Well, I did it. I made it FIVE WHOLE YEARS maintaining my weight. (I think I should take a screenshot of my ticker in my sig for posterity!) There have been ups and there have been downs, but this morning I put on the pants I bought when I hit my goal weight five years ago, and they fit perfectly. Then I took them off because they're itchy wool and give me a rash.

During these five years of maintenance, I:
- moved across the country
- finished school and started working
- bought a house
- got married
- got diagnosed with hypothyroidism
- got a dog
- completed a full pass through New Rules of Lifting for Women's workout plans
- ran a mile in under 10 minutes
- completed four sprint triathlons and a few 5k races
- gained 20lbs (largely from the hypothyroidism, but also from eating too much)
- lost 15lbs
- changed my body composition enough that today, at 136lbs, I fit easily into the same clothes I fit into at 130lbs five years ago

Key things I learned about maintenance, which apply to me personally but your mileage my vary:
- reading/posting at 3FC is critical to maintenance
- weighing daily keeps me on track and keeps me aware of normal fluctuations
- nowadays I have to eat 1400 cals/day to lose, and 1600-1800 to maintain, with one uncounted cheat meal per week, which is significantly different from when I initially lost the weight
- completely prohibiting foods from my diet leads me to crave and then binge on the prohibited food. I have to allow all foods in moderation.
- on the other hand, some foods I cannot keep in my house (like ice cream). These I have to buy in single-servings at shops/restaurants.
- the weekly cheat meal is essential to my mental health
- if I exercise, I am motivated to eat right. If I stop exercising, my diet quickly devolves and I eat junk and gain weight.
- I need to modify exercise plans to fit my body. My body can't adapt as quickly to new movements as other people's, and I can't build up as quickly. My connective tissue is just really crappy. However, I shouldn't feel bad about having to do a different plan. It may take me longer to train up for something, but I can still do it.
- I can't go on a weight loss diet for more than a few weeks at a time without going crazy. However, alternating a few weeks of losing with a week of maintaining works wonderfully for me. (This is the newest lesson of maintenance.)

So, there you have it. I am so much healthier now than I used to be, and I really feel like I can keep this up for the rest of my life. I love to exercise, I love the food I eat, and I love the way I feel and look.

Happy 5th Anniversary.


Mine is only two months away.

Congratulations !!

Congratulations Jessica!!!!! It seems like so long ago we were in the 20-somethings forum together. Something this exciting definitely deserves a line of happy dancers!

That's awesome! And such a great list of things you've learned!

Wow! Good for you!!! You're practically a native!

That's so funny, in an earlier thread this morning, I happened to notice your maintenance ticker and I thought to myself, 'WOW!! that's incredible - 5 years!"

Anyway, Congratulations on a huge accomplishment and for taking responsibility, as you continue to tweak and discover what you need to do to keep maintaining your loss.

That is so impressive. Congratulations!

Amazing! I plan to celebrate my 1 year soon. Thank you for the list of things you've learned--very helpful.

And CONGRATULATIONS!

Happy anniversary and congratulations!! I'm really looking forward to 2015, when I can post something like this.

Congratulations both on your maintenance and all you've accomplished in five years!

Way to Go!!!! Talk about inspiration!!!

Congratulations, paperclippy! You're an inspiration!

Congratulations!!!!