April Challenge: Maintainers Back on Track Thread
sofchak
Posts: 862 Member
This challenge is specific to Maintainers who may have lost a little enthusiasm along the journey to better health - let’s use this space as a discussion / accountability thread to get back on track and ultimately back in goal range. Check in as often as you like (weekly or bi-weekly preferred).
I just ask that you focus on two things:
1. Your current goal - can be big (like run a 10k or lose 10 lbs by Memorial Day) or small (like eat at a deficit 2 days a week or lose 1/2 lb a week)
2. Recent success - this can be tied to your goal (lost 3 lbs!) or a completely separate NSV (lost a pant size or ran a mile without stopping)
Here goes...
Name:
How long in maintenance:
Goal maintenance range:
Current weight:
Current goal:
Recent success:
I just ask that you focus on two things:
1. Your current goal - can be big (like run a 10k or lose 10 lbs by Memorial Day) or small (like eat at a deficit 2 days a week or lose 1/2 lb a week)
2. Recent success - this can be tied to your goal (lost 3 lbs!) or a completely separate NSV (lost a pant size or ran a mile without stopping)
Here goes...
Name:
How long in maintenance:
Goal maintenance range:
Current weight:
Current goal:
Recent success:
6
Replies
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Name: Sofchak
How long in maintenance: 2.5 years
Goal maintenance range: 122-127
Current weight: 129
Current goal: lose 1/2 lb a week
Recent success: None yet toward this goal... scale keeps going up! However, I did stay in calorie range 2x this week. Progress!8 -
In. Maintenance is no fun. We are here for you @nowine4me Hugs!6
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Joining also2
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Name: h.
How long in maintenance: 9 or 10 years.
Goal maintenance range: 100-105lbs
Current weight: 101.6lbs
Current goal: get off the recomp/decomp/maintain treadmill and back to a good steady recomp.
Recent success: no weight gain on 4 week cruise/holiday. Body did turn into mashed potatoes though.
Renewal of my rec centre pass is due Monday and it will be back to the weights. (Anticipating a clear 6-8 weeks of lifting, yoga, and aquafit)
I’m in this though I have no problem maintaining weight, my problem has become maintaining the fitness level I have previously enjoyed.
(Family needs have had me on (and off) the road for the past 18+ months so I have done my bare basics in exercise and find it hard to get back into my previous routine knowing more travel will be needed at the drop of a hat.
Who would have thought at 65 you (I) would be the one supporting 2generations below and one above.
I thought I would be in my rocking chair, cat on lap, wine in hand, with the younger generations looking after me
)
Sorry guys, I ramble.
Cheers, h.18 -
Maintenance is fun but still needs to be worked at.
I haven't lost enthusiasm for health, weight is just part of that.
Yes I put some weight on over Christmas and New Year and started to correct that in January.
Name: Simon
How long in maintenance: 5+ years
Goal maintenance range: 168 - 175lbs (but the top number is, or at least should be, my red line that triggers action.)
Current weight: 170 (Currently 2lbs away from my ideal cycling weight.)
Current goal: Lose the excess weight, ride more metric centuries (3 so far this year), training for a Century ride this month or next, recover from back injury which has impacted my strength training.
Recent success: Rode up my first mountain, first road riding abroad, seeing reasonable muscle gains from enforced change in training from my preferred strength training style, losing weight slowly without food logging, lost a whole load of mostly temporary weight gained on an all inclusive holiday in February.
Learned how to bake absolutely delicious shortbread - that hasn't helped my other goals!9 -
Name: Liz
How long in maintenance: 2+ years
Goal maintenance range: 120 to 125lbs
Current weight: 132
Current goal: I have three goals. Get back into hiking, I miss it so much. We moved to another hilly area of San Diego, I am surrounded by trails. I also need to find a new studio to practice my yoga. My third goal is to rework my entire front yard into a water-saving landscape. Our water bill is a killer. I have a ton of landscape rock to move around. No lie. Who needs kettlebell swings when a shovel will do.
Recent success: Designed and sewed two dance costumes for two girls for their recital.10 -
Name: nowine
How long in maintenance: 3 years
Goal maintenance range: 132-138
UGW: 125
Current weight: 148
Current goal: 145 (April)
Recent success: finished a 10k in just over an hour and stopped myself from buying a rum cake
Strategy: be more thoughtful about food. Rather than eat 300 cals of trail mix, eat a watermelon and crap ton of zoodles to fill up. Pay attention to what and when I eat. Get back to pre-logging, meal prep and food scale. Eat 1800-2000 per day.
13 -
Count me in. I am struggling right now. Trying to pinpoint why and the only thing I can come up with is a change in schedule. Have switched mornings and afternoons (in the winter I go to the gym in the morning and ride in the afternoon. With Spring, I switch that to riding in the morning and gym in the afternoon.) Other activities are fit into mid-day or evening, depending on what is going on. I just have not gotten into a good after-riding schedule since I switched. Have skipped the gym and also, eating crappy ... junk food, not cooking, etc. Time to buckle down and re-establish healthy habits.
How long in Maintenance - only 3 months
Goal maintenance range - 130 - 135
Current weight - 137
Recent success: NONE! Not exactly true, I successfully lost 50+ pounds since July of last year and was doing ok with maintenance during the first 2 1/2 months. Just feeling a bit like I have fallen off a cliff.
Strategy: Try to establish a bit more consistent afternoon schedule. Make getting back into a regular gym schedule a priority. This is important not just for maintenance but also because I have my first show of the year in one month and fitness is a major component.9 -
I'm needing this!
Name: RideLiftRun
How long in maintenance: 4-5 years
Goal maintenance range: 56-57kg
Current weight: 58kg
Current goal: To lose that last pesky kg to my happy weight! Which seems pretty darm impossible just now.
Recent success: Deadlifted my bodyweight again last week, having re-started lifting towards the end of last year after a break due to various injuries. I know it's not a big lift for all the wonderful power lifters out there, but as a 49 yr old equestrian, I lift in the old crock category due to one too many unscheduled dismounts (have sciatica and a re-constructed wrist, amongst others)... so to me, it's a very big deal - I always need to pussyfoot around my back a bit, and when I smashed that wrist good and proper a few years ago, my consultant was very guarded about me being able to return to lifting at all so feel a bit smug about it
I'm saying 4 years in maintenance, but I've yoyoed several times during that time... my lowest weight was 55kg, was great but hard to maintain. 57kg was a sweet spot few years ago, still looked and felt good but and maintained it fine for as long as I could keep up my usually very active lifestyle. My biggest struggle seems to be to deal with any unexpected breaks to training - I'm crap at restricting calories. Currently struggling with logging consistently and keeping to my allocated calories despite of being able to train - I'm a definite volume eater so I think watermelon and zoodles are going to have to be my solution too!8 -
How long in maintenance: 2.5 years
Goal maintenance range: under 115
Current weight: 117-118
Current goal: 112-113
Recent success: I started lifting again! Also, i tried on my bathing suit - and I'm OK with how I look in it.
I was happily maintaining @ 113 for a couple of years (my ultimate goal is to stay under 115). About 6 months ago, I gained a few pounds with no apparent change in my eating or activity pattern. Turned out my thyroid decided to go hypo on me. I am now on medication, but continue to struggle to lose those extra few pounds and get back to my happy weight (under 115). I'm only 5'1.5 (I'm shrinking!... aging... amiright?), so this extra 4-5 pounds really makes a difference in the way my clothes fit -- or don't
.
History: I joined MFP in 2011. At that time I reached my goal of 120-ish and maintained in the low 120s for a while. My maintenance plan at that time was to loosely track what I ate, and remain active. (Activity / exercise was always part of my routine, so that part never changed). I gradually stopped tracking, started eating a little more here and there, and I slowly regained the weight I had lost.
When I re-committed to MFP in 2016 and reached my goal, I decided to push further and go for under 115. I also gained a better understanding of my numbers (TDEE, NEAT) and how to manipulate them. This time, my maintenance plan has been more structured. I continue to do all the things I did while losing, with a few more calories added in. So I continue to track my food and weight regularly.
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Name: Nijntjepleintje
How long in maintenance: around 9 months
Goal maintenance range: 112-118
Current weight: 122
Current goal: 116
Recent success: Ran 11 miles today for the first time since 2013! May have gained weight, but keeping active and staying fit.
My story in brief - I lost from 149 to around 114 late 2017/mid 2018 (I’m 5’1). Since the beginning of this year I’ve slid back into the habit of sneaking nibbles here and there, without logging, and telling myself it’s fine - the scale says otherwise. Want to halt the upwards drift and get back to where I felt great - I have the power!
Mostly been an observer on these forums for the last 18 months, but this thread is really a great idea and I’d like participate - thanks.13 -
I'm in too. I settled on 155 as a maintenance weight. I'm 5'7" and at 69 years old my doctor decided that was a good weight for me. I reached that goal in 2016 and maintained for all of 2017 but in 2018 I took care of my sister here in our home and she passed away later that year. I still walked and went to the gym whenever I could but wasn't as committed to my diet (noun) as I had been previously. I've gained about 15 lbs back over the last year.......uggghhh
Name: Lulu
How long in maintenance: 2+ years until I fell off a bit
Goal Maintenance range: 155 to 160
Current weight: 170
Current Goal: 160
Recent Success: I began hiking in January and joined a local hiking group. I used to run but my feet don't really support that activity any longer and so to try something different I began hiking and love it. I've always hiked in CO when I'm there with my kids but never really committed to it here where I live in So Cal. I found several trails within walking distance to my house and have been hiking a pretty moderate trail up to a waterfall about 17 miles away at the base of the mountains here. I've been putting in about 12 miles a week hiking.
I also started back at the gym twice a week...........weight lifting again. I'd like to work up to 3 days a week but want to keep my hiking days too.
I lost about 60 lbs from 2013 to 2016 but have put about 15 back on in the last year so I'm trying to nip that in the bud right now!
Good luck to everyone!7 -
Name: Jess
How long in maintenance: 3+years
Goal maintenance range: 157-162
Current weight: 174 -fricken BOO!
Current goal: Get that fluff off. Saw myself in my 16-year-old's pic of us playing Four Square. Yuck. I'd love to be down to 150, but I was skinny fat then, and I'm 5'9.5" (ish) and have gained muscle. I'm 40 now. I'm being real. It's not going to happen. I'll settle for 160.
I also need to work on cardio conditioning. My lifting is ok, and I can walk forever and ever, but don't ask me to run for much more than 2 min. I almost died when I had to sub-in my dd's (darling daughter above) indoor soccer game when they had an injury and had no subs to begin with. I scored and kept up but I thought my heart was going to burst out my chest and run for the hills. I hate running but if I want to be able to play soccer and b-ball when I want, I need to suck it up and do more interval training stuff that I don't like. I need to stop being such a big baby.
Recent success: I've kept up my fitness level despite absolute madness in my home life thanks to 4 kids, 2 of which are teens who cannot yet drive but insist on doing ALL THE THINGS. And also thanks to homeschooling (which I've done for 12 years all on my own) and getting involved in a co-op. Pandora's box has been opened, and I can't stuff that witch back in there! And now they want me to teach a class in the fall. Ultra-UGH.
Edited: Because my fingers are apparently drunk this morning...13 -
Thanks OP for starting this thread And wishing everyone all the best for their goals
Name: Ruth
How long in maintenance: 6 years in July
Goal maintenance range: +/-5lbs (i.e 124 -129lbs)
Current weight: 128
Current goal: 0.5lb/ week
Recent success: hmmm can maintaining at 128 for months on end be counted as success? I think it probably does but I would prefer to be a few pounds lighter and stay at my lower range.
Every week I tell myself I will eat at calorie deficit, yet by Tuesday that plan goes out the window and I'm back to not caring and eating maintenance cals. I want to care enough again to be able to say no to that extra bar of chocolate or packet of crisps/chips.7 -
ps I'm hoping this thread will continue on into future months...
April is half over already and wont be good for me personally with being away on holidays all of next week - Italian food - need I say more!
7 -
Still trying to figure this out. Some thoughts below. Would be interested in hearing what others have discovered/experienced in the process of coming to grips with maintenance.
Reinforcement? While I was losing weight, watching the numbers on the scale steadily go down (i never really plateaued) was very motivating. (So was buying new clothes 5 sizes smaller ) Just holding the line now is not nearly so. "Living a healthy lifestyle" is just too intangible for me. Any suggestions?
Boredom? With no tangible, external reinforcement I am finding myself getting bored with what I am eating. I am trying to add more variety to see if that helps.
Not eating enough? As I look at my food diary, I see a pattern of under eating (i.e. eating at the level I was eating when losing weight) and then binging for a day or 2. I was doing this intentionally to allow for eating out/special occasions. But, that doesn't seem to be working. So, now I am starting to eat closer to my maintenance calories and bank fewer calories for special occasions. Will see if that works.
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@jan110144
It can be hard to get your head around no longer losing but for me its making sure the numbers on the scale stay within my 5lb range is just as rewarding.
It sounds like your newer plan to eat closer to maintenance and bank for special occasions is the way to go, that works well for me.
If you're bored of eating the same things then try different ones, I have to say I never get bored because I'm always trying new recipes out and finding new tastes that excites me - plus I get a lot of satisfaction producing wonderful meals that everyone enjoys. 2 -
Thanks for the thread. And @nowine4me for yours. I think I just hit my scream weight too.
Name: Lisa
How long in maintenance: 3 years
Goal maintenance range: 101-110
Current weight: 112
Current goal: 108
Recent success: I've been taking swim lessons to learn how to properly breathe while doing freestyle. After many weeks of drinking half the pool and not being able to make it half a lap, I swam 20 laps today (mixed strokes). My cardiovascular health is terrible, so in the past several months I've completed C25K in addition to swimming in order to try to increase my cardio health.
Unfortunately for me, it also makes me eat all the things. And I usually avoid weighing myself, preferring to go by how I look. However, when clothes started getting tight and I didn't like what I was seeing in the mirror, I knew it was time to step on the scale. I'm not really sure what my goal weight is, but I'm guessing minus 3-5lbs. I'm hoping the lighter weight will also help me achieve some of the calisthenic fitness goals I have.9 -
Name: Ginny
How long in maintenance: 6 years or so
Goal maintenance range: 120-125
Current weight: 124.4
Current goal: 121
I've been able to maintain pretty easily because I run a lot (30+ mpw). However, I've been dealing with chronic hamstring and glute pain that has gotten progressively worse, especially during my last marathon cycle. I ran my race March 2 and have cut way back on my running since then. I went to a PT last week and he recommended I take a complete break for a week or two, at least, and run less overall. I'm not sure I can. The trouble with being used to running a lot is I'm used to eating a lot. In many ways I never had to change my way of eating to lose or maintain, just be mindful. Now I'm dealing with depression and frustration and burning a lot less so the weight is creeping up. I still log, but I'm over pretty much every day. I've done some cross training, but an hour on the stationary bike burns half the calories that running does. Same with walking.11 -
Name: Angela
How long in maintenance: 4+ years (maintained at goal weight for 3 years)
Goal maintenance range: 130-133
Current weight: 143
Current goal: 133
A little bit about me - I maintained my weight pretty spot on for 3 years, no problems. I attribute this to regular, long distance running, plus I continued to weigh myself every single day. Fast forward to fall of 2016, I got sick with Lyme Disease. As a result of the medicine, I lost a few pounds. After that, I feel like my weight slowly started to creep up... I first put on the weight I'd lost during the antibiotics. But then it slowly crept from there... at first, it was just to 135 - 137. It was annoying, but I was fitting into all my clothes, so I didn't really take any action. (I should have).
Last year, the scale tipped 140 for the first time in a few years. I had several starts and stops since then, but for some reason, I struggle with mustering the energy needed to go through the process again. On MOnday, the scale was 144.8. That needs to be where I draw the line in the sand. That's more than 10 pounds up from my goal weight, and I see how it can be a slippery slope to 150, 155... right back to where I started. I miss having everything fit me and I miss being able to run a low 7-minute mile.
Recent success - well, seeing how I'm just starting over, I'd say I'm feeling more oppomistic thanks to just vocalizing that "yes, I've lost my way a bit." I haven't said that yet, and it feels good to just own it.
Goal for April. We're halfway through so I need to be realistic here. My goal is to log my calories every day for the remainder of April. Ideally, I'd love to see the 130s again. (I'm 143.0 as of this morning.) If that's not possible, I'd still feel successful if the scale starts moving in the right direction and I can build some good habits towards logging again.
Wow - that was long. Thanks for reading. And good luck, everyone.
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@spiriteagle99 Glute pain ... I have been struggling with this too. Diagnosed as a piriformis issue (didn't even know I had one!). I am continuing to do what I do, but adding some piriformis stretches. Seems to be helping, but Doc said this can take some time to resolve.2
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Name: PAV888 (but having to use PAV8888 on MFP since PAV888 was taken by imposters when I signed up!!!)
How long in maintenance: ~2+ years
Goal maintenance range: 154 +/- 2 by trendweight but unofficially enamoured with 155 or *less*
Current weight: 155.9
Current goal: 154 ... no timeline, so just to eat less over my MFP deficit goal.
Recent success: Weathering certain inevitable life changes that often result in weight derailment. Have so far kept things to "I gained a "couple" of lbs over the holidays and haven't lost them yet" as opposed to "I'm continuing to eat my feelings and gaining right up"7 -
@jan110144 I have a thought for you, which may or may not help your exact situation, instead of adding different foods for more variety, consider simplifying your menu to a handful of quality nutritious things that are more plain. It may sound super weird, but the more variety I add, the more excited I get about food. Like a shopaholic or something. If I keep it really simple, I find it much easier to stay on track. Maybe you can get the variety you crave from a variety of fitness activities. Just a thought.7
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@jan110144 I have a thought for you, which may or may not help your exact situation, instead of adding different foods for more variety, consider simplifying your menu to a handful of quality nutritious things that are more plain. It may sound super weird, but the more variety I add, the more excited I get about food. Like a shopaholic or something. If I keep it really simple, I find it much easier to stay on track. Maybe you can get the variety you crave from a variety of fitness activities. Just a thought.
@nowine4me @jan110144
Me too!
Also recommended as Rule 9 in Refuse to Regain!
5 -
MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »@jan110144 I have a thought for you, which may or may not help your exact situation, instead of adding different foods for more variety, consider simplifying your menu to a handful of quality nutritious things that are more plain. It may sound super weird, but the more variety I add, the more excited I get about food. Like a shopaholic or something. If I keep it really simple, I find it much easier to stay on track. Maybe you can get the variety you crave from a variety of fitness activities. Just a thought.
@nowine4me @jan110144
Me too!
Also recommended as Rule 9 in Refuse to Regain!
Ouch, those rules are so harsh! Some are sensible and easy to follow, some not so much. Numbers 8 and 10 are not attainable for me, for instance. And some of the primarian eating rules i break every day. Although i do eat what's suggested as a main diet, it's the other two parts that definitely not easy, especially nuts and sweets. It makes maintenance sound really miserable though, imo.5 -
Ouch, those rules are so harsh! Some are sensible and easy to follow, some not so much. Numbers 8 and 10 are not attainable for me, for instance. And some of the primarian eating rules i break every day. Although i do eat what's suggested as a main diet, it's the other two parts that definitely not easy, especially nuts and sweets. It makes maintenance sound really miserable though, imo.
It certainly doens't make the book something I would be interested in reading. Sounds closer to my initial weight loss phase... before I went looking for a better, more long term sustainable for me method, and found MFP and logging.11 -
MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »@jan110144 I have a thought for you, which may or may not help your exact situation, instead of adding different foods for more variety, consider simplifying your menu to a handful of quality nutritious things that are more plain. It may sound super weird, but the more variety I add, the more excited I get about food. Like a shopaholic or something. If I keep it really simple, I find it much easier to stay on track. Maybe you can get the variety you crave from a variety of fitness activities. Just a thought.
@nowine4me @jan110144
Me too!
Also recommended as Rule 9 in Refuse to Regain!
Ouch, those rules are so harsh! Some are sensible and easy to follow, some not so much. Numbers 8 and 10 are not attainable for me, for instance. And some of the primarian eating rules i break every day. Although i do eat what's suggested as a main diet, it's the other two parts that definitely not easy, especially nuts and sweets. It makes maintenance sound really miserable though, imo.Ouch, those rules are so harsh! Some are sensible and easy to follow, some not so much. Numbers 8 and 10 are not attainable for me, for instance. And some of the primarian eating rules i break every day. Although i do eat what's suggested as a main diet, it's the other two parts that definitely not easy, especially nuts and sweets. It makes maintenance sound really miserable though, imo.
It certainly doens't make the book something I would be interested in reading. Sounds closer to my initial weight loss phase... before I went looking for a better, more long term sustainable for me method, and found MFP and logging.
@icemom011
@PAV8888
I wasn’t recommending the book.
I do some of them & not others. Agree it’s more of a weight loss approach, but if I find my eating had gotten out of control, I will use it as my plan to get back in track.
What concerns me the most about but it’s mostly acceptable treats were artificial sugar which at least the studies I was told about it pretty bad for you, so I find it really interesting that she was recommended to folks.
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Name: Kat
How long in maintenance: 8 Months
Goal maintenance range: 170-190
Current weight: 188
Current goal: Not gain over the 4 day weekend
Recent success: bought my first pair of size 10 pants
About me - I lost about 150 in the past year and a half. Technically I am still about 15 lbs overweight, but I have a lot of lose skin and when I try to go down much further it typically results in yo-yoing. I am trying out maintaining for the first time ever. I had a VSG last May, after I had already lost 100 lbs. When the doctor asked me what my goal was I said 10 years from now I want to at or under the weight I am at right now. I am 50 lbs down from that now. But I am less than a year out.
About 6 months ago I moved to a new country and it hasn't been easy, especially considering the scarcity of healthy food. Bread and rice are the staples here, but carbs trigger me. I don't eat animal products (full vegan), but vegetables and fruit are often spoiled, I can't count how many times I have found maggots in what I have bought from the vegetable market. I have come to despise EU model nutrition labels because they take so long to read.
I am trying to find new ways to get healthy, minimally processed food while still working 50+ hours a week. It isn't easy. I have built a schedule, and that seems to help but it all goes to pot when I don't have said schedule. We are about to have a four day weekend, and I am afraid I will end up eating the whole time off. So I need some motivation to hold my ground.7 -
I pretty much only agree with rule 12 out of the tough rules list....and totally ignore the rest but then I'm a bit of a rebel LOL too many rules just asking to be broken
- there's something about rules, we don't want to adhere to them in general 
3 -
LivingtheLeanDream wrote: »I pretty much only agree with rule 12 out of the tough rules list....and totally ignore the rest but then I'm a bit of a rebel LOL too many rules just asking to be broken - there's something about rules, we don't want to adhere to them in general
You little Irish Rebel you!MadisonMolly2017 wrote: »@jan110144 I have a thought for you, which may or may not help your exact situation, instead of adding different foods for more variety, consider simplifying your menu to a handful of quality nutritious things that are more plain. It may sound super weird, but the more variety I add, the more excited I get about food. Like a shopaholic or something. If I keep it really simple, I find it much easier to stay on track. Maybe you can get the variety you crave from a variety of fitness activities. Just a thought.
@nowine4me @jan110144
Me too!
Also recommended as Rule 9 in Refuse to Regain!
Ouch, those rules are so harsh! Some are sensible and easy to follow, some not so much. Numbers 8 and 10 are not attainable for me, for instance. And some of the primarian eating rules i break every day. Although i do eat what's suggested as a main diet, it's the other two parts that definitely not easy, especially nuts and sweets. It makes maintenance sound really miserable though, imo.
It would not be a bad strategy If I were to get hurt and could not lift or exercise, but for an active person, not sustainable. Imho...1
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