[ncuneo]

I'm getting really anxious about this last 30 lbs to lose and just wanting it to be over with and move on to maitenance. What would happen if I started eating the calories it takes to maintain my *dream* goal now?

Here is what I'm eating now and losing pretty consistantly (1-4lbs/week) except during TOM and ovulation. I generally stay on the lowest end of my range except Tuesday, Friday and Saturday, those day tend to be on the high side of the range.

Monday 1650-1750
Tuesday 1350-1400
Wednesday 1800-1900
Thursday 1650-1750
Friday 1400-1500
Saturday 1900-2100
Sunday 1650-1750

Here is the suggested maitenance schedule for me for maintaining 125 (give my age, height and activity level) and rounding down to the nearest 50 cals. I'm also conservatively telling the calculator that I exercise only 3xs a week when it's actually at least 5xs. I also think 125 is going to be too low for me that I'll settle closer to 138-148.

Monday 1950
Tuesday 1600
Wednesday 2150
Thursday 1950
Friday 1750
Saturday 2350
Sunday 1950

I guess I'm thinking about this because I'm still hungry pretty frequently during the day and trust me I'm am eating a very balanced diet with lots of protein, lots of fruits and veggies and low GI carbs. I'm not so hungry though that it's unmanagable, if I have to I'll tough it out. I'm very active (at least 5xs a week). I'm just ready to be in maitenance...I guess my question is do you think my loss would either stop or worse would I start to gain at those levels?

[paperclippy]

Congrats on your loss so far!

The only way to find out what calories will make you lose, maintain, or gain is trial and error, unfortunately. Your current losing calories sounds a lot like my maintaining calories, but if there is one thing we have learned here at 3fc it is that everyone is different!

Go ahead and try out the new calorie levels for a couple weeks and see what happens, then adjust as needed.

[ncuneo]

I was kind of thinking that I'd wait until I get into the 150's before giving it a shot. Just try to stick with it a bit longer. I think I've been VERY fortunate on how many calories I can eat and still lose so I don't know if I want to chance it just yet.

[losermom]

Originally Posted by ncuneo

What would happen if I started eating the calories it takes to maintain my *dream* goal now??

I guess the real question is: Is this the way that you want to eat for the rest of your life? If the answer is yes, I see no problem with that. I expect that your weight loss may slow down. If you are ok with that, it's all good. Congrats on your weight loss!

FWIW, that is exactly what I did about 6-7 months ago. I did stop counting calories though--it was driving me crazy. I just started eating the way I plan to eat forever. I've lost about 15 lbs since then.

Can I ask why you just want this to be over with?

[ncuneo]

I'm just tired of being focused on losing I guess. I've been working at this for four years and I'm ready just to live life and be at the calorie level I'm going to be at for the rest of my life (I plan on counting for quite some time, at least until I get the hang of maitenance). I'm tired of anaylizing/tweaking my calories for maximum loss. I guess maybe I should just start there...just eat my calories and quit worrying about when I'm going to lose the last 30. I guess I've just come so far that I'm getting a little anxious and I want to be at my goal now. I don't think I'm going to up my cals just yet...I know I can do better so I'm going to hang in there until at least 158 (110 lbs lost). Then we'll see.

[rockinrobin]

Originally Posted by ncuneo

I'm just tired of being focused on losing I guess. I've been working at this for four years and I'm ready just to live life and be at the calorie level I'm going to be at for the rest of my life (I plan on counting for quite some time, at least until I get the hang of maitenance). I'm tired of anaylizing/tweaking my calories for maximum loss. I guess maybe I should just start there...just eat my calories and quit worrying about when I'm going to lose the last 30. I guess I've just come so far that I'm getting a little anxious and I want to be at my goal now. I don't think I'm going to up my cals just yet...I know I can do better so I'm going to hang in there until at least 158 (110 lbs lost). Then we'll see.

This is what I was going to say to you!

*Try* to stop focusing on the scale. FOCUS on the behaviors. The BEHAVIORS. It sounds like you've got a very livable, doable plan - at least calorie wise. *IF* you're somewhat anxious to get to goal, then I would see no need to up those calories. I think there's a good chance your loss would stop - or you may start to gain - but there is no way to know for sure, unless you give it a whirl. You could certainly experiment.

The only thing that I see as a bit worrisome - you mentioned that you're still hungry. That to me would be more than difficult. You say that you're eating the right foods. Well, is there anyway that you could spread them out more over the course of the day. I don't know your eating plan, but maybe if you're eating three meals, to spread that out to 6 mini-meals. I'm also wondering if you're truly hungry or just not full. Because there IS a difference. Another thing you mentioned, fruit - if you're hungry while eating fruit, if it were me, I'd switch to more veggies. They're lower in calories so you can eat more of them and they are much more filling. Just a thought...

[darher]

It's about time to start! You should try Jennifer Garner's 1600 calorie diet plan. She prefers eating four to five times a day, almost every three hours, in order to get the energy she needs during the busy days on the set. She relies on morning and afternoon snacks to boost her metabolism. Her trainer specified that Jennifer never misses breakfast. Consider trying it too. It works for me. Good luck!

[ncuneo]

I actually already eat 5-6xs a day. It seems like my hunger is cycle related. Like the week before my period I'm less hungry, but have slower loss, the week after my period I'm starving but have a big loss, and something is going on durnig ovulation too. I think I need to start journaling my hunger and other observations and compare them with my cycle and exactly what I'm eating.