Emotionally it is tough. Stabilization was so hard for me that I havent really been doing it. Let me clarify...they add in portions each week, bringing in a new food group to "stabilize" your loss. My body started to gain and I couldnt handle this so Ive basically modified what stabilization is to me..and that is the Gold plan with anything extra that might be desired or needed due to true hunger on an as needed basis. I couldnt deal with GAINING cos they were telling me I HAVE to eat these extra portions even if I wasnt hungry- by the end of week 6 its A LOT of food!
The book they gave me at Maintennance start is amazing, it tells you how to adapt all of your old choices back into your program if you really want to. I personally do not. I like knowing those choices are there, but know whats a trigger for me and what isnt. Basically I am maintaining well the way I am going and have freedom to eat more/different things if I want to. Also on Maintennance, you get larger portions of things (like a whole english muffin counts as one starch instead of just half) and theres no such thing as a carb craver, etc.
BUT, maintennance is a nice feeling, all the work has paid off and I am pretty much where I want to be. I signed up for an intense ab class that my gym is offering, 13 weeks of 45 min ALL ABS work, very exciting since thats my problem area