Is anyone on maintenance that isn't even that skinny?

localgrr · May 2016

I've decided to go on maintenance because I can't do 1200 any more (I'm short) so I've just learned to accept myself with a cute belly and that's that. I've lost quite a lot of weight so I'm happy with that.

Is anyone in a similar situation ? Would love to make new friends, thanks!

Caroline

iofred · May 2016

Hi, you are the one that sets the goal you are happy with. I lost "too much" weight at one point, and felt uncomfortable, as it did not give me enough body-fuel to sustain my exercise routine. I have set a maintenance-zone for myself, with a buffer of 5lbs, in which I feel great. That is the only requirement really, as long as you are happy with the result and feel good, job done (more interestingly (and harder) is to maintain it, but that is a different subject altogether

)

localgrr · May 2016

iofred wrote: »

as long as you are happy with the result and feel good, job done (more interestingly (and harder) is to maintain it, but that is a different subject altogether )

Is it hard to maintain ? Or is it a really long answer ?

iofred · May 2016

Maintenance is finding a balance. In your example, you were on 1200cals, but can't do that anymore. So it is finding the calorie-count that "suits" you, without adding weight. Multiple ways to do this, but for most, when they have reached their goal, the pressure is off, and things start slipping, and gradually (or not so gradually, depending on how much one starts indulging

) the weight adds on (I lost 60lbs 6 yrs ago, and gradually over 5 years put 40 on again). So finding the right balance is the answer, as well as this whole process hopefully having been treated as a change of lifestyle, rather than a diet, and you maintaining the lifestyle change

sijomial · May 2016

I would be mortally offended if anyone called me skinny!

To me it's a negative term for both men and women and instead of skinny in my mind I hear "weak, thin, puny, unfit, under-weight".

By the way you can still transform your body at maintenance, weight is only one goal.

Congrats on accepting yourself and being happy with what you have achieved - so far!!

LivingtheLeanDream · May 2016

I'm not skinny nor would I want to be but I'm short and I've reached my happy place (I'm 5ft 2 and my range is 128lbs-133lbs).

Come and join us in the Petites in Maintenance group, we have a lot of fun conversations over there

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/109137-petites-in-maintenance

I maintain on 2100-2300 calories a day gross (I am very active though, average 18k steps (walk loads, run 4 miles most days and I lift 3 times a week)

vixtris · May 2016

I'm not in a similar situation, as I am pretty skinny lol. But, if you are happy with yourself now, and you feel that it is more manageable to maintain at your current weight, then why not? If on the other hand you would like to still lose more weight, you can always do it at a much slower pace. Eating just 100 calories less a day will get you there, slowly, but it will happen.

Mummrana · May 2016

Good morning all. I am new here. Actually new to all of this healthy living. Can someone explain to me what "maintenance" is? Thank you in advance

iofred · May 2016

Maintenance is when you have reached your target weight, and adjust your calorie intake so you maintain that weight

Mummrana · May 2016

iofred wrote: »

Maintenance is when you have reached your target weight, and adjust your calorie intake so you maintain that weight

Thank you very much ! I kind of figured this but didn't want to assume.

rosebarnalice · May 2016

I'm 5'7", 54 years old and 175 lbs-- which puts me at about 12-15 lbs overweight--depending what BMI or height/weight guide is used.

I maintained a weight of 160-164 (top of the "normal" range) for about 2 years 10 years ago; but to tell the truth, it was a hell of a lot of work, I felt like I was obsessed with food and exercise ALL the time (1400 calorie average, working out 3 - 6X per week), and my face was so drawn thatI looked 10 years older than I really was. Besides, the belly pooch, butt roll, and upper thigh fat never really went away.

I've set a maintenance goal of 175-180, eating ~ 1700-1800 calories a day (plus some exercise calories), and swimming laps twice a week. For me, it's SO much more reasonable!

Francl27 · May 2016

I'm 5'5" and 136 pounds right now. Some people call me skinny because I have thin legs and arms but my midsection is definitely not skinny (although all the loose skin is making it hard to know).

My goal is/was 130 pounds but it's just not been happening and I've been maintaining at 134-136 for 2 years. I'm just too hungry as a whole and not willing to give up things I like just to lose a couple vanity pounds (and I'd have to eat less to maintain that too - can't even imagine that). I mean, I'm still trying to keep a deficit most weeks, but I typically end up wiping it the following week (or during PMS), and my weight just hasn't come down, so... whatever I guess.

Still struggling with it a bit though and I haven't reached the acceptance stage yet. But what I've been doing seems to work to maintain, so I don't really want to change it anyway.

JustMissTracy · May 2016

I hate the word "skinny" and avoiding ever becoming that again. In maintenance, 46 yr old 122 lbs, not that "skinny". Definitely pretty fit and slim tho! Maintaining on approx 1400-1900 a day, depending on if it's a workout day..xo

rainbow198 · May 2016

Me! I work hard to maintain a nice balance of lean muscle and solid curves.

I'm fit and everything is tight and I have no rolls or cellulite. Never wanted to be thin or skinny (or too muscular). I'm very happy! However, it took me a couple of years after reaching maintenance to get to this point.

It sounds like you have a nice plan there OP and you seem content! Best wishes!

RoxieDawn · May 2016

I too hate the word skinny! I hear weak, frail, brittle.. So it is ok to NOT be skinny to maintain. Who wants to look like a twig and maintain there? Well some might but I like to be somewhat lean but with muscles and be strong and fit and look like someone who takes care of herself!

Be happy or find that happy medium where you feel and look your best, no matter the size pants or what the scale says. Its all about how YOU feel and it sound like you are right on track!

enterdanger · May 2016

I'm frequently in maintenance, but no on purpose. lol.

paulgads82 · May 2016

I have switched to maintenance because my health took a dip recently. Can't be dealing with trying to lose weight at the same time so happily on maintenance. Belly and all.

zyxst · May 2016

I'm 138.4#, 5'2", and have plenty of flab, fat, and loose skin. I reached my goal weight loss and went into maintenance this year. Yes, I can lose more weight to get to a "healthy" weight and drop more fat, but after 4 years it's become a pain. As long as I don't gain more than my top weight (145#) and my health markers are "fine" according to my GP, my weight is okay.

MonkeyMel21 · May 2016

Francl27 wrote: »

I'm 5'5" and 136 pounds right now. Some people call me skinny because I have thin legs and arms but my midsection is definitely not skinny (although all the loose skin is making it hard to know).

My goal is/was 130 pounds but it's just not been happening and I've been maintaining at 134-136 for 2 years. I'm just too hungry as a whole and not willing to give up things I like just to lose a couple vanity pounds (and I'd have to eat less to maintain that too - can't even imagine that). I mean, I'm still trying to keep a deficit most weeks, but I typically end up wiping it the following week (or during PMS), and my weight just hasn't come down, so... whatever I guess.

Still struggling with it a bit though and I haven't reached the acceptance stage yet. But what I've been doing seems to work to maintain, so I don't really want to change it anyway.

This is almost exactly me only I usually end up maintaining at 137-138, lol. Everything else is spot on.

BigGuy47 · May 2016

Yes, "skinny" is not a compliment.

gramarye · May 2016

I plan to maintain at around 180* and I'm 5'2". I like my body now, and while I had set my new goal lower than that (165), I never intend to get to a point where I'm skinny/lean/fit/whatever the acceptable word is for "small." It's just not a priority for me.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

(* It was my first goal, and where the trend looks to take me. I'm taking time off for maintenance regardless of my weight at the end of July.)

benevempress · May 2016

I love this thread. I especially appreciate hearing from people who successfully lost weight and are keeping it off while accepting/loving their bodies and still being happy even though they don't look like that smiling, perfect fitness model on the cover of fitness magazines.

I think somewhere in the back of my mind I believed that if I lost enough to be the same weight now (at age 48) as I did when I was 18, I'd have that body back... nope. I've lost almost 70 pounds and have been struggling to accept my "new" body with all of its remaining flaws... loose skin, droopy breasts, saddlebags, and bony shoulders and ribs.

RaeBeeBaby · May 2016

I'm 5'5", age 56 and currently maintaining between 155-157. I had set my original goal at 155 and reached that about 6 months ago, then decided to go for 145 to get to a "normal" BMI. However, I really struggled to get below the 155 so am currently accepting where I'm at and working on fitness goals rather than weight loss. I exercise 5-6 days a week (cardio, strength and flexibility) and am eating between 1600 and 1800 calories a day. Not a lot for maintenance with daily exercise, but it appears I don't need as many calories at my age.

ETA: I don't mind the word "skinny" at all. The few times someone has called me skinny has made my day! LOL

JoseCastaneda · May 2016

Skinny shouldn't be a goal. Aim for FIT, and you will see the difference

it involves a lot eating and a lot of workout by the way.

macchiatto · May 2016

I'm not sure how to answer that. I feel like I'm still somewhat "skinny fat"; my arms and legs are pretty thin (they were fairly thin to start with though) and my face has gotten thinner but I still have a fair amount of belly fat. My BF% is still somewhere around 27-29%, I would guess, even though I'm 5'7" and in a range of 131-134 lbs. I have PCOS and that can make it harder to lose belly fat. I'm trying to recomp now but currently in physical therapy 3x/wk b/c of weakness in several areas that has led me to be easily injured whenever I try a progressive strength training routine.

chimaerandi · May 2016

I'm 5'3'' and my range is 132-127 and I'm moving into maintenance. I know many MFPers would rather get to like 115 or whatever but ehhh, I'm happy the way I am and I'm not trying to be a model or anything--I'm healthy and I can maintain at this weight without it turning into an obsession pretty easily. The only person who gets to have an opinion about whether you're thin enough to be on maintenance is you. You don't *have* to want to be at the bottom half of your BMI, though I know it can feel that way. You're allowed to like yourself where you are!

Francl27 · May 2016

JoseCastaneda wrote: »

Skinny shouldn't be a goal. Aim for FIT, and you will see the difference it involves a lot eating and a lot of workout by the way.

I like this. Although we all have different opinions of what 'fit' means too! But I'm fit enough when my legs don't give up on me.

I do have the 'lot of eating' part down at least (well the lot of workout part too I guess).

LivingtheLeanDream · May 2016

chimaerandi wrote: »

..... The only person who gets to have an opinion about whether you're thin enough to be on maintenance is you. You don't *have* to want to be at the bottom half of your BMI, though I know it can feel that way. You're allowed to like yourself where you are!

^^ love this train of thought

victoria_1024 · May 2016

I'm 5'2.5" and 125. I have way more belly fat and thigh fat than I would like. But I am healthy and in good shape! If I lose much more weight, I feel like it might be too hard to maintain because I love food so much. Currently I'm trying to maintain but after eating 1700-1800 calories a day for the past few weeks I'm seeing that I'm still losing about a half pound per week so I think I could actually increase that to 2000 a day. I would love to maintain at that calorie amount!

Nikion901 · May 2016

localgrr wrote: »

I've decided to go on maintenance because I can't do 1200 any more (I'm short) so I've just learned to accept myself with a cute belly and that's that. I've lost quite a lot of weight so I'm happy with that.

Is anyone in a similar situation ? Would love to make new friends, thanks!

Caroline

Yep ... I'm no where near to my goal weight but I am on maintenance right now. Do you care to know why? Hope so cause I'm sharing ... I have a screwed-up metabolism from years of dieting and regaining so now I plateu very quickly. So ... I am learning how to eat to maintain my weight and when that works like it's supposed to ... somewhere down the line ... I'll start to reduce again.

lyttlewon · May 2016

I'm not skinny. I'm 5'6" and about 165ish pounds. I'm in the "normal" weight category for my height, if you look at charts/standards. I didn't lose weight because of a need to be skinny. I lost weight because I was suffering from poor health. I'm normal on all of my stats; BP, cholesterol, blood sugar etc, for the first time in 4 years. I lost weight until I hit a place where I was able to feel healthy. I don't think I would feel comfortable dropping another 20 lbs, although I certainly could. Right now I'm comfortable with how I feel and the amount I can eat, and that is what I feel is important.

Is anyone on maintenance that isn't even that skinny?

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