How do you move from weight loss to maintaining?

[CrimsonMama]

As I get closer to my goal I am wondering how you can eat more calories to maintain rather that put on weight?

According to the BMI calculator if I were to try to maintain I can have an extra 500 calories a day. But that seems crazy as if I ate 500 calories extra on just ONE day I put weight on!

I am wondering how to go from my current calorie allowance (losing roughly 2lbs a week) to being able to eat slightly more and not put weight on? Is it a matter of balance? Does your body freak at first then settle? Do I need to just increase by like 50 calories a day and see if my weight stays stable? Then try a bit more etc?

[lucigret]

Good morning CM,

I think you have probably answered your own question I would up the calories very slowly and see what happens.

The best place for advice about maintaining would be the Maintainers Thread, here is the link,

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

They will be very happy for you to drop in and I am sure will have plenty of advice

and I think you will find this of interest as well,

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

I have heard many of them say that it is a difficult process, so I wish you good luck

[Tiggerr]

Congrats CrimsonMama on reaching a point where you need to ask that question.

For now, I'd suggest that you start increasing the cals gradually and let your body slowly adjust to taking in more cals.

Additionally, join the Maintainers' Club. They meet on the first Sunday of the month so you can chat to them this Sunday coming.

[CrimsonMama Restart June 2023 in reply to Tiggerr]

I am looking forward to maintaining! I do well on my current calories and very rarely feel hungry so just being able to have one extra thing a day will feel like a treat lol.

Mostly I want to be able to eat out with my mum on the weekends I see her ... She usually wants us to have a subway or stop at Costa coffee. And its very hard as not much is below 300-400 calories!

I know it shouldn't matter much but I am so determined with my weight loss, so close now and so proud of how far I've come (currently 5stone 3lb loss) I don't want to stop even for a one off treat! Unless its a special occasion. My daughters birthday is this month and I AM looking forward to some red velvet cake! Lol.

[Tiggerr in reply to CrimsonMama]

Like BridgeGirl has pointed out, don't try too hard to make any drastic changes. Your metabolism is likely to take a while to find a point where is going to stabalise.

Of course you should be determined.

Some people, I include myself, find it hard to maintain so continuing to use the support network of this forum is still pretty crucial.

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

I’m new to maintaining and I haven’t made any changes. I’ve just continued eating as I have been for the past few months. My weight went down slowly until it came to a stop and I’ve accepted that’s a reasonable weight for me. I hope I’ll be able to carry on like this.

I joined the Maintainers’ Club last month. The new one will be posted on Sunday and is open for drop-ins throughout the month

[Lytham 3 stone]

Hi, I cant offer any advice on the subject, just wanted to pop in and say a MASSIVE "Well Done" Whoop Whoop! x

[CrimsonMama Restart June 2023 in reply to Lytham]

Haha thank you!

[Hidden]

Hi CrimsonMama . Congratulations on your amazing weight loss! My tip would be not to increase your calories every day, if you are happy with what you are eating and not hungry, but you can use the extra calories when you go out, as you say with your mum, or whenever. I find this worked best for me last year when I started maintaining. (I've gone off the rails a bit this year, having had rather a lot of holidays and special occasions, but that's another story!) See you soon in Maintainers Club!

[CrimsonMama Restart June 2023 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply! I want to continue as I am, counting my calories and exercising and am happy to do so. My only concern is that I won't want to continue to lose weight. At the moment I've had a good run of losing 2lbs a week which is great but I don't want to get below 9 stone. My goal is about 9st 4lbs.

[Hidden in reply to CrimsonMama]

What I meant was rather than eating an extra say 100cals per day, save up those 700 cals for eating out. That way you shouldn’t lose any more. 😊

[S11m]

Congratulations - you have lost more weight than I have!

I think the problem might be counting calories.

Will you be able to work towards not having to count calories?

Do you now know what makes you fat and what is an adequate Portion?

About the only change I have made since I started maintaining is that I eat a litre of yoghurt a week.

I am down to 17% body fat... but, after maintaining for a month or so I have lost another four pounds.

You could get really technical and eat whatever you want at the weekend and then keep to your diet until you are down to the weight you want to be.

You should try to make your extra food "good food" ...and try to think of it as nutrition and not "sins" or treats.

...but if I win a chocolate bar in a raffle I put it in the fridge... and it might get eaten if I fell hungry some wet, cold miserable day when I am feeling cold and I am below my target weight.