Maintenance is messing with my mind
crb426
Posts: 661 Member
I didn't realize how much of a mind game maintenance would be! The scale is staying the same, but I have moments of doubt. Like, I suddenly don't feel as thin as I was feeling. Or how challenging it is to balance maintenance calories. I keep feeling like I'm doing it wrong, but the scale is staying within a 1 pound fluctuation.
It's messing with my head, man!
Anyone else feel an unrealistic panic?
It's messing with my head, man!
Anyone else feel an unrealistic panic?
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Replies
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Mine went away after a while. Now I just focus on other achievements.0
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Think you are simply putting too much importance on your weight, it doesn't define you as a person!
Give yourself a wider acceptable range or just set a top limit.0 -
Initially, after spending so long eating a prescribed amount of calories to achieve a deficit, I found I had no appetite for the additional 290 I needed once I'd reached my goal.
I felt bloated after meal times and like I'd done a bad thing whenever I came close to hitting my recommended allowance.
At this point I began to see how easy acquiring a form of eating disorder could be (I'm a slightly obsessive control freak. Hello, Ladies....
) and decided to change how I thought about it all and only weigh-in twice monthly.
My approach became thus:
"Even if eating at MFP's maintenance level does gain me 2 or 3lbs - I'll drop 'em again, just like I dropped the other 26".
These days that sentiment has been commuted to a mantra; "Pffft! I've got this!!!" and whenever the panic begins to set in, the evidence to back that claim up is right there in the mirror.
Over my Christmas break I didn't log a single bite from Dec 22 - Jan 4 (intentional holiday from cal counting) and gained 4lb (and had a LOT of fun).
I didn't sweat it, I did what needed to be done and am back at goal again.
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Feeling "not as thin" is just a feeling. In maintenance give the scale a range and not a set spot on weight. You will be much more relaxed when you use the 3 -5 pounds.. I can gain 5 pounds from eating too high in sodium meal and retain this for 1 -2 days.
I would drive my self batty weighing every day and seeing fluctuations that you know are just not real weight.
I gained 8 pounds in weight/water over the holidays, I am no back to correcting it, I can loose it just as easy as I put it on, it may take a wee bit longer.
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Think you are simply putting too much importance on your weight, it doesn't define you as a person!
Give yourself a wider acceptable range or just set a top limit.
Yes. Start exercising, get a hobby that doesn't involve calories or a scale, and get on with your life. But DO keep logging. Maintenance is forever.0 -
A plain scale tells you little. Get a scale that shows your percent of body fat too. That way you can see if you are gaining/losing fat or muscle. 0
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I have been on maintenance for about 2 months maybe a little more. I get the exact same feelings as the Op. I almost done it more stressful them losing was.0
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Think you are simply putting too much importance on your weight, it doesn't define you as a person!
Give yourself a wider acceptable range or just set a top limit.
Yes. Start exercising, get a hobby that doesn't involve calories or a scale, and get on with your life. But DO keep logging. Maintenance is forever.
I really don't think it's because I don't "have a hobby".
I'm talking about the mental transition of maintenance. When I was losing all the changes were noticeable and encouraging. Now that it's the same weight, and my body is "settling" into this new weight, it's a weird thing. It's just a lot to process.
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Maintenance does not mean I'm done.
There is always a new goal to achieve, there is always a new challenge around the corner, so settling into to maintenance for me, does not exist.. I will always be looking to improve upon the canvas as I say I will always have a body in transition.0 -
Maintenance does not mean I'm done.
There is always a new goal to achieve, there is always a new challenge around the corner, so settling into to maintenance for me, does not exist.. I will always be looking to improve upon the canvas as I say I will always have a body in transition.
Yes! I am feeling like that's my next step. I would like to focus on toning up and becoming more fit. I need to adjust my goal, and I'm being lazy about it.0 -
You're not alone at all. You'll have ups and downs in maintenance -- just like the periodic plateaus many hit on their weight loss. Figuring out the balance point means that, sometimes, you lean too far to the left and other times too far to the right. Thanks for sharing your original post and enjoy working on toning. There are many MFPers that post awesome pictures of their toning results.0
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"Doubt" and "unrealistic panic" is exactly what describes my feelings in maintenance. It's been 15 months now since I reached my goal weight, and I don't find it difficult to portion control and exercise enough, but I struggle to wrap my mind around it - it still feels strange to be normal weight, and it seems "too easy" to eat well and exercise, am I fooling myself? I have lost this bit of weight a couple of times before, and been determined that I'm not going to gain it back, but I still did, so why would this time be any different?
I don't "feel" more or less heavy, but I can almost never predict what the scales will say. So I just take note and allow a 3 kilo (6.6 pounds) fluctuation, and I weigh every day.0 -
Think you are simply putting too much importance on your weight, it doesn't define
I'm talking about the mental transition of maintenance. When I was losing all the changes were noticeable and encouraging. Now that it's the same weight, and my body is "settling" into this new weight, it's a weird thing. It's just a lot to process.
Omgosh this. I had steady weight loss and a closet full of small clothes due to fluctuations with Crohn's disease, surgeries and poor eating habits. I would try on my next size "closet" about every 5 days and reorganize the boxes I also spent a lot of time shopping.
Losing weight is sexy. Maintenance isn't as fun
Now I am setting non scale goals like increasing weights0 -
Deleted double post
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I just entered maintenance a few weeks ago and flew past my UGW (170 - 58, male, 5'10", range is 166 - 174) to 167.4 last week. I was sick with the cold, so that might have contributed. Still, it is weird because I have to make sure to eat enough now. I do a fair amount of cardio and I'm not giving that up, so my Net Calories are low. I will be starting some weightlifting soon.
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jeepinshawn wrote: »I have been on maintenance for about 2 months maybe a little more. I get the exact same feelings as the Op. I almost done it more stressful them losing was.
Same here. Been maintaining somewhat for over a year. While I try to tell myself "I've lost 120, if I put on ten or fifteen I know I can lose it. I've got this," the panic (I don't know if that's too srtong a word, but can't think of another right now) always sets back in at some point. Then it's back to the mantra which works a day or two.
As you mention more stressful, I especially feel that as well. I look back and figure it's insane to feel that way, too. While I was losing I was eating cookies a few times a week as a snack, cakes on occasion with no problem. On maintenance I actually avoid that stuff because I don't want to slip. Go figure, the mind is a funny thing. That brings me to another thing I try telling myself repeatedly... "if you ate this while losing, what's wrong with it now?" Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Keep logging. I actually find I tend to under eat worrying about overeating during my trial periods of not logging. So, logging works both ways - ensuring you don't overeat but yet making sure you don't give in to your fears and eat too little. At least, that's how it is in my case.0 -
Everyone has "fat days" there's nothing you can do other than tell yourself it's just a little bloat (if you even are!) Or you're just having an off day!0
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Everyone has "fat days" there's nothing you can do other than tell yourself it's just a little bloat (if you even are!) Or you're just having an off day!
It's funny because after I originally posted this I went through the day having "am I too thin?" moments! See!? Messing with my head! Ha ha.0 -
kommodevaran wrote: »I don't find it difficult to portion control and exercise enough, but I struggle to wrap my mind around it - it still feels strange to be normal weight, and it seems "too easy" to eat well and exercise, am I fooling myself?
I understand this. Sometimes when I eat good I panic and think I must be gaining weight or be letting my guard down because it's not hard work like it was in the beginning. (if that makes sense)0 -
Oh, la. I can so relate. Not at maintenance yet. Yikes.0
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as long as you're not bingeing, your new weight will be stabilised. good luck on reaching your target!0
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My top weight is 5 lbs which I allow myself at holiday seasons. I just adjust my calories, work it off and go right back to maintenance. Don't get so caught up on the weight though...once you start lifting, you may gain weight, but does your clothes fit. May want to keep one or two outfits as your test outfits.
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HappyCampr1 wrote: »Everyone has "fat days" there's nothing you can do other than tell yourself it's just a little bloat (if you even are!) Or you're just having an off day!
It's funny because after I originally posted this I went through the day having "am I too thin?" moments! See!? Messing with my head! Ha ha.
I spent the first year of maintenance alternating between I look great and I'm too thin. After a year, the thin days started getting replaced by fat-feeling days. I've been logging this whole time and my weight is fine. It's just the stupid mental games.
After the holidays and too many "fat" days, I decided to change my maintenance range down five pounds. I'm still at the top of normal BMI, so I have room to do that. Now, after three weeks of deficit with two pounds lost, I'm back to feeling too thin again. Can't win sometimes.
I'm starting to think that if I can feel both too fat and too thin within the same five pound range, it must be the perfect weight for me.
i know how you feel, i guess that's why anorexics sometimes see themselves as so fat and sometimes as so thin. it must be that we're paying so much attention to some detail that's less than a mm. if i feel good, i usually feel/look to myself as skinny, but if i feel bad, i feel/look to myself as fat. wierd right?0 -
Everyone has "fat days" there's nothing you can do other than tell yourself it's just a little bloat (if you even are!) Or you're just having an off day!
It's funny because after I originally posted this I went through the day having "am I too thin?" moments! See!? Messing with my head! Ha ha.
you're right! i tend to focus on the number on the scale, and if that's within my range, i just tell myself that i'm being tricked by little monsters in my head!0 -
I rarely weigh myself now, I go by the mirror and how my clothes feel.0
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I think maybe maintaining is "boring" compared to losing weight. When on a diet it's exciting and something look forward to when you weigh, and your weight is down.
All of a sudden that rush is gone, and replaced with humdrum same weight everyday on the scale.0 -
it will go when you have done it for awhile. relax, chill. have a drink/.0
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You know, this isn't great advice for everyone, but personally I stopped weighing regularly. My focus is now on exercising regularly and just being more active in general. I eat within my maintenance calories most days. I will allow indulgences and compensate for them by eating at a deficit for a day or two afterwards. I don't have those feeling "fat" or "skinny" days when I'm not staring a number in the face. I check in on the scale maybe once a month just to make sure I haven't drifted.0
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I find maintenance harder than losing. When eating at a deficit I always knew what I was doing and stuck with it no matter what. Now I am scared to death I'll gain all the weight back and lose complete control of myself.
I kept the weight off for way over a year with only smallish gains which I took control of fairly quickly - until Nov... through Jan. Now I am up 9 lbs and it's really tough getting it back off again. Those last 10 were the hardest for me in the first place and they are not any easier this time.
When I reached maintenance originally I posted that I had finally hit my goal and someone said, "congrats but now the real work begins..." I thought he was crazy, but I find in my case, he was totally on point with that comment. Maintenance is harder for me. I guess I'm an, "All or nothing" kinda gal - either on a diet or eating like a horse. I want to learn the in between - the eating all things in moderation. Praying I will get there eventually.0 -
You know, this isn't great advice for everyone, but personally I stopped weighing regularly. My focus is now on exercising regularly and just being more active in general. I eat within my maintenance calories most days. I will allow indulgences and compensate for them by eating at a deficit for a day or two afterwards. I don't have those feeling "fat" or "skinny" days when I'm not staring a number in the face. I check in on the scale maybe once a month just to make sure I haven't drifted.
I do the same exact thing! I actually found that I saw more "body progress" when I set goals like "leg press 210 - 4 sets of 20 reps" instead of "lose 2 lbs." I only weigh in every three months or so, because I have an OCD mind set that would probably cause me to go nuts if I was weighing in daily.0
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