I'd say a 2 pound gain is basically maintaining. These forums are full of posts by people who gorged themselves over the holidays. Many of them wish they only gained 2 pounds . Now your starting the 12 weeks challenge with a fresh metabolism.
You're right. I think I needed a break after losing 30-ish pounds. Only another 24 and I'm done. I guess I kinda split my weight loss in half!
I'm the same way. I started the first challenge in May at 216.4. I lost steadily though October then basically maintained around 180 for the past 2 months. I look at it as giving my body a little break after a 35 pound loss. I now feel more confident that I can maintain long term once I finish losing. I ate "normally" over the Holidays and still managed to keep from gaining. Now my body is ready to get going again.
i see you already made the chart. i weighed today and i was between 189 and 191 ...my scale is crazy. congrats to all of you who started and finished the challenge