Do you rest on your laurels?

I'll confess, my 80lb weight loss has been characterised far more by a cycle of "bigger loss, couple weeks of little or no loss, bigger loss" - so yes, I guess I have been guilty of that.

However, I kind of think that's not a bad thing. Really, it's training for maintenance. Eat at maintenance, if the scale moves up a big, have a week or so of lower intake until it gets back down, then back to maintenance.

I'd be cautious, but only because the scale can fluctuate quite a bit. You probably didn't actually loose 4lbs, or even 2lbs. It's probably most water weight. But, as long as "normal" doesn't go over your maintenance calories it won't necessarily undo any actual weight loss. The scale might fluctuate back up (again, could be just water weight), and it might slow down further loss, but eating a bit more temporarily is fine, especially if it keeps you on track.

The problem would be if eating "normal" is eating above maintenance then you might gain some back.

But again, when you're talking 0-4lbs in a short time frame, it's hard to tell what is water weight, actual fat loss, maintenance, gains, etc.

1200 is low, and might be too aggressive for you. That said, I eat 1200, and I find it's much easier if I get plenty of protein and a reasonable amount of fat. I eat carbs, and I eat "junk" food, but if I limit my processed foods and focus on real foods I find I'm more satisfied and less likely to crave stuff. Nothing wrong with treating yourself or enjoying what you like, but less processed stuff might be more satisfying when you're on such a low calorie allotment.

this wouldn't work for me, because of how i drop fat.

I always hold steady at a weight for 2-3 weeks, then plummet 2-3 lbs at once.

It's how I roll...so if I rested on my laurels, or (simmered my laurels in a big giant pot of stew and ate it) I just wouldn't lose.

That being said, I set my intake to 1700/day which means I am set to lose 1/2 a pound a week, but then I only allow myself to eat back 20% of my exercise calories so i generally lose 1 lb a week a little less, considering my logging is always slightly off.

Do what works for you though!

Mapalicious wrote: »

this wouldn't work for me, because of how i drop fat.

I always hold steady at a weight for 2-3 weeks, then plummet 2-3 lbs at once.

It's how I roll...so if I rested on my laurels, or (simmered my laurels in a big giant pot of stew and ate it) I just wouldn't lose.

That being said, I set my intake to 1700/day which means I am set to lose 1/2 a pound a week, but then I only allow myself to eat back 20% of my exercise calories so i generally lose 1 lb a week a little less, considering my logging is always slightly off.

Do what works for you though!

This is how I loose weight. Those "woooshes" just show up! But to keep the trend going I certainly would not up my calories because I dropped 2 or 3 pounds after slaving on a calorie deficit for weeks to see get that woosh. If I want the whooshes to stop, then yeah I would eat bigger..