Maintainers - how do you keep your head in the game?

PiscesMan123 · December 2018

I have not reached my goal weight yet, BUT...I am expecting to do so. I decided to check-in on this forum to see what it is that motivates people to continue on their healthy (maintenance path). I want to arm myself with as much information possible to be able to meet my weight loss goal and sustain my accomplishment. I believe in logging. I also believe that when one is making positive changes in ones life that it is paramount to be able to embrace the new version of you. I have to be able to "see" and accept the new me. It is an image that I am not used to seeing, but am working hard to embrac it.

Dilvish · December 2018

I just tell myself that I can either live to eat or eat to live. In my case I simply remind myself that the alternative is diabetes and generally poor health. It keeps me on track no matter what.

Unfortunately many people don't do a course correction, as it were, until they are already way off the map!

alexmose · December 2018

PiscesMan123 wrote: »

I have not reached my goal weight yet, BUT...I am expecting to do so. I decided to check-in on this forum to see what it is that motivates people to continue on their healthy (maintenance path). I want to arm myself with as much information possible to be able to meet my weight loss goal and sustain my accomplishment. I believe in logging. I also believe that when one is making positive changes in ones life that it is paramount to be able to embrace the new version of you. I have to be able to "see" and accept the new me. It is an image that I am not used to seeing, but am working hard to embrac it.

Second logging. I am bulking, so logging helps me hit the protein goal. Also, we all know the right food choices. We just need to stick with them. Holidays are over so get rid of your cookies at your next party and stay on track through the New Year. You got this!

GaleHawkins · December 2018

After 40 years of yo yoing weight and obese at the age of 63 I totally walked away from dieting to lose weight and keeping it off.

After 4 years my health and health markers are better than in years eating in the 2000-3000 range daily. The first year I did drop 50 pounds of weight and have maintained that loss for the past three years.

Getting rid of a lifetime of cravings/pain the first month of my new Way Of Eating I think was key in my case.

Clearly people maintain in many different ways so the key seems to be to find the WOE that gives one the best health with little to no thought being required. Now that I can eat all I want when I get hungry keeps me from thinking about food all of the time when I was dieting to loss weight and always hungry and thinking about FOOD.

Clear and meaningful health outcome goals did it for me but the brain does not refocus overnight so give it time.

BMcC9 · February 2019

bump

rosiorama · February 2019

BMcC9 wrote: »

bump

Thank-you. This is a great thread.

MaintainInTheMembrane · February 2019

I remember all the hard work it took to reach my goal weight. It’s easier to keep it off than to have to go back and lose it again. I know I’d be really upset with myself if I threw all that away.

MadisonMolly2017 · February 2019

MaintainInTheMembrane wrote: »

I remember all the hard work it took to reach my goal weight. It’s easier to keep it off than to have to go back and lose it again. I know I’d be really upset with myself if I threw all that away.

This.

Servus19 · February 2019

I lost 65 lbs 21 yrs ago. My weight never fluctuates more than 10lbs, usually 5 is my max. A reminder to weigh myself pops up on my calendar every few weeks and I "check in". It took me 2 yrs to lose the 65 lbs. It sucked.

So much I am not going to let it happen again. If I put a few on I increase my exercise, or cut cal's for a few weeks, IF, etc. I change it just for fun. I have stayed active all of these years and keeping my weight stable has been pretty easy to be honest. But I like to hike, run a bit, I ride my bike to the store, walk when I can it all adds up and I have reached a happy medium. I am more proud of my body for being healthy and active as I aged, less about how I looked. As a woman it was a bit of a break through for me mentally. I am much happier for it.

Take care.

ejh2006 · February 2019

I have lost a total of 98 pounds and I have been maintaining since last summer. I'm sure everyone has a different method they use as a motivator. I personally, look at before/after pics (of myself) when I feel and know I'm not sticking to my clean eating and/or locking on my workouts.
I talk to myself (yes, and when alone I talk to my self at loud...LOL) I tell my body that this is a new life style and there is no going back, so it needs to get it together and stick with the program

I go on Instagram to look and follow some people that post their success stories and share their struggles and that tends to work. I also go online to "pretend" I'm shopping for different clothes and swimsuits, I add my favorite items to the cart and when done I just log out...LOL

I take pictures of the meals I prepare for the day... when I feel like not cooking or I find myself reaching out for the wrong foods, I go to my gallery and look at all the meals I have previously cooked and it helps as a reminder that I can do it and therefore there are NO excuses.
I jump on the scale at least twice a month. Seeing an specific number on the scale helps but it is not my main motivator.. now that I'm at "maintenance" stage it is more about fitting in my clothes comfortably. Your clothes are a good indicator if what you are doing is working or not. Lastly, talk/hang with those that have the same goal as you, those who are going to motivate you, give you ideas and push you to move forward!!

ceiswyn · February 2019

I've only been maintaining for a few months, but I suck at 'keeping my head in the game'.

The way 'maintenance' actually seems to work for me is as mini cycles of weight gain (largely through PMS-related food binges, thankyou so much uterus) and weight loss that keep me within a roughly 7 lb weight range.

MaintainInTheMembrane · March 2019

Another thing I do to keep my head in the game is I look at my new clothes and focus on how much I’m enjoying wearing them. I keep up the good work so I can continue to fit them.

jenilla1 · March 2019

8 years in maintenance - it's basically just habit. I like my lifestyle, how I feel and look, it's easy and comfortable for me (because I don't have any weird rules, punishments or restrictions) so I just keep on keeping on...

Jimb376mfp · March 2019

Being on Maintenance can be a PITA but it’s better than trying to reach my Goal Weight.

When I lost-100Lb at age 67 in 2015 I made my Goal to not gain back like I did my whole life.

Then I reached GW 3/29/18 I made myself to stay below Goal Weight. Life at Goal is better but it doesn’t solve everything. At age 71 I now weigh half my Starting Weight (376)
so I can be proud of myself.

SW 376 (2013 joined WW)
GW 184 (2018)
CW 178

brenn24179 · March 2019

MaintainInTheMembrane wrote: »

Another thing I do to keep my head in the game is I look at my new clothes and focus on how much I’m enjoying wearing them. I keep up the good work so I can continue to fit them.

yep, this is why I do it!

garystrickland357 · March 2019

I don't mean for this to be a downer post but it is definitely a reason to keep your head in the game. We had a coworker drop dead of a heart attack yesterday right at the end of work. She was a dear, wonderful person. She was also technically obese, hypertensive, and had other weight related issues. There is an added health risk associated with being overweight. Yesterday I saw a possible consequence. It's a reality check to what may have been my future had I not taken control of my weight. None of us know the future, but we do know that maintaining a healthy weight lowers our risk of this kind of outcome. Stay the course y'all.

carolintally · March 2019

I'm one of those people who needs to weigh myself every morning in order to stay on top of maintenance. I log my weight. That daily dose of reality keeps me from slipping into being mindless about what I'm eating. If I go over my 3 lb zone, I start logging food again. Cutting way back on sugar also has helped me maintain. I still eat plenty of healthy carbs. I try not to bring anything in the house to eat that I wouldn't want to see in my log. And like others, I've gotten rid of all the fat clothes and remind myself of the new ones that I love.

cheryldumais · March 2019

garystrickland357 wrote: »

I don't mean for this to be a downer post but it is definitely a reason to keep your head in the game. We had a coworker drop dead of a heart attack yesterday right at the end of work. She was a dear, wonderful person. She was also technically obese, hypertensive, and had other weight related issues. There is an added health risk associated with being overweight. Yesterday I saw a possible consequence. It's a reality check to what may have been my future had I not taken control of my weight. None of us know the future, but we do know that maintaining a healthy weight lowers our risk of this kind of outcome. Stay the course y'all.

So sorry for your loss.

twdlove89 · March 2019

It sounds daft but I regularly look back at pictures of me when I was 16stone. It reminds me how unhappy I was and how unhealthy I was. That usually puts me back on track

Lora2380 · March 2019

I’m in the 120’s lbs (high 120”s but whatever) I never in my wildest dreams thought I could get back down to this. I love the thought of it and how much energy I have now, the new wardrobe I don’t want to grow out of and how proud my family is of me. Looking at before pics and reading the NSV thread everyday help remind me what I worked so hard for and generally keep me in check. Not to say that there aren’t times when I slip, I just don’t let it get to far before correcting.

I do monthly challenges with a friend to change it up and keep accountable, try to set new goals regularly, even look for a new healthy recipe to try so it stays in the back of your mind to be healthy and make good decisions.

Maintainers - how do you keep your head in the game?

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