I have always thought dieting was easier than maintenance. On a diet, there are no cheat days and teats and you rigidly stick to it. I may need to DIET a couple of days a week.

I am sort of here in the Goal Maintenance...I didn't do so great with my first go at it but am going to get to where I want to land in the next couple of months. Theresa, thanks for the reminder of the podcast We only look thin - had heard of them before and forgot, must look that up.
Managed to stay fairly steady for the last month - and that was without weighing food, logging, checking in here, or doing any deliberate exercise - but I think it was only because I was very busy revamping neglected veg garden AND my stress level had gone down (let's hope that lasts).
Rustic vegetable garden - deer proof, rabbit proof, and full of things I like to eat (except radishes - I've planted them because I had seeds but not my favourite - will try slicing thin and adding to salad) and lots of flowers.
I wish MFP would let you shrink photos...anyone know a way to NOT post a huge photo. before and after pics.

@eggfreak I love the big pictures! Great idea to keep the critters out of the garden. I have been giving cucumbers away every day for several weeks now. Quite an abundance this year. I have cooked and frozen 18 pints of squash and have tomatoes ripening that should be ready today or tomorrow. We usually have a large garden but scaled back this year. We didn't plant red potatoes but went to the farm stand and bought a bushel. BLT's I am ready for you. That is my lunch EVERY day during season.

So I have just read all the posts from the beginning - some really good comments: )
I definitely like the idea of a magic number & range.
Highest weight (start) Jan 2020: 176
Goal weight reached July 2021: 160

I spent most of my teens, 20s, 30s & 40s in the 140-150 range - (at 5'10" I was never super skinny), but now as I approach my 55th birthday I think I would be happy to be in the 150-160 range. As it took me 18 months to lose 16 pounds I am in no rush to lose another 10!!

I was using IF as a tool for weight loss (not eating until 1pm each day), but have now loosened up on that restriction, and basically eat meal #1 at whatever time I feel really hungry. I do try not to eat after 7pm, but that's hard to do sometimes.
Another habit I am trying to maintain is activity - some sort of exercise (cardio, weights, yoga etc.) in addition to 10k steps a day. As I work in an office & am stuck at a desk for at least 6 hours a day I find it really helps.

jugar wrote: »

@gwamajtw91

For the moment, I have left you on the regular part of your team roster, rather than moving you down to the Goal Zone section of the team. You could finish out this month there to be sure you don't slip above 160, and then for August, you can move. If you would rather move down the the GZ (where you still weigh in weekly, but it does not count in the team tallies every week) right away, let me know!

@jugar OK - I did post a message to @broncobuddee saying GZ Friday 155-160 but I am happy to move in August - whatever is easiest for all involved!!

Thank you for the quick response and thoughtful advice @jugar and @Antiopelle. I will probably keep my daily calorie intake at 1200 based on your feedback. That’s very helpful. My body seems to need a month or two to adjust to a new weight at this point; so, unless I keep losing weight, I won’t increase my calorie setting. I’ll probably get a little less restrictive about measuring and the tighten up if I start to gain, as @jugar suggested.

I love winter sports, too, but we don’t get enough snow here in Alexandria, Virginia (just across the river from Washington, DC) so maybe I’ll need to visit my hometown more often. I grew up in Boston and there is a public ice skating rink nearby to visit in winter - and a beach for summer - so it was always easy to find an activity. Here, I row on the river most months but I haven’t been as dedicated to the ‘winter conditioning’ workouts in previous years. I’ll make an extra push to get started this year. I find that burning 200-300 calories through exercise allows me one snack to keep me satisfied each day. I have a few activities to look into for the winter and like the idea of using the cardio machines at the YMCA across the street from my house while watching a movie or series.

Again, I appreciate your insights and look forward to learning more from this group of experienced MFP members. Congratulations to all of you in reaching — and now maintaining— your goals!

Thank you @jugar! I appreciate all the hosts, moderators and volunteers who contribute to the vibrant F2F group and success if its members!

At 130 pounds, I’m still 5 pounds away from my goal weight but I have made better progress since joining the group. As more people are vaccinated, and in-person gatherings increase, I feel as though I’m facing additional challenges. I don’t drink much at home so I’ve definitely had more alcohol calories offered to me at (outdoor) parties this summer! Some trips to catch up with family and friends we haven’t seen for awhile have interrupted my usual workout schedule, too. Now that I’m much more comfortable in my body and clothes, I don’t mind if it takes a little longer than planned to reach my ultimate weight goal (125); however, I don’t want to become complacent either. So, I’m trying to strike the right balance. For example, I try to make sure I never exceed my ‘maintenance’ level calories (1400-1500) even if I go over my daily target of 1200. I signed up for an extra rowing class and set a goal in August to attend yoga class twice a week. I hope the added workout sessions will balance out the time I need to travel to visit family for an upcoming memorial ceremony and to help my sons move back to their college dorms.

Is anyone else needing to make adjustments as we experience the continuing uncertainty of pandemic life?

I’ve faced some challenges through the isolation of quarantine and gradual re-entry to post-vaccine outings but, overall, I’ve felt so fortunate to remain healthy and employed. After experiencing a layoff and overcoming some learning curves to start my own business, I’m grateful to emerge from the COVID cave, still blinking from the light but mostly in better shape than when the shutdown began. I’m not completely ‘there’ yet and, in fact, I’m not really sure where ‘there’ is … I guess my eyes are still adjusting 😆!

What has your experience been like through the latest transition? Do you have any tips or strategies that are working for you?

Thanks in advance for any of your thoughts about how to thrive - or just survive? - the ups and downs of increased social interaction. It’s so nice to connect with family, friends, and colleagues again … and also a little challenging!

@debbiewsharpe - Thank you for the tips and reflections! I had to break the habit of ‘sampling’ while preparing dinner, too. I try to cook before I feel very hungry or consciously eat a healthy snack before cooking so my eating is more intentional and I’m able to measure/track the amounts. Eating at home still works better for me than restaurants because I don’t add as much sauce and my portions are usually smaller at home.

Your perspective on ‘dine-in’ eating was interesting to me. If the restaurant portion sizes are appropriate, it can definitely work with my nutrition plan. The problem is more my behavior. I feel the need to finish everything on my plate. Sometimes, I’ll ask for a takeout container, and half the meal, as many successful diners suggest; but, I don’t think ahead enough in that regard. And, so many options appeal to my family members that we tend to order too much. Ordering takeout and eating at home works better for us because we’ll sample just enough to feel satisfied and save the rest as leftovers for another day. We still add a tip for takeout orders during the pandemic so the servers don’t lose out on income, and it’s worked well for us, but I feel a bit guilty using up all the extra disposable material. So, I really should try to order the right amounts and resist trying every menu option in one sitting!

I hope you have a nice trip to visit your sister and brother. Enjoy!

@jugar - I feel a strong connection to Canada because my father was a hockey player and coach. It’s too bad you haven’t been able to see your family or play music with other musicians, but it seems we’ve moved into another scary phase of the pandemic here in the U.S. so I understand the caution in traveling. Canada seems to be managing the spread well, according to my Canadian friend who lives here but has traveled to Canada to help her son settle into college there.

My sister is a nurse, and her husband is chief of medicine at a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and I worry about the toll that the extra stress of the pandemic is having on them. I feel as though we are so fortunate to have an ample supply of vaccines in the U.S. and people are putting the frontline workers in danger. I’m glad they are starting the booster shots for people who are more vulnerable - and hope they allow the booster for medical workers (and other frontline workers) soon. Some of them received their first vaccine in December 2020 and I think the booster is usually recommended within 6 months. Anyway, I respect other people’s decision - and don’t want to stir up controversy - but I hope we can reduce this latest spike in positive cases. On the positive side, I feel safe in my community and I’m glad we are starting to see more vaccines shared across the globe.

I really didn’t mean to ramble on about current affairs so I’ll provide my (originally) intended update below and just add that it sounds as though you’ve found the perfect pace and lifestyle for you and your family to thrive. Good for you! … and thank you for hosting this space so others can find the balance and success that works for each of us. I appreciate your insights and thoughtful comments based on the experience you’ve gained through your own personal success. Thanks again!

Correction: I mistakenly referred to the third shot in the COVID-19 vaccination series as a ‘booster’ shot; but, I just learned that the booster shot is different and will likely cover new variants of the virus. I just don’t want to contribute any misinformation. I apologize for the error in terms. 😬

I was able to reach my goal weight and maintain it for the past week. So, I’m checking in with the GOAL ZONE Maintenance Group.

Are there some active members here? I think there are at least 3-4 of us based on recent responses. How are things going for you?

I appreciate the insights and advice offered in earlier posts. I’m working to incorporate what I learned from you all, as I continue to solidify good nutrition and exercise habits. Thank you for all the great contributions you make to the MFP community!

@jugar — I have wonderful memories of apple picking with my family in the fall season so the image of your trees and garden made me smile.

I like to end a meal with a cup of tea, as you noted. The German tradition of taking an after-dinner walk is something I always aspire to incorporate into my day but I have never been able to get it going. I think the translation of Verdauungsspaziergang is something like ‘a walk to help digest a meal’. My dog loves it when I can make it work!

When I was younger, we always had dessert so I had to replace that habit. Sometimes I’ll eat one small chocolate - or a couple of pieces of dried mango - with my tea but I’m trying to limit my sugar intake. So, a simple cup of tea or brushing my teeth works best for now.