what do you do differently in maintenance - successful ppl?

MJ7910
MJ7910 Posts: 1,270 Member
edited October 2024 in Success Stories
so i'm getting near maintenance and wondered for those of you who have been successful in maintenance - what did you change or do differently when you got to your goal weight/size? did you eat more calories? how many more? is the formula correct at all on here? did you keep your exercise the same or less? did you gradually increase calories? how did it work for you?

Replies

  • Kickinkim418
    Kickinkim418 Posts: 257 Member
    good question...I was wondering the same thing....I'm a couple pounds away !!!! Cant wait to see responses...
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,979 Member
    Gradually increase calories. As you approach goal weight, your deficit should decrease. I think the day I officially hit "maintenance" I added cheese to my morning omelet, and I haven't stopped adding cheese ever since (even in subsequent dips into calorie deficit mode). God I love cheese.
  • WifeMomDVM
    WifeMomDVM Posts: 1,025 Member
    I increased my calories by about 200. I find that the calculations on here are more or less correct. For me, losing those last few pounds and maintaining are nearly one and the same.

    To maintain I STILL have to exercise at least 30 minutes a day 4 times a week and eat healthy.

    But that's ok.... I enjoy it now and the benefits are well worth it!

    The biggest success to maintaining and staying lean- LIFT HEAVY WEIGHTS!

    Good luck to you - you're almost there!
  • annabellj
    annabellj Posts: 1,337 Member
    I didnt do it on here, but in ww, you have to keep on tracking. I kept the weight off for a year and a half by eating the same way and keeping track of everything. as soon as I stopped the weight came back. I recommend you keep doing this and gradually increase if you want to maintain until you find you are at a good point and not gaining. it is imperative to keep exercising the same or more and keep on tracking. I know we feel as if we should be able to eat like normal people but what is normal for some is not for us. hope this helps.
  • k9hrd
    k9hrd Posts: 349 Member
    Bump
  • JWeaser
    JWeaser Posts: 302 Member
    I switched to maintenance mode about a month ago and this site raised my calories from 1300 to 1910 and that number scared the you-know-what out of me so I lowered it to 1770 and lost 4 more pounds. I decided since I was happy with my size, it was time to add a little muscle so I bought the "New Rules of Liting for Women". The calculations in that book put me at 2,045 calories on the days I lift and 1,789 on the days I don't. I've been doing that for a week now and I've been maintaning at 148 pounds (I am 5'7"). I do the treadmill for 45-60 minutes on the days I don't lift and 20-30 minutes on the days I do lift.

    It's all about balance and finding what works for you. If you don't want to work out anymore, I would make sure your settings for "Activity Level" are accurate and try what MFP suggests for a week or two and see what happens. If you aren't happy, make a manual adjustment.

    Good luck to you!!
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I've been maintaining a couple of weeks, and eating on average about 200 calories more a day. Overall, I'm just a little more relaxed about things. I'm not afraid to gain weight, because I know that anywhere within 5-10 pounds of where I am now is a good place for me, plus, I know just how to successfully take it off if I think I need to.

    What also helped was going to a running event where they put out a fabulous spread of food for the post-race party. Sandwiches, fruit, doughnuts, brownies, candy bars, soda, even beer. I always assume everyone is way more fit than I am and has much better eating habits, but here were these very, very athletic runners with amazing physiques, chowing down on Krispy Kremes and guzzling beer like it was nothing. I'm not one to deprive myself anyway, but it was a great reinforcement to know that those kinds of foods aren't totally off limits. It's great motivation to keep an active, athletic lifestyle when I know that it "affords" me the luxury of making a piggie of myself from time to time! :smile:
  • solpwr
    solpwr Posts: 1,039 Member
    Eat more.
    Train more.
    Throw the scale out.
    Pick out a certain piece of clothing, and gauge your progress by that.
  • klopiccolo1
    klopiccolo1 Posts: 111 Member
    bump
  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,270 Member
    i think throwing the scale out would be a bad thing. because if don't know how much i weigh it is hard for me to maintain. i fall into bad habits again since i'm not monitoring. i'm sure it works for some, but probably not for me.
  • broadsword7
    broadsword7 Posts: 411 Member
    Good question. Maintenance...I haven't exactly hit my "goal weight" - the number that all the websites and tools say I should be for my height, which is 185. I remain about ten pounds away from it. All that weight is at my middle, everywhere else, I have slimmed down. I feel like 195 is actually good for me, but I am still focused on losing that bit of flab in my middle. It may be there until eternity, but I will still work at it. To me, "maintenance" is really what it has always been about. Sure I needed to reduce big time when I started this journey, but what I have been after is a lifestyle process, not a weight loss program...something I can live with as long as I continue to draw a breath. And that comes down to these three things:

    * At least one hour of exercise every day of the week, with proper rotation of different muscle groups. (I do take a rest day when I need it.)
    * Eating quality fuel, in the right amounts (which means eat what I need, not what I want).
    * Keeping a positive attitude/outlook.

    Whatever you do, long may you do it!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories

Do you Love MyFitnessPal? Have you crushed a goal or improved your life through better nutrition using MyFitnessPal?
Share your success and inspire others. Leave us a review on Apple Or Google Play stores!