I feel we need a place for the maintainers to post. I know you are out there. We all relied on this forum to provide support, advice and ideas during our amazing weight loss journey. Now that we are in maintenance, we are not sure where we fit in. We are in that place we dreaded while losing weight...the eternal stall (but it's a good thing!). We no longer get the cheers and support from our friends and family. We secretly fear gaining the weight back. We've been down that road before. I know I would love to exchange ideas with others who are working every day to eat sanely and keep this interesting and new.

I still get great ideas from the daily and recipe threads. Last week I learned about the Joyce Chen Spiral Slicer from Maykatcooper. It makes vegetables into a noodle-like substitute! It's information like that I would love to hear about and share. And I would love to celebrate people being able to maintain their losses and hearing of their victories in tough situations.

Anyone out there lurking like me? Come join us!

Lynn

Geez Lynn, I guess you are the only one?!

I just started Maintenance today! So I have no advice or tips. Got any for me?

There are several people that will be maintaining soon though, and a thread for Phase 4 tips and support is a great idea!

I have about 11 lbs left to lose and then I will join you! I will look forward to joining you soon!

Okay I am so sorry, I am not even close to being in maintenance but I couldn't help myself... this thread looks like the name of a band...or maybe a book/movie. "The Maintainers"
Now I claim royalties when one of you goes off and gets really famous and rich with that novel/movie/CD.

Hi Brandy,

I saw my thread drop to page 4 or 5 and thought I really was the only one! Congratulations on reaching maintenance.

I did track my intake using MFP for the first 4 months and it really helped. I found myself looking for items that were comparable to IP foods...Greek yogurt has 18 grams of protein and 7 carbs, Starkist tuna salad in a pouch has 100 cals, 4 carbs, 3 fats and 13 gr protein.
I went on a medical mission trip to Peru in June and stopped tracking. I have noticed a slow creep in my weight so I am starting to track again. I still use some of the IP products for convenience. I haven't been doing the good carbs at dinner. Not really my thing. Dinner tonight for the whole family was salmon, fresh roasted yellow squash from my garden and salad with tomatoes from my garden. No starch carbs for anyone.

Look forward to sharing with you. Thanks for saving my thread

Lynn

I'm on day 2 of phase 3. So...I'm right there. My favorite thing you said:
"We no longer get the cheers and support from our friends and family. We secretly fear gaining the weight back."
This is definitely a new phase in my journey. Learning to love myself where I am and valuing my health enough to put in the effort to continue.
Looking forward to being part of the maintainers!

Welcome Ash. You have done an amazing job. It will be fun to maintain with everyone!

Lynn

My husband is about to start Phase 4 whiile I am still on Phase I -- but, I am hoping this is a great place to get some tips and ideas for him (and me, eventually).

Thanks for starting this!

I will be interested in keeping up with this forum even though I'm far from maintaining.

Good Morning Everyone!

Check out the thread "How does it feel to reach goal?", post 7 from Longdivision. I think she says it all...very well. I hope she joins us over here.

I am at my goal weight today!! Yay!! Have a great day!

Lynn

I will be reading this thread also, as you are our incentives & heros! I have a long way to go and am a very slow loser (yes I follow protocol & no cheats), but the fear is still there after all the hard work and $$$, will I gain it back? CHEER CHEER to the maintainers.....it's a journey with no end!

Hi woolburger,
I am way behind my target weight. I am doing 17 day diet. That is again based on more protein and 2 fruits a day. I also have 2 helpings of yogurt.
I do not think i can afford ip.can you pl tell me which protein food you can bave as substitute of powder and how much?
Btw, i eat chicken..lean,salman,tilapia,tuna,cheese and yogurt.
I feel prooud of you mainteners and get inspired because of you.

I'm not sure I can be of much help here. I used IP products throughout my weightloss. I continue to use some alternatives that I buy from Lindora & Nashua. During phase 1, the IP packet contained 15-18 grams of protein and 4-9 grams of carbs. We ate 3 per day. Anyone else who used alternatives want to chime in?

I believe there is an entire "sticky" thread dedicated to alternative products. The very first week I did IP I did alternatives because I was ready to get started and my appointment was a week away. I used EAS carb control shakes and Pure Protein Bars.

Oh- and I will definitely be staying on top of this thread. I am still a ways from maintainence, but you voiced my biggest fear and I love to hear about people who are actually maintaining on maintainence and how they are doing it.

Lynn,
I'm so glad your talking about maintenance and I hope this thread continues and becomes helpful. Can you tell me what you mean by "I did track my intake using MFP for the first 4 months and it really helped".
My friend who is also doing IP with me(Thank God I have her there to keep me going) were walking last night and talking about the very same fear when we reach Phase 4. We are about 7-8lbs away to our goal. Our coach has never been on IP and not very helpful and when reading about maintenance it sounds so complicated. I rely alot on this forum for guidance and I know that I can get my questions answered here.