Very anxious about transitioning to maintenance

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  • sbelletti
    sbelletti Posts: 213 Member
    I'm close to Maintenance and plan to simply up my calories gradually over a few months but otherwise do exactly what I've been doing. This hasn't been a diet, so there's no going back to "normal" eating.

    This is my second time losing 40+ pounds on MFP, and I've learned that I need the accountability of logging and weighing so I plan to continue indefinitely.
  • rosiekin
    rosiekin Posts: 80 Member
    For lots of people, I think anxiety around moving into maintenance, and worrying about a potential weight gain, is quite common. It certainly was for me anyway. Like others have said, maintenance isn’t that much different than losing weight, so just continue doing what you’re doing now, with the added ‘luxury’ of eating a few more calories. If you increase calories gradually until your weight stabilises, you’ll probably lose a little more weight, not gain any. That’s what worked for me, and I’ve been maintaining a 90lb+ weight loss for nearly 8 years. Good luck.
  • csplatt
    csplatt Posts: 1,205 Member
    Maintenance for me is not that far off of my deficit — maybe a roll at dinner and a small bowl of ice cream. Or chips with lunch and a second serving of protein at dinner. With that in mind, I have still felt really in control at maintenance!
  • Letsdothis749
    Letsdothis749 Posts: 34 Member
    edited July 2022
    Ugh, so basically dieting forever. That sounds awful.

    I have decided that if I'm going to eat junkfood again sometime and have to decide between half a piece of pizza every day and four pieces of pizza every three weeks (ignore the math), I'm going to do the second one. I don't know. I find it easier to get my fill once and have to wait longer than to constantly feel that I've eaten "too little."

    It's a version of "eat in moderation," just not the way I originally heard it.

    But I will probably continue to eat healthy food first so I don't just gorge myself because of waiting too long to eat.

    I also think I'll buy a small or something because if I buy a large for myself I either end up a) forcing myself to eat pizza no longer at it's prime (for the whole week) or
    b) tossing it. (How's that for a "better deal.")

    I also think I'm going to take into consideration that the leptin theories seem accurrate. After I eat one junky thing, it takes a while for my hunger to be manageable (or does that mean my metabolism increased?). Maybe I'll eat junk even less often, so as not to make myself suffer even more.


    I've toyed with the idea of trying to get below my goal weight so I have a little more wiggle room. (I also worry about the dismal long-term success rates.) But maybe that would just make the metablic effects worse.

    Wow. These posts are old...buy still relevant.
  • Letsdothis749
    Letsdothis749 Posts: 34 Member
    edited July 2022
    1432Melanie wrote: »
    I have struggled with food, most of my adult life. Consider myself an addict, no matter what my weight is.
    I am accustomed to the nutritional expectations at my existing weight loss plan however I struggle to consume the calories. I do not have the natural sense of hunger. Ever.
    Moving into 'maintenance' sends mission impossible music playing in my head. I do not want to add foods, with sugars back into my diet, and consuming additional calories seems overwhelming. I am nearing the low side of my "healthy weight" BMI and need a logical plan, that I can live with. I have bumped up my weight loss goal, and changed to loose at a slower rate, allowing for transitioning.
    Very anxious. My nutritionist has confidence that myfitnesspal is my best tool.
    I suspect this is common, in general people are resistant to change. We can't be the only people with both a phycological and nutritional dilemma.

    supposedly some people are triggered (biologically) by carbs and sugar more than oils.

    Maybe adding popcorn and (occassional) cheese is more your style?

    Even some peanut butters seem mostly oily.

    Nuts in general seem to be high-calorie and usually aren't bad.

    Anything fast food likely has more calories than you bargain for though.

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