Confessions of a Maintainer
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BikeTourer wrote: »I too love food. Nothing was off limits when I was losing and nothing is off limits now. If I can work into the plan I do it. I am far pickier about what is worth it. I see a number of comments about hating exercise, I don't get it. Weight loss would have been pure hell and maintenance an unbearable life sentence if I didnt have the ability to up calories in with exercise. I've never used exercise as punishment for overeating but a means to eat more and remain in plan. I don't like the days where I can't be active.
Nothing is better than to finish a long ride a know if you want a salted caramel blizzard you can have it because you banked the calories.
I'm the same way as you regarding exercise. I feel that my days suck if I can't do any. Heat waves and Winter suck for me because I can't go for my 3 mile walk after dinner (that's typically on top of whatever exercise I had that day). I HATE week ends now when my husband just wants to stay home and chill. So I just do my own things.
I still don't like most exercises though, but I tolerate riding my stationary bike while watching TV and I love walking (even on the treadmill, but they have games so it keeps me busy). it probably helps that I'm an introvert and use that time to recharge.
The worst probably is when my legs need a rest... at 1.5/3 hours of walking/biking a day sometimes, they just can't keep up with me
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I'm on year 3 of maintaining in a good range after losing about 35 lbs. I stopped logging for the most part, but still come back to it when I feel my weight drifting too far northward. I've learned some lessons that work for me:
a) I don't limit my choices, if there's something I want, I eat it but in very limited portions. A spoonful or two can satisfy me.
b) When I think I'm hungry, I'm often thirsty. A big water or a decaf herbal tea will often satisfy the craving. I try this first.
c) I am not drawn to fruit, but when I bite into an apple or a pear, I realize how much I love them. I try to divert myself away from the cookies and to an apple etc, and I'm never disappointed, unsatisfied or feeling guilty.
d) It's still not easy. I like food. I've gotten OK with feeling hungry at times and realized occasional hunger is not going to kill me
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In October, I will have maintained a 105 pound weight loss for 10 years, and I still fight the part of me that wants to dive headfirst into a gallon of ice cream. Vacation is the toughest time because the little devil on my shoulder tells me that it's okay to eat anything I want when I'm on vacation.23
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I don't think of food as simply fuel for my body....I eat the things I really like and MOSTLY bear in mind what is best for me nutritionally. I've only been maintaining for a couple of months but so far, so good. Oh confession...I like wine too much for comfort lol.
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I always feel like I'm one big meal / box of chocolate away from my former self.29
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Over three years in maintenance/recomp here... My confessions...
- I've had a lot of mild injuries from overdoing my chosen modes of exercise. Had to spend 6-8 weeks in physical therapy last year for a couple of them.
- Walking, hiking, and kayaking have proven much more effective for reducing my BF% than lifting had been. I find this mildly disturbing.
- Sometimes I forget to wear my fitbit and don't even care. Sometimes it's even hard to care about logging, but not logging is scary.
- I suck at calorie restriction, routinely exceed my net target, and have become a terribly "dirty" eater at times.
- I still weigh in nearly every day, and still react more than I should to the daily fluctuations. Even though I know full well that what I weigh from morning to morning has more to do with what time I ate dinner than anything else.
- I love love love wearing skirts now... but sometimes I miss my boobs.
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I've lost around 30 lbs in the last few years and when I hit my goal weight in April 2016 I was hit with the realization that I don't know how to find the sweet spot that is maintenance. Good news: I still exercise several times a week, log foods, and weigh myself once a week. Bad news: Eating pasta, baked goods, and have gained 3 lbs. I like the idea of seeing food as fuel...maybe that will work for me.1
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I freaking love stuff that's bad for you maybe a little too much. Went to Portillos this afternoon and had 2 Hotdogs and a shake. Probably 1200 calories combined. In really scared that j will never be able to eat normally2
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I think I'm more obsessed with food than I was 40-50lbs ago...7
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I also love to eat. And once I reach maintenance (6 more to go!) I will keep logging. I also love to hike, and will do extra miles when I have a potluck or some other food related event to attend. If I eat it, I have to earn it. So far that has worked for me (down 49 lbs!) Another thing that has helped me is the recognition that I used food for comfort when I was feeling depressed or anxious. Now I look for other ways to handle those feelings.2
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Ive been maintaining for 2 1/2 years. I still eat junk food and I don't exercise enough.2
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I always feel like I'm one big meal / box of chocolate away from my former self.
Oh, la. This. lol.
Just started maintenance a few weeks ago and have been on holiday during that same period so it is a little tough to see clearly how it will work. At least I do know I can 'play' with my calories to achieve what I want. Day by day.
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This thread. Omg, I thought I was the only maintainer struggling. I imagined most people found their balance soon but I see is a challenge for so many. I stopped losing early June and still haven't figured things out this, as whenever I try to eat at what is supposed to be maintenance, I appear to gain and freak out. My cravings for sweets are worse than when I was losing and my body has become so efficient at exercise that I burn far fewer calories than before. Hardest thing I've ever tried. Worth it? Yes, no matter what.8
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I know it sounds stupid, but I have the opposite problem of a lot of maintainers, stopping. Ive actually lost 7 lbs since I hit goal weight. I struggle with allowing myself to eat enough to maintain my cardio work. Right now I take in 2700. It's not like I'm hungry and refusing to eat, I added a bowl of cereal/milk each night just to take in more calories. But allowing myself to let go a little on "bad" foods I think is at the core.4
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walkingbymoonlight wrote: »Bad news: Eating pasta, baked goods, and have gained 3 lbs. I like the idea of seeing food as fuel...maybe that will work for me.
3# is my normal fluctuation. Food as fuel is a great outlook, unfortunately, I have always been the type of person who "lives to eat". My bad news is my husband is a "eats to live" person. I know it is never going to be possible to be an "eats to live" person for me. I just love everything about food too much. I love to shop for it, prepare it, and unfortunately, eat it. For me, now the incentive, is to never allow myself to go back to a severely obese person, and that means I have to keep logging and monitoring my weight. I am good at estimating portion sizes now, and am very aware of what I have to do to stay a "normal weight", that involves constant vigilance. Just the way it is for me.
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I still have days where I buy that bag of chips - and I'm not talking those small lunch-size ones - but now I can't consume the whole bag ... maybe more like 1/3 of it ... and then I crush the rest and throw them away. I always log those calories and I usually take something out to make up for it. Overall, however, after 2 years of maintenance and 2.5 years to lose the weight to begin with, I have almost 5 years of eating healthy, and it seems to be easier all the time. Food is now fuel to me, and things I used to eat years ago just don't appeal to me any more. In fact, my body really reacts negatively to sugar, fat, too much salt, etc. Example: If I have pizza, it's whole wheat, thin crust, all veggies, and no cheese. I would have gagged at even the thought of that years ago, but now I really love it. And yes, sometimes I eat the whole thing, but usually it's a personal size, not a medium or large. Enjoy your maintenance journey ... you have earned it. And it does get a whole lot easier because, eventually, however it works for your success (and it's all individual), it gets easier because it just becomes second nature.6
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I think about food ALL of the time. I'm either thinking about what I ate last or what I'm going to eat later! As a matter of fact, one of my hobbies is cooking. So consequently, I am constantly involved with food in some manner: reading cookbooks (Cooking Light, Weight Watchers, Spark Recipes, MFP), experimenting with recipes, planning meals, etc. MFP has enable me to engage in my hobby and still maintain my weight. I have been logging in for almost 1,900 days now and have have been able maintain my original 45 lb weight loss (within +/- a couple of pounds). I could not have done it without My Fitness Pal!11
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I'm still obsessed with tracking food and calories and diet-rules. I can't bring myself to relax, although I've had a few "bad" days (even one with binging) lately and need to be careful not to go from maintainer to gainer soon! (to be honest, I am still very happy whenever the number on the scales drops, although I know I shouldn' because I'm losing my figure. I need to catch up in terms of muscle!
I like how I look in underwear now but, honestly, I hate how my breasts look without a bra!! ) 4 -
I love this thread2
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If I had abillion dollars I'd spend it mostly on food and surgery1
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leejoyce31 wrote: »I love this thread
I started maintaining in May. It is a struggle. I can be "good" only so long, and then I overeat. I've tried to get a good balance and find the best numbers for me, but it really isn't easy. I've struggled to stay in the range I chose, possibly because I had such a large deficit when I was losing. But I'm a work in progress!1 -
I have maintained for about 6 years, however it's an up and down process. Yes, I've gained and lost, but never more than about 10 pounds. You just have to realize that there will be "pig out" sessions, and vacations that mess with your routine. The big thing is that you do go back to a routine, with the logging and exercise. When I have been off track and eating whatever I want and not exercising, it's a big relief to get back to my routine and logging and keeping accountable. After years and years of struggling with weight, the only thing that works for me is logging.... Not banning any food, no food is off limits to me, because that just makes a person crazy. However, there are certain foods that are a trigger, and those I choose to not put in my shopping cart, because I will eat the whole bag. All that being said, it's a journey and a lifestyle change, it's just remembering, yes I can have that one fun treat today, and there will be another fun treat tomorrow... I don't have to have allllll the fun treats in one day... Also, find an exercise that you love! I love anything outside! Even walking, it's a great way to clear your mind.9
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I love food! In fact I appreciate it even more now that I'm eating consciously. That has helped me maintain four years. Never put food in your mouth that doesn't taste good.5
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I'm not at maintenance yet, but I was curious about this thread---very enlightening! And full of great advice for where I am now. Perhaps if I adapt some of these tips now then when I do hit my goal, maintenance may be a little easier. Thank you all for the confessions!!! I love that some of you mentioned preparing for high calorie occasions...weddings, potlucks, or even weekend snacking. Love it!3
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I still buy an entire bag of chips and eat it in one sitting, however I know it and often log it.
I don't always log when I know I am way over my calories.
I rarely meet my protein goal.1 -
Ive been on maintenance for a year and am really struggling this past week. I need a new goal and focus as i see old habits coming back and i keep telling myself tomorrow will be the day but I need to focus on today not tomorrow. I feel so much better slimmer and more fit. Why would i jeopardize this wonderful way that i feel. Help!
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Survived a three week holiday. Just. No real gain in weight but wasn't able to log properly/consistently. Pretty sure I ate just above a deficit and activity helped prevent a gain. Kinda wish I was able to log to see exactly what I ate in retrospect but, you know what? Real life happens. so I am not going to stress about it.
Back to the plan with logging and will see how it goes!4 -
Ive been on maintenance for a year and am really struggling this past week. I need a new goal and focus as i see old habits coming back and i keep telling myself tomorrow will be the day but I need to focus on today not tomorrow. I feel so much better slimmer and more fit. Why would i jeopardize this wonderful way that i feel. Help!
Did something stressful or different happen this past week? I've been in maintenance four months. Sometimes, I'm concerned that I will revert to old habits from 15 months ago.0
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