Switching to Maintenance Mode: Success & Fears

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Replies

  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    I never really got to my "goal weight" (around 5 pounds away) although I decided with my lifestyle that my body wants to weigh in the low 130's (5'5" female) and I'm in the middle of a healthy weight BMI so I decided to just go with it. During the past 5 years I just kept an eye on the scale and body. It I get heavier/larger, it is time to cut back for little while. I fluctuate daily around 1400-1800 per day but when I averaged the past 18 days I averaged at 1450 calories and have maintained my weight. I've always had a hard time living with 1200 calories per day.

    We're really close in size and height. I was thinking a daily average of 1,400-1,500 may end up being what works. I guess like anything else, if I tip it too far in one direction or another that's tough. With 1,500 plus a workout that means eating 2,000 in a day. The 1,260 for me worked well because that was the net after workouts, so each day I was taking in more. I guess I need to take a look back and see what I was averaging (with workouts) while still losing each week.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    Just looked at my NET calories for the past 90 days. I rarely ended up over 1,500 net except for this past week when I switched to maintain.
  • samhradh
    samhradh Posts: 297 Member
    bump
  • speakz82
    speakz82 Posts: 46
    I just made the decision last night to maintain my current weight. I am terrified. Absolutely TERRIFIED of taking in 2,000 calories every single day. Anyone else have advice to gradually get there?
  • hannahro
    hannahro Posts: 20 Member
    bump
  • lauehorn
    lauehorn Posts: 183
    First of all, a big fat CONGRATULATIONS on hitting your goal. It is very nerve racking to face the idea of bumping your calories up to maintenance level. I had (and to much degree still have) the same concerns and fears. What I did that so far has worked out well is I slowly bumped up my calorie goal. I had been losing 2 lbs a week (well a bit more but anyway) at 1230 Net Cal. per day. So as I was approaching my goal, I bumped that up to 1500. Did that for a couple weeks and still lost weight so then I bumped up to 1800. Did that for two weeks and lost another 2 lbs. By this point I was actually a pound under my goal weight so I then bumped my goal intake up to 2130 (my maintenance level according to MFP) and have been holding there. So far I've been successful. I've actually lost another pound, I believe mostly due to larger exercise days where I've come in way under calories but overall I've been keeping pretty tight to my goal Net Cal. per Day and the result is I'm holding pretty steady.

    I recommend doing it this way as it accomplishes two things for you. First, your metabolism has time to slowly react to the increase in calories. Second, if you monitor your weight as you slowly increase your intake you can determine your actual maintenance intake rather than simply the estimates you get from MFP or other sites.

    I hope that's helpful.

    Great suggestions for slowing building up to maintenance so your body and your mind (and your emotions) adjust, too!
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