So how do I begin maintenance?

Well, this week I seem to be having an unexpected visit from the
whoosh fairy. My plan was (and is) to diet down to 145 and then stay
in the 145-150 range, but I expected it to take a few months to lose
these last 5 pounds. For whatever reason, I've lost 3 pounds in the
last few days, and today weighed in at 146. It could take me another
3 weeks to hit 145, of course, but it could happen very soon. So I
figured it was time to think about what I do then. While I don't plan
to stop eating pretty much as I am now, I don't wish to continue
losing weight below 145. And of course I also don't want to gain
significantly.

For those of you who have reached goal and entered a maintenance
stage, I'm curious what you did. Did you stop doing something you had
been doing (like, say, journaling)? If you upped your calories, by
how much? What did it take to get your weight to stabilize? Did you
change your weigh-in frequency?

For those who haven't yet reached goal, do you have a plan for what
you'll do then?

Thanks,
Chris
262/146/ (145-150)

On 6/15/2004 11:20 PM, Ignoramus15206 wrote:
So, I decided to
start logging my eating and exercise in fitday again, and lose weight
the same way I did during my dieting last summer.

Why bother? Just last week didn't you tell us "counting calories can
never be precise enough." :-/


--
jmk in NC

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 02:30:52 GMT, Chris Braun
wrote:

snip
For those of you who have reached goal and entered a maintenance
stage, I'm curious what you did. Did you stop doing something you had
been doing (like, say, journaling)? If you upped your calories, by
how much? What did it take to get your weight to stabilize? Did you
change your weigh-in frequency?

For those who haven't yet reached goal, do you have a plan for what
you'll do then?

Thanks,
Chris
262/146/ (145-150)

Hi Chris,

Congratulations! I am curious -- do you think your recent "refeeds"
had anything to do with the whoosh fairy coming to visit? :-)

I am a ways off from maintenance, but I am already formulating a plan.
I essentially plan to eat like this for the rest of my life, so
instead of 1300 cals during the weekdays, I will try going to 1500 and
from the current 1500 allowance on the weekends to 1800. I will adjust
up or down from there as needed.

Well, that's the plan, anyway. :-)

Ally
212/181/160

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 09:08:08 -0600, Alex
wrote:

Congratulations! I am curious -- do you think your recent "refeeds"
had anything to do with the whoosh fairy coming to visit? :-)

I think that's a possibility. It doesn't always work that way,
though, so I don't know. Between the weekend splurges I've been
eating pretty light, and the combination of those two may make a
difference. Maybe a day or two of 2000-3000 calories on the weekend
followed 5 days of 1100-1200 sort of shakes up the routine, as
compared with a steady 1500 per day?

Lately, apart from the weekend splurges, my daily numbers have been
around 1200 or so. I think (once I lost that last pound :-) ) I'm
going to try to up that to 1500, and then have a bit more if I have a
splurge. We'll see how that works. So, sounds similar to your plan.

Chris
262/146/ (145-150)

Hi Chris,

I haven't reached maintenance and don't know if I ever will.. but I am
trying. Anyway, maybe you should just play with the amounts you eat....
find out how much you can add a day before your weight starts creeping back
up.

BTW, congrats on finally making maintenance!!

"Chris Braun" wrote in message
...
Well, this week I seem to be having an unexpected visit from the
whoosh fairy. My plan was (and is) to diet down to 145 and then stay
in the 145-150 range, but I expected it to take a few months to lose
these last 5 pounds. For whatever reason, I've lost 3 pounds in the
last few days, and today weighed in at 146. It could take me another
3 weeks to hit 145, of course, but it could happen very soon. So I
figured it was time to think about what I do then. While I don't plan
to stop eating pretty much as I am now, I don't wish to continue
losing weight below 145. And of course I also don't want to gain
significantly.

For those of you who have reached goal and entered a maintenance
stage, I'm curious what you did. Did you stop doing something you had
been doing (like, say, journaling)? If you upped your calories, by
how much? What did it take to get your weight to stabilize? Did you
change your weigh-in frequency?

For those who haven't yet reached goal, do you have a plan for what
you'll do then?

Thanks,
Chris
262/146/ (145-150)

WTG Chris!

You've received many suggestions so I'll just add...... I'm sure you'll
conquer this phase just as well as you did the losing portion.

Beverly


"Chris Braun" wrote in message
...
Well, this week I seem to be having an unexpected visit from the
whoosh fairy. My plan was (and is) to diet down to 145 and then stay
in the 145-150 range, but I expected it to take a few months to lose
these last 5 pounds. For whatever reason, I've lost 3 pounds in the
last few days, and today weighed in at 146. It could take me another
3 weeks to hit 145, of course, but it could happen very soon. So I
figured it was time to think about what I do then. While I don't plan
to stop eating pretty much as I am now, I don't wish to continue
losing weight below 145. And of course I also don't want to gain
significantly.

For those of you who have reached goal and entered a maintenance
stage, I'm curious what you did. Did you stop doing something you had
been doing (like, say, journaling)? If you upped your calories, by
how much? What did it take to get your weight to stabilize? Did you
change your weigh-in frequency?

For those who haven't yet reached goal, do you have a plan for what
you'll do then?

Thanks,
Chris
262/146/ (145-150)

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 02:30:52 GMT, Chris Braun
wrote:

For those of you who have reached goal and entered a maintenance
stage, I'm curious what you did. Did you stop doing something you had
been doing (like, say, journaling)? If you upped your calories, by
how much? What did it take to get your weight to stabilize? Did you
change your weigh-in frequency?

What I did is keep on eating the same, and then slowly add a few
calories here and there to get to weight stable. By the end, I only
needed another 200 or so calories a day to do that. The food content,
however, was the same. I lost all my weight eating healthy with an
occasional splurge, and that's what I've continued over the years.

My exercise routine has stayed at a high level, although it's changed
over the years to accommodate some injuries, and also Marty's illness.
Three months ago I started working out three times a week with a
trainer because between injuries and deconditioning, I needed the
help. He's also done wonders with my frozen shoulder. I'll probably
stick with him for at least a year.

I never did measure my food, nor have I ever journaled, so I can't
help you on those.

While I was losing weight, I weighed myself almost every day. It took
a long time, past my one-year goal anniversary, until I stopped
weighing several times a week, at a minimum. I now weigh myself every
two weeks, unless I'm in a very stressful time (like the last couple
of years), or I feel myself slipping.

Most people don't weigh themselves as often as I did. But you might
try weighing as often as you always did for the first two months, and
then spacing it out a little more.

Barbara
210/124 since November 1997

Barbara Hirsch, Publisher
OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS
The latest in obesity research and weight loss drug development
http://www.obesity-news.com/

Thanks for your advice, Barbara. It sounds like what you did was
pretty close to what I'm planning.

Chris
262/145/ (145-150)

In article , Barbara Hirsch
wrote:

On Wed, 16 Jun 2004 02:30:52 GMT, Chris Braun
wrote:

Shortly after reaching goal over four years ago, I was diagnosed with
celiac disease which meant restricting certain but not all carbs. I
also undertook a regular exercise program and do cross training.

Recently we had another great family occasion similar to one I posted
about on my web page a few years ago. I am proud that the weight loss
so carefully maintained since 2000 was still visible in the photos. The
original gown did not fit in one place,-- across the top of the back
where there seems to be increased muscle density.

I no longer associate myself with obesity and rarely mention my weight
loss unless trying to support someone who is depressed and discouraged
by having diet difficulties.

--
Diva
****
Old but Still Restless!

On Fri, 18 Jun 2004 20:28:13 GMT, Chris Braun
wrote:

Thanks for your advice, Barbara. It sounds like what you did was
pretty close to what I'm planning.

One more thing. If you're changing your food, keep the weighing on a
more frequent schedule so that you know what changes your diet is
making on your body weight.

Chris, you've been very disciplined throughout this process, and you
like exercise. Between the two of those things, I'm sure that you will
be successful in long term weight maintenance.

Barbara

Barbara Hirsch, Publisher
OBESITY MEDS AND RESEARCH NEWS
The latest in obesity research and weight loss drug development
http://www.obesity-news.com/