Maintenance - What do I do?

stuffinmuffin
stuffinmuffin Posts: 985 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone!

Okay this morning I jumped for joy when I realised I've hit my target!!! MFP has taught me so much about what I was doing wrong with my eating habits and taught me what I need to know to maintain a healthy lifestyle with a little bit of everything in moderation. I've made some AWESOME friends on here and their inspiration has been second to none.

I now want to work towards toning my new skinnyness up and learn about maintenance - does anyone have any advice on maintaining? I've heard a few people mention that you should up your calories a bit each week, but how many - or is this the best way to do it?

Any advice great recieved.... x

Replies

  • swaymyway
    swaymyway Posts: 428 Member
    Go into your settings and change your goal from losing weight to maintaining, this will tell you how many calories MFP suggests you need to maintain.

    A lot of people suggest you go up around 100 - 200 calories per week but just do whatever works for you - my difference between lose and maintain was only 250 calories so I just did it right away and have had no ill effects.
  • erickirb
    erickirb Posts: 12,294 Member
    Congrats. Essentially do everything that you did to lose weight but eat more.

    Some people exercise a little less as well.

    and yes, try adding 100-200 cals to your day and stick with is for 3-4 weeks, then up it another 100-200 for anther 3-4 weeks until you get to maintenance calories. Doing it this way you may find that your real maintenance is higher or lower than what MFP has calculated for you.
  • yaddayaddayadda
    yaddayaddayadda Posts: 430 Member
    Bump... 2 lbs to go!
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
    Not sure, but congratulations! What a brilliant effort!
  • Shweedog
    Shweedog Posts: 883 Member
    I upped my cals by 100 per week til I got to maintenance. I kept losing though. And at a faster rate since I had temporarily caused a spike in my metabolism by giving it more fuel. In hindsight I wish I had just started maintenance cals because I ended up losing too much and actually had to work to gain five pounds back. Lol. Then I fell off the wagon and am now working to get back to 130!! Good luck and congrats!!
  • agthorn
    agthorn Posts: 1,844 Member
    Congrats! There's a group of sorts here: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/191617-maintenance-thread (several of us have also asked for a 'maintainers' category on the forums).

    I also immediately upped my calories to "maintain my current weight" (I was only at a 250 calorie deficit) but I'm still working to find the sweet spot. My goal now is also lifting; I just bought The New Rules of Lifting for Women (and finding my actual maintenance level is going to be interesting, because that book's formula gave me a maintenance level that is 300 calories higher than MFP!)

    But other than that, the fundamental principles of MFP still apply - track your food, eat your exercise calories, and choose an overall healthy balanced diet. Good luck!
  • CARNAT22
    CARNAT22 Posts: 764 Member
    I'm almost there and the difference between losing 0.5 per week and maintaining is just 240 cals!

    Once I shift those last few lbs I'll up my cal's by the full amount.

    PS - congrats OP - well done you!
  • ohdear1986
    ohdear1986 Posts: 110 Member
    i just take each day as it comes, i have been maintaining since may this year. with a gain of 0.2lb, a loss of 0.2lb etc which is completely normal but this week i have started losing again (1.6lb??!) but i don't track, maybe i need to now though. i am eating 2000+ a day yet i can't keep the weight on. (124.6lb @5ft 7.2")
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