MAINTENANCE - Challenges / Questions as We Transition from Losing to Holding Steady

[Ann2]

This is a thread for those who are approaching their weight goal or are now trying to learn how to maintain or who already are maintaining--either successfully or not.

Here are some questions that might apply (or not) to this thread and to your own maintenance situation:

1. How long did it take you to stop losing weight?

2. How were you able to stop losing?

3. What is your "bounce range" (desirable low-high weight range you're comfy with)?

4. How long after stopping your weight loss did you start to see the scale moving back up (if you have regained)?

5. How much weight (if any) have you regained?

6. What and how much do you eat these days to maintain your weight?

7. How have you changed your lifestyle as a result of your commitment to weight maintenance?

Of course, any other maintenance questions and topics are of interest, too.

[Kindle]

1. How long did it take you to stop losing weight?
Passed Surgeons goal at 6 1/2 month
Passed personal goal at 7 1/2 months
Finally stopped losing around 10 months

2. How were you able to stop losing?
No idea...body just found its own balance. I had added more fat and healthy carbs around 6 months post.

3. What is your "bounce range" (desirable low-high weight range you're comfy with)?
Bounce range is 138-142

4. How long after stopping your weight loss did you start to see the scale moving back up (if you have regained)?
I've popped over my bounce range several times, starting about 12 months post. It's usually after a holiday or big munchy weekend. I'm always able to drop back down by cutting back carbs for a few days.

5. How much weight (if any) have you regained?
Still within bounce range.

6. What and how much do you eat these days to maintain your weight?
I don't measure or track, and I eat small amounts like 6-8 times/day so not sure how to answer this one. I did a calorie check a couple months ago, and I was around 1400-1600 calories at that point. I feel like I'm eating a little more than that now. I pretty much eat whatever I want, choosing protein first but always making sure I get in a good balance of veggies, fruit and grains every day.

7. How have you changed your lifestyle as a result of your commitment to weight maintenance?
Snack on healthy stuff. Don't overeat. Limit fried food and simple carbs (ie 1-2 Oreos, not a whole row). Drink lots of water. Rarely drink alcohol (I used to drink every day). I wish I'd been bit by the exercise bug, but that never did happen. I guess if maintenance gets harder, that's something I'll have to consider.

[sraebaer]

1. About 9 months I reached my goal of a healthy weight.

2. I just stopped losing. Maybe it was a mental thing, I'm no longer overweight, life's good.

3. My "bounce range" is 5 pounds. I usually stay within 3 pounds of my goal weight.

4.. Haven't gone past that 3 pounds. I still weigh every day. (Except for the past 3 weeks of travel, but I just weighed myself and am fine.)

5. No move than 3 pounds.

6. Never measured or tracked anything except protein and liquid. I eat when I'm hungry. I almost always do the protein first. But I don't look at this as a diet, if I want something, I eat it, in small amounts. I just eat until full.

7. I love to exercise. Love to run, walk, whatever. I would much rather work out than stress out about my diet, so that's what I'm doing.

[beulahgirl]

Thanks for starting this thread. I am 8 months post op and within 7 pounds of my goal weight. I am still losing but have been wondering about what happens when I get there. I like reading everyone's responses. I feel like I will be fine because like everyone so far, I can't/don't eat much but always get enough protein. I don't exercise enough but am walking 18 holes of golf at least twice a week - and believe me, that's a workout.

[readytochangemylife]

I stopped losing about the 17 month mark. I am 20 months out. I have gone up to 141, but mostly stay at 139. My food doesn't vary hardly at all. I am just that way. I can eat the same thing everyday and I do. So my what I eat hasn't changed, even in the portions size, so I am eating what I did when I was losing. The weight loss slowed down. I lost 100 lbs the first 8 months, but only lost 51 lbs the 12 months. I don't have a " bounce back" goal. I will just keep eating like I am and see. I do every once in a while go out to eat and have something like fried shrimp or fish, or some sweet potatoes, but that is not very often. I have yet to eat cake, cookies, pie or ice cream. I don't have any desire for those things now. When I want something sweet, I have SF pudding or 40 calorie fudge pops. If my want to is stronger than normal I will have 2 fudge pops. I can eat about 8 oz of food at a meal. I also have 2 snacks a day, greek yogart. I am not an exercise hound. I do walk or use my elipitical several times a week. Sometimes I will go to the gym on Saturday and Sunday, but I do not spend more than 30 minutes there. Oh yea, I go shopping on Saturdays and most of the time I walk almost 3 miles

[PITSTOP]

Im a long way off from the maintenance stage but all this info and these experiences are priceless! So good to know for the future. Thanks for sharing and congrats to all of you on your success! So inspiring for the rest of us that IT CAN BE DONE AND DONE RIGHT!

[Chunky]

Fantastic thread Ann.

1. How long did it take you to stop losing weight? About 9 months out. Since then it's been relatively steady. But with a light variance.

2. How were you able to stop losing? I increased calories as I got closer to my goal weight. It happens somewhat naturally though as you can eat more as time goes on.

3. What is your "bounce range" (desirable low-high weight range you're comfy with)? 120-130 is the range. Lowest I've been is 125 and highest I've gone back to once getting to 125 for a few days is 129. My tighter range seems to be 125-128. If I was to lose more, I'd make sure to stop by 120 but it seems my set point is 126 -- as even if I get to 128 or 125, it seems to meet back at 126...

4. How long after stopping your weight loss did you start to see the scale moving back up (if you have regained)? Other than water weight or a day where I eat a little more carbs, and it holds on to a few pounds, I stay within a 3 pound range.

5. How much weight (if any) have you regained? See #4

6. What and how much do you eat these days to maintain your weight? 1200 calories in average, relatively high protein (100g average - 80-120g range for protein), carbs are around 15-30% of calories and fat makes up the rest.

7. How have you changed your lifestyle as a result of your commitment to weight maintenance? I move a lot more, sit a lot less, work a lot less. Marriage is in tact, but my business is suffering some, as I hate working now... It is mainly in front of a computer and I don't like to be there...

---> additional: I find I can eat a lot more than even a few months ago so it really does talk effort to make sure I make really good choices. The thing is I feel so good that I want to make these choices most of the time. I will have a bite or two of "non good" foods, but I eat very mindfully even when eating them. I feel strong and confident!