weigh in every day for the rest of my life. I find that it keeps me mindful of my priorities by starting the day that way.

I've never done this before - and I'm in my 50's.

Logging. I'm a data junkie and it helps me make better choices.

Eating fantastic food I love. In small quantities. Really paying attention to food reminds me that the first few bites are the best and that more is not always better.

Eating when I'm hungry. Not a lot, but I assume if I'm hungry my body needs food. Some almonds or cashews or a glass of kefir. Enough to keep me happy until the next regular meal. I swear if you eat when you're hungry your body learns you're not really starving and backs off.

Continue doing what I did while losing, only with slightly more food.

It's seriously that simple: exercise (with attainable goals), logging food most of the time, indulging some of the time, weighing in now and then.

Besides Logging EVERY day -

**One CHEAT DAY at the end of the week keeps me from falling off the wagon !! This doesn't mean binge and eat anything and everything you have been craving but that you should have that donought or that bacon or those French fries you've been craving all week !

Also as funny as it sounds - Don't just EXERCISE but find Variety during the week -

Joggin/Running/Walking/hiking combined with a day of zumba or yoga or pilates, a day where you go skate or roller blade or swim a day of weight training a couple days at the Gym so you don't get bored

This is great advice! If someone told me I could never have a donut again if I wanted to maintain my weight, I would punch them in the face. Moderation is key, and sometimes I will eat a donut and I will be okay as long as I don't eat 100 donuts.

A friend just told me that I have "exercise ADD". Maybe I do, but I enjoy it all! I love going to spin class and my cardio dance class and ballet and lifting and swimming and running around the park with my pooch. I do whatever I feel like doing that day and I never feel like I have to force myself.

Continue doing what I did while losing, only with slightly more food.

It's seriously that simple: exercise (with attainable goals), logging food most of the time, indulging some of the time, weighing in now and then.

^Basically this. Although now I've added bulk/cut cycles because one of my goals is strength/muscle building.

Continue doing what I did while losing, only with slightly more food.

It's seriously that simple: exercise (with attainable goals), logging food most of the time, indulging some of the time, weighing in now and then.

^Basically this. Although now I've added bulk/cut cycles because one of my goals is strength/muscle building.

Yep, that for me as well. The weight loss was strictly based on food consumption. I didn't start any exercise program that I wouldn't continue on with once I hit my goal. The benefit.....eat a ton in maintenance and not gain

log like everyone else says. But for me I eat for comfort. If I get bored or anxious I remind myself food is not the answer and try to problem solve also finding ways to comfort other than food like exercise,music, calling a friend, thinking of the beach or something positive. Reminding myself I have to take care of my self not do destructive stuff like overeating. If I mess up one day, no big deal,get back on track. Remind myself I want to fit in those clothes this SPRING! This is a lifestyle, there is no end to it. get junk food out of the house. I remind myself Food is not the Answer many times, stop take care of me!

MOVE MORE EAT LESS. There is no secret, no magic pill, no supplements that will make you lose weight.
It's a life change you need to make in order to keep the weight off. Nothing taste better than being thin.

I totally agree with some of the previous posts. Logging is key. Before I started MFP, I thought I was eating healthy, but really wasn't. For me seeing what I eat in front of me makes a huge difference. Good luck:-)

I lost about 100 lbs from heaviest to lightest, also at ~40 years old. I'm 41 now. I have been able to maintain my current weight (well, I have bulked up some on purpose, see exhibit A to the left <-- ), by attending the church of iron regularly, and doing cardio. Basically, I don't eat crap, and I continue to work out.

Proper, healthy weight loss is a lifestyle change. You have to stay committed to it.

Oh, and I also became a Personal Trainer. That helps too. You can't preach it unless you practice it. I'm addicted to being bigger, stronger, faster, fitter, etc. Love it.