weight loss, maintenance--> same, same? - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

kasmin · 10-23-2009, 07:51 PM

Hi there to all my personal heroes

I am VERY far from maintaining, but in my continuing overhaul of my lifestyle, I have wondered something. Basically weight loss is calories in - calories out, right? So, if I start eating and living in a maintenance mindset now (at a calorie goal which would maintain my eventual goal weight), wouldn't I just eventually get down to my goal weight? Does there have to be a weight loss program and then a maintenance program in your opinion(s)?

Thanks for any input!

p.s. BTW, you guys rock! Reading your posts (albeit in a lurky kind of way) really gives me the hope/will/belief that I can do this in the long haul. Thanks! Did I mention that you were my heroes?

bargoo · 10-23-2009, 08:06 PM

There is a theory that claims just as you suggest. Start eating at your maintenance level and you will eventually get there. This seems to make sense to me but I was already nearly at goal before I heard of it. I might have tried it if I had know about it sooner. I don't know if any body on these forums has done it. There is a website called Calorie Queen or Queens that talk about this. I have been very successful at calorie counting and even at goal I still count calories. There are as many different diets as there are dieters, I say do what works for you.

BillBlueEyes · 10-23-2009, 11:56 PM

Hi kasmin - that's what I did. I started my journey four years ago by eating at the level I was willing to eat for the rest of my life. It worked for me.

I lost 54 pounds in six months - about two pounds a week, then another 27 pounds over the next year until my body seemed done. I didn't have a transition to maintenance.

So, my take is that you can do just as you suggest. Go for it. Good luck.

.

Windchime · 10-24-2009, 01:40 AM

The theory definitely makes sense to me and that's what I'm trying to do. If the rule of thumb that I've heard (goal weight X 10 = maintenance calories) is true, then I should be eating 1600 calories to eventually get to 160 pounds and be able to maintain. (Yeah, I know it's just an estimate and all that stuff). So I eat between 1600 and 1700 calories/day on average. I'm losing slow but pretty steady. I started out at 1800 calories and cut back to 1600-1700 a few months ago. I've lost 53 pounds, but it has taken me 9.5 months.

losermom · 10-24-2009, 07:08 AM

Like BillBlueEyes, this is what I've been doing too. And my journey has been much like yours. I do count my calories 3-4 times a week as well to be sure that I'm on track. But I am eating now how I plan to eat for the rest of my life. I am still losing, but VERY slowly--about 1/2 lb a week. Which is fine. I have no deadline.

yoyoma · 10-24-2009, 07:23 AM

This sounds like a great plan. I am going to have to figure out how to make maintenance work for me soon. I know it can't be a lot different from what I do now, but I do expect to flail around for a while.

Windchime, I think your numbers might be too low. I am losing weight on about 1290 calories (your calculation based on my maintenance weight). I do exercise some, but I hope everyone includes some exercise as part of their lifestyle.

kasmin · 10-24-2009, 08:05 PM

Hey, thanks for the responses! It was good to see that people were able to do it this way. I also checked out the book that bargoo mentioned (well, the website was no longer in existence). Interestingly, they suggest a base value of 12 to use in that formula that windchime mentioned. Either way, I should be pretty safe with a calorie max at 1500. Now all I have to take care of is the "head game"