I have been maintaining for almost a year and I wondered how I would be able to do t as I had successfully lost before but never could maintain that loss.

I asked the advice of those who had lost a lot of weight and had maintained that loss for a significant period of time. I was shocked to learn they maintained their loss by doing the same thing they did to lose it. You heard me, you maintain it by doing the same thing that you did to lose it. I reached goal on Dec 21, 2007 and followed their advice and I am a little below goal, but not too much. I weigh myself every day, and still count calories and still keep a food diary, I plan my menus for the day and usually stick to it, but alter it if necessary. I can have an occaisional treat but always remember my calorie allotment and stick to it. It is a small price to pay to stay at goal, and much preferable to have to start all over again and again, etc.

I kept up the same amount of exercise and just added more calories. The exercise has more benefits than just weight loss.

Is the exercise you're doing all cardio? (Sorry, don't know what those DVDs are) If so, be sure to add some strength training into your workout routine. It's important for your bones, mobility as you age, and so many more reasons.

Maintaining is just like weight loss, although you have to develop your own rewards. Many people develop fitness goals to keep themselves motivated when the scale is no longer moving.

Maintenance is basically weight loss with some extra calories added in for me. I'm trying to still lose those last 2-4 lbs. to actually get to goal but I have been maintaining for at least 4 months.

You're idea of training for the marathon is great! I find the most boring part of maintenance is doing the same thing day in day out. With the leeway it brings you can experiment quite a bit more with your various routines.

The scareist part of it all for me was trying to come to grips with the idea that this is for the rest of my life. I still haven't quite got that.

But we all have 3FC to sustain us and help with anything that comes up

Dagmar

I agree - maintenance is really the -exact- same routine as weight loss, with just a few extra calories. Though I will say that your exercise routine would serve you better with a rest day in there, regardless of whether you are losing or maintaining...your body needs breaks!

Stick around here and get advice from people who know what they are talking about...it really helps!

Same as I did to lose...cardio 5-6x per week, strength training 2x per week.

I still exercise 5-6 days per week. When I first started weight loss I was exercising every day without a break, after two months I almost burned out so added one day off, in the last two months of loss I was doing two days off and still losing at the same rate. So, I do two days off most weeks now to maintain. Sometimes I sneak in and do six days, but I make the sixth day something lighter.

Ideally, I do 30 mins of HIITcardio 3 days, 30-45 mins of steady cardio the other two days, 30-55 mins of yoga 2 -3 days (it is often what I do on the sixth day, a nice PM yoga, soothing routine), 30-45 mins kickboxing two days, resistance training the fifth day. I've gotten way off track with the resistance training - I originally planned it for three days per week, but it has fallen down some and the yoga and kickboxing have increased. Don't know why, not a conscious choice to change. I was sick for two weeks, so I did what felt comfortable. I would like to get back to two resistance training, two kickboxing, one real yoga and one light yoga each week in the next few weeks. We'll see.

I moved my calories up gradually, actually still haven't settled on the right calorie number after almost three months. Continued to lose for a while, maintained for a few weeks, lost the last two because I was sick and dropped calories during that time.

It is a little scary, but absolutely doable. Good luck!

sh3l5, have you considered talking to someone? It's one thing when what you're comfortable with is lower than what others think. Sometimes that happens. But it's another when you don't even like the results, but you're just too scared to stop. Please consider it. You are worth it! Please.

Do you know how tall you are?
If you are feeling you are too thin, you may very well need to up the calories now. I agree that you might want to talk to someone. It is not uncommon to go from being overweight to being anorexic as people are so scared of gaining weight again. What are friends or family saying to you?
I will be thinking of and praying for you.

Sh3l5, you probably will gain some weight, so just expect that. If it's weight gained because you are getting back muscle, bone, etc. rather than fat, then it's a good thing, not a bad thing.

I would start by dropping your exercise to only one workout a day, instead of 70 minutes. Then I'd go to 4 days a week instead of 6. You might also add some hand weight work in there to help fill out the muscles so you're not just a "bag of bones."

Then I would try slowly adding in some healthy calories--not more than 100 or 200 a day at first. And see how it goes. Again, don't be panicked if you gain a bit of weight. Just stay with the changes for a couple of weeks at a time to test the waters. Your body will need to get used to things and so it will bounce around for awhile.

Remember that you cannot be "struck fat" overnight. Just stay in control and make your adjustments.

Good luck!
Jay