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What sort of "range" do you use?

rosehips60
rosehips60 Posts: 1,030 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
I'm really curious about this because I finally got to a maintenance weight for the first time in my life. I've only been here since Labor Day Weekend. I went out of town for a wedding 3 weeks ago and was 3 pounds heavier when I got home. I sort of freaked and set my calories back to lose a 1/2 pound a week. Now I'm only 1 pound up but still obsessing. What "range" do those of you who are successful at maintaining use?

Replies

  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,251 Member
    5Lbs +-

    My preferred weight is 130. I'm happy from 125-133, and start watching it again at about 133. But still consider myself "in range" at 135. Your range should (imho) include a normal amount of variation and indulgence and any hormonal trends you see monthly or bi monthly (ToM, ovulation...)
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I bounce around anywhere from 180 - 187 usually...with an 18 month average of 183. You need to account for normal and natural weight fluctuations...I can put on a good 3-5 Lbs overnight with natural fluctuations of water and waste. Weight isn't static...
  • jane837
    jane837 Posts: 68 Member
    I initally thought I'd want a 10 lb range (between 135-145), but in the last three months I've easily stayed within a 5 lb range so I decided that I'l lhave a 5 lb range going forward. I'm pleasantly surprised that my weight hasn't bounced up and down as much as I thought it might!
  • 47Jacqueline
    47Jacqueline Posts: 6,993 Member
    I stay pretty solid at 127, but prefer to be 125. I keep my range at 125 - 130
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    I try to stay +/- 2 lbs from my goal weight but I take it on a trend not just one day.
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    115 is to low, and I will make changes to fix it. 125 is the top of my comfort level. so 115-125
  • 50sFit
    50sFit Posts: 712 Member
    rosehips60 wrote: »
    I'm really curious about this because I finally got to a maintenance weight for the first time in my life. I've only been here since Labor Day Weekend. I went out of town for a wedding 3 weeks ago and was 3 pounds heavier when I got home. I sort of freaked and set my calories back to lose a 1/2 pound a week. Now I'm only 1 pound up but still obsessing. What "range" do those of you who are successful at maintaining use?
    I allow myself about 4 pounds of bloat, but I maintain at 185, and if that scale ever says 190+, I know it's time for a few weeks of cutting. I will never be that guy who gains back the weight.
    NEVER!
  • rosehips60
    rosehips60 Posts: 1,030 Member
    Thank you for your input, please tell me this gets less scary!! :o
  • RaspberryTickleChicken
    RaspberryTickleChicken Posts: 629 Member
    +/- 2-3 lbs but I think this will vary widely depending on your height, age, frame, & your water retention.

    Some folks just holds on to more water so may require a larger range.

    I think the key is not to freak out over normal bodily flux.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,572 Member
    I stay within 3 pounds +/- 1.5 pounds) if I weigh at the same time every day naked or in pajamas. It's an empirical observation, not a decision.

    When I dropped a few pounds, I got a new center, but not a new range.
  • mamadon
    mamadon Posts: 1,422 Member
    I have a five pound range. I weigh myself once every two weeks, just to make sure I am staying in it.
  • cjames010
    cjames010 Posts: 86 Member
    When I reached maintenance, I thought I'd give myself a 5 pound range, but I have stayed consistent at +/-3 for about 4 months.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    I thought you mean oven, stove,,,, ha ha
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    This content has been removed.
  • Cilenia
    Cilenia Posts: 208 Member
    I am 160cm (5'3") and weigh between 56 and 57,5kg (123lb - 126lb)

    I use a 1,5 kg (2-3lb) range, and weigh myself several times before i adjust my calories down.

    For example now ive been slowly creeping up (the past 3 months) so ive adjusted my calories this week to get back in the lower parts of my maintenance range.
  • laineybz
    laineybz Posts: 704 Member
    I usually use around 5lb give or take. At the moment i'm lower in weight than i want to be so slightly increasing....then it'll be 5lb give or take lol.
  • 5stringjeff
    5stringjeff Posts: 790 Member
    My range is 179-183. And it does get easier - as you maintain for a while, and you find your weight naturally fluctuate, you'll learn to tell the difference between a natural fluctuation and actually putting weight back on.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Great question, for me it would really depend on whether I take into account water weight gain from my cycle in my range or not though. If I do, it means I'll use a 5 pounds buffer. If not, 2.
  • Anonycatgirl
    Anonycatgirl Posts: 502 Member
    I'm determined not to go under 130 (my face looks too gaunt then) or over 135 (because from there it's too easy to creep higher) but I know I fluctuate a lot within that range and try not to freak about it. Key word being try. Sometimes it works better than others.
  • chouflour
    chouflour Posts: 193 Member
    For scale weight, I consider my range to be 5lb, with the bottom of the range being the low weight I stopped losing at. I usually pop up 1-2lb, then maintain in a ~3lb range. I also use trend weight (10 day weighted moving average), and I keep that within a pound. If either of those is getting near the edge, I adjust.

    However, I'm doing short-term maintenance (a few months) between rounds of weight loss, so it may not fit your situation.
  • JustSomeEm
    JustSomeEm Posts: 20,303 MFP Moderator
    My range is 128 to 135. Usually I hover right at 130, though. This past weekend, I ate, drank and was generally just merry - so I'm up RIGHT at 135, which means I'm back to being very strict with my calorie intake (easier said than done with halloween candy in the house). Although, a great deal of it is probably water weight from too much alcohol, and I'll be back to normal by Thursday. Fingers crossed, right? Anyway, I try very hard not to focus too much on the scale. For example, my jeans fit me just fine still, so I'm not too worried.

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