Maintainers Weekly Check In - October 2018

Age: 43
Height: 5'2"
Total weight lost: 45
Time it took to lose: 30 lbs in about 9 months, the rest over a year
How long in maintenance: about 6 years
Maintenance weight range: 103-106
Average weight recorded from 2017 (12 months): probably around 108?

Average weight recorded from January: 102.8
Average weight recorded from February: 102.9
Average weight recorded from March: 103.1
Average weight recorded from April:103.2
Average weight recorded from May:103.3
Average weight recorded from June: 103.5
Average weight recorded from July: 103.7
Average weight recorded from August: 103.9
Average weight recorded from September: 103.4 <--noticed I made a typo last week

Week of...
October 7:103.7
October 14: 102.0
October 21:
October 28:

Success/Struggles: I've been to the gym every day this week Back to doing a warm-up on the rowing machine for 10 minutes, then about 20 minutes of resistance training, then an hour on the treadmill listening to my audiobooks. I'm still struggling with what to do as I can't do some of the upper-body stuff that I used to without it hurting my shoulder (I was an idiot and pulled a muscle in my left shoulder the day after I got the splint removed from my right arm ) I need to change my routine regardless as it's just hacked together from exercises a trainer I used a few years ago had me doing and I really want to try Strong Curves or Nerd Fitness Beginner Bodyweight Workout - bodyweight appeals to me right now as it's something I can do at home. I used to take yoga classes and have been thinking about starting that back as well.

Name:ExistingFish
Age: 30
Height: 5'0" (153cm)
Total weight lost: 36.5lb (16.6kg)
Time it took to lose: 6 months
How long in maintenance: 1 month
Maintenance weight range:117lbs-123lbs
Average weight recorded from 2017 (1 month): 122.6


Average weight recorded from September: 122.6

Week of...
October 5: 119.9lbs (t: 120.6)
October 12: 119.7lbs (t: 120.4)
October 19:
October 26:
October 31:

Success(es)/struggle(s) of the week: I have been struggling with logging. Or not logging, that is. I know I'm eating more calories than my goal, but my body seems to be burning them because I'm finally maintaining ( and not losing, which I was doing last month). So I probably need to adjust my goal.

Name: sofchak
Age: 36
Height: 5’3”
Total Weight lost: ~30 lbs
Time it took to lose: ~9 months
How long in maintenance: Over a year
Maintenance weight range: 120-125
Average weight recorded from 2017: 117

Average weight recorded from January: 120
Average weight recorded from February: 124
Average weight recorded from March: 126
Average weight recorded from April: 125
Average weight recorded from May: 124.5
Average weight recorded from June: 124
Average weight recorded from July: 123
Average weight recorded from August: 123
Average weight recorded from September: 122

Week of:
October 6th: 121.5
October 13th: 123.0

Successes/struggles of the week: First time I’ve seen a significant week over week increase in a while. Turns out college campuses keep a lot of candy around for Halloween.... and I love chocolate, especially when it’s free! Between the candy, stress, TOM, and water weight from recent physical activity, I would have been shocked if it didn’t go up!

While I am very happy at the new job and doing well in school, this house move is just draining me - I had no idea all the complexities that go into turning your (soon to be previously) primary home into a rental property. Ugh. It’s a whole new to-do list on top of an already huge to-do list. Then I eat to compensate for the stress of it all.

On a positive note, I kicked butt at Tough Mudder last weekend!!! My husband and I were supposed to do the 5k together on Saturday, but we missed a turn and ended up doing the 5 mile version together!!! Oops! Then on Sunday, I did the 10 mile version solo. Lots of fun... my arms and legs felt fine but my abs were killing me for days afterward. Gives me a new focus before next year’s races.

Have a great week everyone!

Name:Pam
Age:60
Height:5'5
Total weight lost:200
Time it took to lose: Started Jan 2016
How long in maintenance: Since Sept 2018
Maintenance weight range:130-135
Average weight recorded from 2017 (12 months):

Average weight recorded from January:
Average weight recorded from February:134.75
Average weight recorded from March:132.7
Average weight recorded from April:131.3
Average weight recorded from May:129.6
Average weight recorded from June:127.85
Average weight recorded from July:128.3
Average weight recorded from August:126.25
Average weight recorded from September:126.4

Week of...
October 7:125.8
October 14:125.6
October 21:
October 28:

Success(es)/struggle(s) of the week:My work provide a InBody test by Crossfit so thought why not let's see my numbers. I weight in like I always do every morning, went for test I was 1 pound thinner according to them. She said I was doing great my body fat percent was 20.2 my BMI is 20.7 my Basal Metabolic rate is 1345 which she explained to me what I burn if I was in a coma. This is what I find interesting MFP only gives me 1445 to maintain. The next thing she said shocked me told me I could stay to gain 5-10 pounds as I was so thin. I proceeded to bring out my pictures of me before I started my journey told her no way that was going to happen because if I start I might not stopped. She agreed stay right where I am at and not to lose more,

Now my issue I'm having trying to get her words out of my head to gain. I have been fighting to get those words all week. I don't want it to give me a reason to eat.

icemom011 wrote: »

Name: Irina

Success(es)/struggle(s) of the week/month: not sleeping enough is my main struggle. I have promised myself so many times to just hung it up and go to bed earlier and yet when it comes to it, i rerely do. Truth is, there's no a very good and valid reason for me to be up. Just trying to extend my day, have some me time and a bit extra downtime, but it all comes at my own expense. I'm grouchy in the morning, i can't get up when the alarm goes off, it's not worth it. Yet i continue doing it. We are getting into arguments because of it too. Need to change this asap.

@icemom011, I'm commenting because I too put a high value on me time and downtime, (and I well know what insufficient sleep feels like). Just wanted to say that maybe it's a plus that it's causing arguments, because BOTH of you will be motivated and inspired to find a solution - just imagine the joy of a routine evening that features the other person, whom I assume to be your partner, taking over some of your chores or responsibilities, even for just an hour or two, while you chill out! Anyway, have fun working out a solution, and don't shortchange yourself! But do let us know if your partner starts struggling to get enough sleep 😊 lol.

I haven't posted an update in a while, but will say that this whole MFP Maintenance concept/emphasis is sure an effective way to avoid going back to the starting point, as used to be the norm for so many of us, including me. Clearly we all consider it unthinkable to ever do that again... yet when we begin Maintenance, we hardly dare believe it will work!!! I have a generous Maintenance weight range (below 153, preferably in the 140s), and have generally been in the 140s for over a year now. 146 today. Reading all your comments sure helps me keep my head in the game - there is something about a whole group of people working on the same thing that energizes and validates our own struggles, so thanks again!

Thanks @fidangul for setting up this thread and for maintaining it for so long. And thanks so much Stephen for setting up the newer threads.

@pkweir, I get the same thing, words echoing in my head and maybe eventually leading me astray. What helps me in those situations is putting my own twist on them, rather than simply hoping to forget them. Like, if someone told me I could stand to gain 5 - 10 lbs as I was "so thin", I would put an "Oh ain't life grand, a health professional has described me as THIN! I have definitely done what I set out to do! Yay me!" twist on it - and treat it as "You've come a long way baby!" I think psychologists say that it isn't so much what people actually SAY to us that matters, but what we make of what they say say to us, what we tell ourselves that it means...

@sofchak, it's a pleasure to see your pictures, you are brimming with health, vitality, and strength. Yup, a Tough Mudder allright! Great to hear that you're happy at the new job and doing well at school. Amazing that you are also dealing with, not just a house move, but also becoming a landlord - good grief, just think how carefree your challenging life will seem when that is finally all settled... you already have an awesome "can do" attitude!!!

Wishing everybody a great week! 😊🌸🌺

Name: Kathryn
Age: 50
Height: 5'3.5"
Total Weight lost: ~76 lbs
Time it took to lose: 2 years 3 months
How long in maintenance: I called maintenance in July 2016, but I continued to slowly lose until December of 2017. I have been in maintenance for ~ 10 months
Maintenance weight range: 118 - 122 lbs
Average weight recorded from 2017: 123.4


Average weight recorded from January: 119.2
Average weight recorded from February: 119.6
Average weight recorded from March: 119.6
Average weight recorded from April: 119.6
Average weight recorded from May: 119.7
Average weight recorded from June: 119.4
Average weight recorded from July: 119.8
Average weight recorded from August: 118.8
Average weight recorded from September: 118.1

Week of...
October 7: 118 scale/ 117.6 trend
October 14: 115.6 scale/ 116.9 trend
October 21:
October 28:

Success(es)/struggle(s) of the week: Not much to say this week. Weight is down a little, but I'm not worried about it. Looks like it will be cold and rainy all week so no telling if I will get all my runs in. This is my least favorite type of weather. I know lots of people look forward to winter, but it just makes me feel depressed. It's not so bad when it is cold and the sun is shining, but cold, cloudy and wet all make me just want to curl up and hide. I hope I will be able to find some good opportunities to get some runs in this week as that does help. Yesterday I got 9 miles in.

Name: workinonit1956
Age: 62
Height: 5’2.5”
Total weight lost: 53 pounds/43 since joining MyFitnessPal
Time it took to lose: 43 lbs in 8.5 months
How long in maintenance: One week
Maintenance weight range: ?
Average weight recorded from 2018 (12 months):

Average weight recorded from January: 173
Average weight recorded from February: 162
Average weight recorded from March: 156
Average weight recorded from April: 151
Average weight recorded from May: 145.5
Average weight recorded from June: 140.5
Average weight recorded from July: 139
Average weight recorded from August: 135.5
Average weight recorded from September: 132

Week of...
October 7: 130
October 14: 130
October 21:
October 28:

Success(es)/struggle(s) of the week -no gain!

Name: Hannah
Age: 29
Height: 5'10"
Total weight lost: 25lb
Time it took to lose: 1.5 years
How long in maintenance: 15 months
Maintenance weight range: 152-156
Average weight recorded from 2017 (12 months): I don't know

Average weight recorded from January:
Average weight recorded from February:
Average weight recorded from March:
Average weight recorded from April: 155.57
Average weight recorded from May: 156.6
Average weight recorded from June: 156
Average weight recorded from July: 157.1
Average weight recorded from August: 157
Average weight recorded from September: 155

Week of...
October 7: 154.4 (trend 154.7)
October 14: 155.5 (trend 154.8)
October 21:
October 28:

Success/ Struggles of the week:
That was my weigh-in from Sunday, I forgot to post here. My weight is on the upward trend again, oh no!! I have not been very good with my eating. I'm still getting used to morning exercise. I have to eat in the mornings now whereas before I would skip breakfast.

Name:Lora
Age: 38
Height: 5’5”
Total weight lost:MFP +\- 40lbs, 45lbs all together
Time it took to lose: 8 months
How long in maintenance: new
Maintenance weight range: 126-129lbs
Average weight recorded from 2017 (12 months): 175


Average weight recorded from June: 135lbs
Average weight recorded from July: 132lbs
Average weight recorded from Aug: 131lbs
Average weight recorded from Sept: 130lbs

Sept 27- 128.6lbs
Oct 5- 128.2lbs
Oct 12- 129.6lbs
Oct 19- 131.4lbs

Success/struggle- oops weight back up but can’t blame anything but myself... haven’t been eating right and lots of late night binging this week. Stressed about changing careers in last two months and hoping to get everything lined back up soon. Falling back on old habits isn’t going to make me feel better so back at it this week!

Did a big shop of lots of healthy low cal snacks and the chips are back out the door! If they are in the house I eat them so out they go.

Name: missperfectpitch
Height: 5'4"
Total weight lost: About 43 pounds
Time it took to lose: 1 year and 2 months
How long in maintenance: I hit my goal weight in the beginning of January 2018, but officially started maintenance in mid-March 2018 after figuring out my calories for a couple of months.
Maintenance weight range: 108-111.5

Average weight recorded from January: 110.6
Average weight recorded from February: 109.5
Average weight recorded from March: 109.0
Average weight recorded from April: 109.1
Average weight recorded from May: 109.3
Average weight recorded from June: 109.7
Average weight recorded from July: 110.1
Average weight recorded from August: 109.7
Average weight recorded from September: 110.3

Week of...
October 6: 110.2 (trend 110.1)
October 13: -- (away on vacation with no access to a scale)
October 20: 109.7 (trend 109.8)
October 27:

Success(es)/struggle(s) of the week: I was on vacation last week and managed to more or less maintain. I ate out for most meals, except for packing sandwiches for lunches and doing yogurts and fruit for most breakfasts, so my calorie intake was estimated. This was a pretty active trip, so while I normally use TDEE and don't concern myself with exercise calories, I got in quite a bit more steps than I usually do (some days were 20k-25k steps hiking up and down rocky terrain v. my usual ~10k steps) and ate back 2/3 of the calories estimated by my Fitbit. I weighed in on the low end of my range the day I got back, but have hovered around the mid-upper point of my range the rest of this week after getting back into my normal workout routine. I've been eating high-sodium takeout food for dinners most of this week, so I also consider it a success that I haven't put on much water weight this week.

It's not my reporting day, and apparently I'm no good with a calendar because I reported my average weight for the week of October 15 - 21 on October 19. Um... Oh well.

But....

When I stepped on the scale today, it gave me a number that didn't seem right. I stepped back off, turned it back on, weighed something else to make sure it didn't save my number in the memory, then stepped on it again. I am back to the low end of my goal range and am the lowest weight I've been since probably the 1980s.

Even though I know this could just be a little fluctuation, I'm going with it. I reset my MFP goal to maintenance, and I "earned" an extra hundred calories per day or so. Yippee.

Now it's back to maintenance. I'll still report on Monday since that actually IS the 21st. Sorry about that.

Name: Faebert
Age: 39
Height: 5’6
Total weight lost: about 50lbs
Time it took to lose: on and off 3 years. First 30 in 4 months and then gradually reduced goal weight
How long in maintenance: 14 months
Maintenance weight range: 115-120
Average weight recorded from 2017 (12months): 121

Average weight recorded from September: 113.2

Week of...
October 7: 113.25
October 14: 113.25
October 21: 114.5
October 28:

Struggles/successes: After two weeks of being unwell I’m finally better. Managed to workout four days this week (usually six) and one yoga class (usually two or three) so not quite back to fitness yet but getting there. But wow, have I found my appetite!! I have a week off work now as it’s the half term break. Want to be very mindful as being at home can make things very snacky. Going to try and tighten up logging and hopefully get in lots of activity.

Have a good week all. X