Living Maintenance - Almost there... just... a ... few.... more...... pounds

I am less than 5 pounds from goal and sort of feel like I am ramping down (up?) to doing maintenance at this point.

I'd appreciate any advice on what you did or wish you had done for those last few pounds to really get yourself mentally ready for maintaining.

Currently I am planning on basically just raising my calories by a couple hundred and otherwise just doing the same thing. I just know without the reward of seeing lower numbers on the scale I might feel kind of frustrated. That is my biggest worry... that and mourning the boobs which I am already doing.

:lol: at mourning the boobs ... the same thing happened to me. I don't know why but it seems like those who have too much boobage at the beginning of weight loss still end up with too much when all is said and done, but those of us who start off with very little end up with -- nothing. Sigh.

It sounds like you're exactly on the right track for your transition to maintenance. :) Nothing is going to change but a few extra calories, which some people like to add to each day and some people save for an occasional treat meal. So long as you keep on doing everything that's worked so well for you so far -- and keep on monitoring your weight regularly! -- you'll be fine.

A lot of maintainers have found that setting new, non-weight loss goals gives them something to focus on once they reach maintenance. We have members who ran marathons and triathlons, entered bodybuilding comps, did a bench press contest, and other fitness-related goals. Is there something you've always wanted to try but your weight held you back?

It's hard to let go of that thrill of seeing the scale go down, and eventually the compliments dry up. Everyone assumes that your weight will just stay off effortlessly and often they seem surprised that we still have to work just as hard to keep the weight off as we did to lose it. That's why it's important to stick around with other maintainers who understand!!

Hey prinny! :wave: Yeah, I been watchin' those prinnies add up! Just one tip--when you start to eat a couple hundred more calories every day, your weight may continue to drop for a bit, and then it might start to drift up. Don't let those drifts freak you out! Mark a "red line" at both a high and low weight point, and don't worry as long as you're in between.

Keep going! You can get there!

Jay

Excellent advice above.
I added in a couple hundred calories, and I became a little more relaxed about my exercise routine. I still exercise as much, I'm just less picky about how many minutes of cardio/yoga/weights/etc.

I love having red line weights. It is actually not so bad seeing the same number (or close to it) every day. It totally puts a smile on my face :D

I have found that I'm also balancing my calories over the week more often now. I am willing to splurge a little more when I have events planned that involve food. I still plan my eating, but I will often adjust my calories back to "loss mode" a few days before the event. It really depends on the event, and what foods there will be. I'm definitely a quality vs. quantity kinda chick these days. Those extra calories have to be WORTH the splurge.

Welcome Prinny! I am still in mourning too. Oh well. Just a trade off I guess.

I don't have other advice for you as you have gotten good advice!

Oh the mourning of the boobage. Yeah, been there, done that. I kind of look at it as I never should have had them in the first place, since now that I'm at a healthy weight - they don't exist. They just never should have existed in the first place.

That's all right. Boobage deteriation and all, my body is 10000% better then it was.

Although the thrill of seeing that scale move down is no more, the thrill of having a closet full of magnificent clothing is!!!

You've gotten some great advice already. Just take it slow and monitor, monitor, monitor. Be on top of "it" and you'll be just fine. Making those adjustments as need be.

Congratulations on your weight loss and welcome to maintenance. A GREAT place to be!!!

I'm in the same boat. Mourning the lost boobies and missing the dropping numbers on the scale. I would really like to see 135 but if it happens it is taking an awful long time. One good thing about small boobs is my back feels much better. Also, size small tops fit great.

Congrats on what you have lost so far and welcome to maintenance, Prinny!

I thought I was going to make it through the weight loss process without much boob impact, then I reached goal and continued to lose for a little while... They weren't huge to begin with but then the eight pounds I lost after goal stripped them to nothing...

I'm still a pretty solid C, but I liked being a D+.