Maintaining is Harder than Losing.

k2d4p
k2d4p Posts: 441 Member
edited October 5 in Health and Weight Loss
True or False?


My answer: True. I know it might seem easier to say from the prospective of not needing to lose anymore weight, but there is no end to it. No target. I am a very goal oriented person. Once I made up my mind and locked in on my goal, losing weight was very fast for me. 102lbs in 8 months. I worked harder for that goal than I have probably worked for anything in my life. Now I passed the goal and have been maintaing for going on a year now. I have stayed within 10lbs of hitting my goal weight, both over and under. But, it is difficult with nothing to work for. I don't want to change anything or work for anything, it is just something that I have to constantely work at for the rest of my life. (and being a relatively young person, I hope that is a very long time) But it seems almost daunting if I stop and think about it. Even in the maintain relm there are ruts and setbacks and victories and achievements. Anyone else experience this?
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Replies

  • Figuringoutme
    Figuringoutme Posts: 330
    I completely agree with you

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  • kthom
    kthom Posts: 175
    Yup, it is a lifestyle we need to work at forever. Very daunting.
  • Alee4nia
    Alee4nia Posts: 168 Member
    try making other goals to do with fitness...for example improving muscle strength through lifting...or flexibility through yoga...if you can do 50 pushups...turn it up a notch like adding 10...just some ideas..
  • lauristewart
    lauristewart Posts: 379 Member
    It is very hard, I agree with you. I have lost over 100 lbs too, it did take me longer, like a year and a half, but have kept most of it off for 3.5 yrs now. Last year, I did put on about 15 to 20 extra and I knew I couldn't let it get out of control. I am so glad I have found this site! It has helped me stay focused and lose what I needed to lose. So I am now in mainteance too......I just log and eat healthy and continue to work out. I am very worried about the holidays and do not want to put too much on. Anyway, there are folks out there just like you!! It is hard, but we have done something many people would like to do!! Be proud of your accomplshment!! Congrats!!
  • up2me2lose20
    up2me2lose20 Posts: 360 Member
    JMO: You need to set new types of goals. There is always something to work for. Or work towards. Try something new. Challenge yourself to do something you've never done before. A new class. A new distance. A new time. A new weight. Get creative!! :happy:
  • RaeN81
    RaeN81 Posts: 534 Member
    I'm totally with you. Fitness goals are helpful though.
  • Christine1110
    Christine1110 Posts: 1,786 Member
    I totally agree with you! I had my daughter and her 3 kids move back home....it has been very stressful. I gained about 15 pounds back. Now I'm working on losing it again. I will always have to stay in check.
  • annabellj
    annabellj Posts: 1,337 Member
    definitely set new goals! I have gone up and down 3 times! it is so much harder for me. Everyone that I talk to says if you set new goals, you are never done, really can we ever be too fit? there should be a hike or run or triathlon we could do.
  • Eleanorjanethinner
    Eleanorjanethinner Posts: 563 Member
    I bet it is! (not there yet, but looking forward...).

    What about some time related goals, like celebrating maintaining each month, each six months, each year (like addicts do 'three years sober' or whatever).

    Also, what about some different goals? Like study or a new hobby?

    How's your mind and your spirit? Is there some work you could do in either or both of those areas?

    Congratulations anyway!
  • kendf60
    kendf60 Posts: 234 Member
    I totally agree too. Other goals I've used to help me have included: surfing with my son, running a 5 k with my kids and hiking a difficult peak.
  • vettle
    vettle Posts: 621 Member
    yeah I'll probably be logging forever now just to maintain. but I started my weight loss by eating the calories I needed to eat at my goal weight, so i don't need to change anything now that I"m almost done.
  • bellinachuchina
    bellinachuchina Posts: 498 Member
    TRUE :flowerforyou:

    I relate so much to this! I loved having the clearly determined boundaries of weight loss, and since reaching goal in March 10', I've been constantly trying to challenge myself. Fitness goals are all fine & good, but there's NOTHING like the feeling of dropping pant sizes and watching that scale number go down. I guess the only thing to do is switch up your routine in some way to feel new! When you think about maintaining forever, it really can be overwhelming, & I'd like to see others suggestions (non-exercise related) as well!
  • Kim55555
    Kim55555 Posts: 987 Member
    try making other goals to do with fitness...for example improving muscle strength through lifting...or flexibility through yoga...if you can do 50 pushups...turn it up a notch like adding 10...just some ideas..

    I agree, ditto
  • darrcn5
    darrcn5 Posts: 495 Member
    I would set new goals to work towards. Maybe train for a 5K, 10K, or half marathon or even a marathon? You could set weight lifting goals, or complete new fitness programs (ie.Insanity, P90x, etc).
  • themyriadthings
    themyriadthings Posts: 225 Member
    I'm finding it challenging as well; it's been about six months at maintenance so far. But I more and more I think of it not so much as maintenance, but just that this is my life now. I don't so much think of it as something I have to do for the rest of my life, just that this IS my life: I eat less; I eat better; I exercise more, I'm generally more active and aware. This is just me now, every day. Hooray! :)
  • hush7hush
    hush7hush Posts: 2,273 Member
    TRUE :flowerforyou:

    I relate so much to this! I loved having the clearly determined boundaries of weight loss, and since reaching goal in March 10', I've been constantly trying to challenge myself. Fitness goals are all fine & good, but there's NOTHING like the feeling of dropping pant sizes and watching that scale number go down. I guess the only thing to do is switch up your routine in some way to feel new! When you think about maintaining forever, it really can be overwhelming, & I'd like to see others suggestions (non-exercise related) as well!

    As I was reading this, I was like: "I don't think I'll ever stop losing..."
  • surfrgrl1
    surfrgrl1 Posts: 1,464 Member
    It is very hard, I agree with you. I have lost over 100 lbs too, it did take me longer, like a year and a half, but have kept most of it off for 3.5 yrs now. Last year, I did put on about 15 to 20 extra and I knew I couldn't let it get out of control. I am so glad I have found this site! It has helped me stay focused and lose what I needed to lose. So I am now in mainteance too......I just log and eat healthy and continue to work out. I am very worried about the holidays and do not want to put too much on. Anyway, there are folks out there just like you!! It is hard, but we have done something many people would like to do!! Be proud of your accomplshment!! Congrats!!

    We are very proud of our Lauri!!! She's a real motivator!!
  • MindyBlack
    MindyBlack Posts: 954 Member
    It always has been for me. I will be interested to read everyone's ideas later but I have to run to work. I really need help with this as I approach the maintenance stage within a couple of months.
  • melsinct
    melsinct Posts: 3,512 Member
    I am new to maintenance and it is a difficult transition. All along while losing weight I relied on MFP friends to give me advice and they were there to cheer my losses. There are a lot less people maintaining on MFP than there are losing, so it is hard to find a similar support network. Also, no one pats you on the back or cheers you on for staying the same weight, so I've lost the motivation that came from the losses.

    I am new to this stage of weight loss so I am sure it will get easier in time. Losing was pretty formulaic for me- eat X number of calories, exercise, and lose weight. I am having trouble finding my maintenance groove, am still unsure of how many calories I should be eating, etc. This has been much more difficult for me than losing!
  • dls06
    dls06 Posts: 6,774 Member
    True. I have been maintaining but recently have been going over almost every day. But if I lower my calorie I lose too much. I have to find a happy middle ground. :drinker:
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    FALSE!

    but then i only had a small amount to lose to start with, so for me its just maintaining healthier habits. I have been on here since May, lost 17lbs and have been maintaining since september.

    I found maintaining a bit boring to start with - theres none of that expectation when u get on the scales and stuff, but then i changed my goals to fitness ones, and while i am maintaining a 3-4 pound range my fitness is increasing and my bodyfat is reducing as i am still losing inches. The whole 'eating more' thing was a bit weird when i went from 1200 cals up to 1800, but i did it slowly and now i cant imagine ever eating only 1200 again!!
  • Hellbent_Heidi
    Hellbent_Heidi Posts: 3,669 Member
    Not sure...hoping to be moving to maintenance by the end of the year though.

    I don't expect it to be easy all the time, but I honestly believe it will be much easier to keep myself in check, and if I gain 5lbs, work on losing that - vs. having 30 or more to lose and trying to work on that big amount. I have no intentions of returning to my old bad habits..this is definitely intended to be a lifestyle change.
  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    I disagree. For me anyway, losing weight was ALOT harder than maintaining. I only lost 20lbs but it took me near 10 months to lose, I was so glad to be able to eat more again (I love food!)

    Goals don't always have to be about weight. Weight is irrelevant when you think about the fact that 2 people can look the same, but show a completely different number on the scale. For over 100lbs loss it's obviously useful but there's so much more to it than that.
    Maybe you could focus on beating a fitness target (improve your time to run a mile, increase the incline on the treadmill) or you could go strength related. That has always been my focus and it's ongoing, there's never a point for me where I think "right, I'm done now" I'm always looking to improve on the last time, lift heavier than last time etc.
  • Hoosiermomma
    Hoosiermomma Posts: 877 Member
    bumping for my computer time later. Good topic!
  • iuew
    iuew Posts: 624 Member
    the maintenance phase of my diet has been more difficult than the diet itself for sure. for one thing, it has been much longer, and it takes constant effort. is it worth it, though? absolutely.

    i think part of it is that we live in a world where almost everyone overeats regularly. there is a ton of peer pressure. every cookout, camping trip, or dinner at a friend's house puts me around large amounts of high calorie foods with everyone there but me eating a ton of it. and when i don't, sometimes people look at me as strange. and even though i have a proven system (i have stayed in a five pound range long term), you still see other people eating a lot, and it can make you feel deprived. it's probably how someone who quit smoking in 1965 must have felt, lol.

    either way, i'm in it for the long haul. i had too many yo yo diets, and i'm not going back there. i always wanted to be this weight, and i'm keeping it.
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    False. Just look at the dozens if not hundreds of members that are "plateaued" or "stalled" and are just maintaining but can't lose any more weight.
  • Laura8603
    Laura8603 Posts: 590 Member
    Yep I've lost 200 pounds and have kept it off for over 2 years now, but I must stay on top of it. I really do not track my calories on a daily basis, but I do weigh everyday. I have given myself a 3 pound limit. If I reach 3 pounds above my goal weight, I track every bite that goes in my mouth and cut my calories to 1300-1500 (down from my usual 2000). I have a deep fear of waking up 200 pounds heavier again : (
  • summalovaable
    summalovaable Posts: 287 Member
    False. Just look at the dozens if not hundreds of members that are "plateaued" or "stalled" and are just maintaining but can't lose any more weight.

    If that's your reasoning it could work in the opposite, look at the thousands of people who have lost tremendous amounts of weight (or even small amounts) and gained it all back if not more.

    That being said, I find it harder to lose weight. I lost about 30 pounds and have maintained for well over a year an a half. I still want to lose about ten or so pounds more, but I've yet to have the motivation to switch out of maintenance and just kick those extra pounds to the curve. It depends on the state of mind of the person I suppose.
  • ktfitzgerald
    ktfitzgerald Posts: 369 Member
    For me it is mentally harder. I worked so hard to get where I am, I'm always afraid of losing ground and worried about finding the right balance. But the longer I'm in maintenance and doing fine the more confident I'm becoming. I have had to find new fitness goals to keep me motivated to exercise.
  • Lift_hard_eat_big
    Lift_hard_eat_big Posts: 2,278 Member
    False. Just look at the dozens if not hundreds of members that are "plateaued" or "stalled" and are just maintaining but can't lose any more weight.

    If that's your reasoning it could work in the opposite, look at the thousands of people who have lost tremendous amounts of weight (or even small amounts) and gained it all back if not more.

    Who told them to overeat or stop working out? Maintenance is easier than losing weight. That is my answer to the question, obviously gaining weight is easy.
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