May Challenge: Maintainers Back on Track Thread
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Name:jrwms714
How long in maintenance: 4.5 years
Goal maintenance range: 136.5-138.5
Current weight: 140
Current goal: Back to range above.
Recent success: Have cut out all snacks after dinner and that is working well
Strategy for your goal: Recently had dental surgery which is taking longer than thought and will require a month or more of work, rather than the 2 weeks expected. Due to this, exercise has been at a minimum. I hope to get back regularly, but right now just doing the bare minimum. Have missed about 10 days, which is a lot for me.6 -
Question for long-time maintainers: I am working hard at losing just 2 - 4 lbs. I am only 5'0" and older (72) so it will take longer than for most. I have been at maintenance for 4.5 years. See my post (just above). Exercise has been very regular but has been been stalled for the past month due to ongoing oral surgery work. I have always allowed myself a snack/treat of about 300-400 calories on days that I have earned gym calories. Working at losing the lbs. mentioned, and many days I am below my maintenance of 1500-1800. I would like to keep those snack/treats on my gym days, and have cut out all other snacks after dinner, etc. Your advice? Do I need to cut these out, too, in order to lose this weight? I wonder about feeling deprived and that working against me, or if I just need to white knuckle it to get those few lbs. off?0
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Name: zeejane
How long in maintenance: 6 years
Goal maintenance range: 130lbs-135lbs
Current weight: 129.6lbs
Current goal: getting weight to stabilize/stop losing
Well, I'm in an odd situation. I've continued to lose weight and I'm now under my maintenance range. The combination of adding in almost daily walks, now that the weather is nicer, and then the lower carb intake I'm now doing that's significantly reduced my appetite, has caused things to be a bit of a mess, lol.
Ran my numbers through a few TDEE calculators, as well as got some input from other members, and I'm going to start tracking my calories again and try and get in around 1,900 a day. I'm trying to wrap my mind around that number right now, as well as what that looks like on a lower carb/higher fat macros ratio.6 -
Name: zeejane
How long in maintenance: 6 years
Goal maintenance range: 130lbs-135lbs
Current weight: 129.6lbs
Current goal: getting weight to stabilize/stop losing
Well, I'm in an odd situation. I've continued to lose weight and I'm now under my maintenance range. The combination of adding in almost daily walks, now that the weather is nicer, and then the lower carb intake I'm now doing that's significantly reduced my appetite, has caused things to be a bit of a mess, lol.
Ran my numbers through a few TDEE calculators, as well as got some input from other members, and I'm going to start tracking my calories again and try and get in around 1,900 a day. I'm trying to wrap my mind around that number right now, as well as what that looks like on a lower carb/higher fat macros ratio.
Could the lower carb intake cause water weight loss? Just a thought.5 -
Name: Jon J.
How long in maintenance: 3.5 years
Goal maintenance range: 225-230lbs.
Current weight: 237lbs
It was a rough, but bittersweet winter. I welcomed my daughter into the world in January, which was followed by a severe lack of sleep and rapidly going back and forth between stress eating and skipping meals. I wasn't tracking, but I wouldn't be surprised if some days were 1000 calories over my goal while others were 1000 under. Plus, my belt loops don't lie. They've been dropping hints lately. I can actually feel the extra weight, but I also just feel crappy. I'm sure sleep is the main reason, but it just puts emphasis on keeping everything else in check to get me through.
Recent success: started walking at lunch time again! This alone was 90% of the exercise that got me down to my goal weight. It's easy, it's free, and unlike anything else lately, I actually have a regular time slot to do it. In the last couple of weeks, I can already feel the difference, even if no weight has gone away yet. Here's to a productive spring and summer!17 -
psychod787 wrote: »Name: zeejane
How long in maintenance: 6 years
Goal maintenance range: 130lbs-135lbs
Current weight: 129.6lbs
Current goal: getting weight to stabilize/stop losing
Well, I'm in an odd situation. I've continued to lose weight and I'm now under my maintenance range. The combination of adding in almost daily walks, now that the weather is nicer, and then the lower carb intake I'm now doing that's significantly reduced my appetite, has caused things to be a bit of a mess, lol.
Ran my numbers through a few TDEE calculators, as well as got some input from other members, and I'm going to start tracking my calories again and try and get in around 1,900 a day. I'm trying to wrap my mind around that number right now, as well as what that looks like on a lower carb/higher fat macros ratio.
Could the lower carb intake cause water weight loss? Just a thought.
I lost around 7lbs within a couple weeks of starting, but I'd think that's tapered off now that I'm about a month in?
I'm not fond of tracking but am going to start back up for a while-have today's food inputed and realized that even with adding extra stuff today, I'm at around 1,500 calories. So if my TDEE is 1,800-1,900 then I've definitely been eating at a deficit. I feel so good/full on the lower carb macros ratios though, kind of frustrated right now!2 -
Question for long-time maintainers: I am working hard at losing just 2 - 4 lbs. I am only 5'0" and older (72) so it will take longer than for most. I have been at maintenance for 4.5 years. See my post (just above). Exercise has been very regular but has been been stalled for the past month due to ongoing oral surgery work. I have always allowed myself a snack/treat of about 300-400 calories on days that I have earned gym calories. Working at losing the lbs. mentioned, and many days I am below my maintenance of 1500-1800. I would like to keep those snack/treats on my gym days, and have cut out all other snacks after dinner, etc. Your advice? Do I need to cut these out, too, in order to lose this weight? I wonder about feeling deprived and that working against me, or if I just need to white knuckle it to get those few lbs. off?
Stick to what you are doing. You probably have a few lbs of water retention due to your oral surgeries.
Also, dropping cals while in recovery could hinder, not help.
An extra 15-30 min walk at a strolling pace,if possible, may do a little to off set and burn cals, but in all honesty, I’d just address those pesky pounds once fully recovered.
10yr maintaining, 65, so identify.
PS, I participated in the initial April thread, but have decided not to participate in May. Group accountability makes me rebel. I do worse at meeting my fitness goals than when quietly self directed.
Cheers, h.
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Name: Frantz
How long in maintenance: 8 years
Goal maintenance range: 180-190
Current weight: 190, down from 212 January 28
Current goal: 185 by Memorial Day
Recent success: 13.1% body fat May 8
Strategy for your goal: Eat right, exercise, and log everything on MFP7 -
@middlehaitch : Thanks! Your reply made total sense. I think I knew it but just needed to hear it. Also, I totally relate to your p.s.!
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I love all you long-term-maintainers! It also makes me feel like I'm not the only one who has drifted up a bit but is still basically in the successful category. BUT 5 pounds by July.7
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Name: Simon
How long in maintenance: 5+ years
Goal maintenance range: Thinking of revising....***
Current weight: 169lbs
Current goal: 168lbs (but probably less....)
Recent success: After a traumatic week I'm just pleased to have maintained my current weight and am getting back to exercising again. Exercise is really important for my emotional wellbeing.
Strategy for your goal: I just cut calories in a sporadic and fairly unstructured way to give me a slow rate of loss, a small amount here, a bigger chunk there but most days at maintenance.
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For a few years my maintenance range has been 168 (best cycling weight) to 175 (upper limit I tend to hit during the winter) but considering dropping my range a little lower. Last time I maintained around 164lbs I became hungry all the time despite not being very lean at that weight. But I do like to experiment and being light would help my cycling goals which now include a aiming for a 100 mile PB doing an organised event for a cancer charity.
Yay - back on track and hit my goal weight (a bit later than planned but it's not been a normal year).
I have decided to drop at least a couple of pounds more just to find out how I feel, perform and look a little lighter.
168lbs is 12 stone so Brits will get the seemingly big difference between "12 stone something" and "11 stone something" for something in reality not a big change.7 -
Name: Simon
How long in maintenance: 5+ years
Goal maintenance range: Thinking of revising....***
Current weight: 169lbs
Current goal: 168lbs (but probably less....)
Recent success: After a traumatic week I'm just pleased to have maintained my current weight and am getting back to exercising again. Exercise is really important for my emotional wellbeing.
Strategy for your goal: I just cut calories in a sporadic and fairly unstructured way to give me a slow rate of loss, a small amount here, a bigger chunk there but most days at maintenance.
***
For a few years my maintenance range has been 168 (best cycling weight) to 175 (upper limit I tend to hit during the winter) but considering dropping my range a little lower. Last time I maintained around 164lbs I became hungry all the time despite not being very lean at that weight. But I do like to experiment and being light would help my cycling goals which now include a aiming for a 100 mile PB doing an organised event for a cancer charity.
Yay - back on track and hit my goal weight (a bit later than planned but it's not been a normal year).
I have decided to drop at least a couple of pounds more just to find out how I feel, perform and look a little lighter.
168lbs is 12 stone so Brits will get the seemingly big difference between "12 stone something" and "11 stone something" for something in reality not a big change.
Well done!5 -
Scale is still being a pill. I'll wait around for results another couple weeks. Then if it's still derping around, I'll have to tweak my plan a bit to see if we can get things moving. Water really loves to stick around on me. I did notice that my NEAT has been dropping, so I need to get on top of that. I'll be moving around all over the place getting 4 kids and an old RV ready for a camping trip this weekend, so today should be ok for that. My workouts have improved. I've got a little more juice but I'm still lagging a bit. Nature of the beast, I guess. Once I get the fluff off and get back to maintenance, I'm going to see about working on upping my strength again.6
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Name: Elaine
How long in maintenance: 6 months
Goal maintenance range: 128-133
Current weight: 133
Current goal:
Avoid late night snacking and other stress eating. Increase physical movement to ten minutes a day. And lose 1-2 pounds by the end of May.
Recent success:
For the past three days I have been able to avoid late night stress eating.
Strategy for your goal:
I’m trying other distractions like playing two dots on my phone and my adult coloring book. And weighing myself daily. And practicing mindfulness.8 -
How long in maintenance: 3yrs
Goal maintenance range: 101-110
Current weight: 110.0
Current goal: 105
Recent success: Down 0.5lbs, which is a decent drop for this week. I think my original 108 goal may end up being a good stopping point. I'm playing it by ear as it's hard to tell how much muscle I've gained vs. fat. I haven't been 101 since I went into maintenance 3 years ago. I have the feeling I'd be competition shredded at that weight now. My maintenance weight is probably more realistic at 105-110. We'll see.
Strategy for your goal: I didn't do as great with my snacking this week, but I was able to hold off on eating instead of reaching for the snacks several times.7 -
Name: sofchak
How long in maintenance: 2.5 years
Goal maintenance range: 122-127
Current weight: 131
Current goal: 125
Recent success: I’m finally fully committed to tracking calories again. Haven’t counted since Jan 18. It was an internal struggle to admit I need to track again.
Strategy for your goal: Track diligently coupled with doing the elimination diet again to help with my psoriasis that is slowly coming back since I’ve started eating gluten again.
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How long in maintenance: 2 years
Goal maintenance range: 114-118lb
Current weight: 119.4lb
Current goal: to get back into my maintenance range
Recent success: I've been able to maintain slightly above above my goal with a very hectic life right now
Strategy for your goal: quit snacking on junk, be active every day, and no eating after dinner. I'm ok with it taking awhile to get back to my old range.3 -
I have been psychoanalyzing myself on the subject of ‘weight range’. At first I thought, ‘I’ll give myself a 10 pound range to stay within.’ After a while, I thought ‘Too wide a range doesn’t give me enough focus’. Next I considered a five pound range, but I thought ‘with a five pound range I’ll probably just settle at the high end of the range’. Then I started thinking ‘my ideal weight is probably somewhere between 180 and 184, so that’s what I’ll make as my range’ But then I started thinking ‘how can my ideal weight be 184 if it can also be 180’? Where I am in my mind now is ‘I need to decide on an ideal weight and try to stay there.’ However, I am human so I can expect to drift above it from time to time. When I get more than 2 pounds (3,4 5...???) above I will go on a campaign to get back down to it again. Now I am going back and forth with myself about what my ideal weight is. I have not reached a satisfying conclusion. I wore myself out thinking about this, time for a nap 😴11
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I have been psychoanalyzing myself on the subject of ‘weight range’. At first I thought, ‘I’ll give myself a 10 pound range to stay within.’ After a while, I thought ‘Too wide a range doesn’t give me enough focus’. Next I considered a five pound range, but I thought ‘with a five pound range I’ll probably just settle at the high end of the range’. Then I started thinking ‘my ideal weight is probably somewhere between 180 and 184, so that’s what I’ll make as my range’ But then I started thinking ‘how can my ideal weight be 184 if it can also be 180’? Where I am in my mind now is ‘I need to decide on an ideal weight and try to stay there.’ However, I am human so I can expect to drift above it from time to time. When I get more than 2 pounds (3,4 5...???) above I will go on a campaign to get back down to it again. Now I am going back and forth with myself about what my ideal weight is. I have not reached a satisfying conclusion. I wore myself out thinking about this, time for a nap 😴
@fh1951 I’ve been going through exactly the same “figuring”. My weight does not swing a lot & I lose weight very slowly, so I set my maintenance to <153 and scream weight to 155. Only 1/2 month into maintenance so far. I’m sure what we should do will emerge over the next 1-3 months!3 -
I have been psychoanalyzing myself on the subject of ‘weight range’. At first I thought, ‘I’ll give myself a 10 pound range to stay within.’ After a while, I thought ‘Too wide a range doesn’t give me enough focus’. Next I considered a five pound range, but I thought ‘with a five pound range I’ll probably just settle at the high end of the range’. Then I started thinking ‘my ideal weight is probably somewhere between 180 and 184, so that’s what I’ll make as my range’ But then I started thinking ‘how can my ideal weight be 184 if it can also be 180’? Where I am in my mind now is ‘I need to decide on an ideal weight and try to stay there.’ However, I am human so I can expect to drift above it from time to time. When I get more than 2 pounds (3,4 5...???) above I will go on a campaign to get back down to it again. Now I am going back and forth with myself about what my ideal weight is. I have not reached a satisfying conclusion. I wore myself out thinking about this, time for a nap 😴
You will eventually figure this out, and your weight itself will let you know what's ideal. Weighing every day at the same time is good. Maintenance is a lot about figuring what works for you, including your best range. But a red line or a "scream weight" is always a good thing to have settled, so that you turn back and cut calories when you hit it, to get back to your range. Don't panic if you hit a scream weight one day or even two or three, but a week or more, and you will find yourself needing to cut and return to your range. At least that's how it has worked for me for the past almost 5 years. The important thing is that you are thinking about a range rather than a number. Give yourself a ton of credit for this ... people who focus on a certain weight are asking for frustration and trouble, IMHO. I'd suggest using one of the trending apps like Happy Scale as you go through maintenance. It really helps you keep sane ...
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