So I've kind of been taking little maintenance breaks over this past month, gone on a couple of mini vacations and a week long camping trip where I decided to go ahead and eat at maintenance level.

This just led to me shoving food in like a crazy mad woman. What the heck? I know this is psychological for me, I think, "Oh well, you are not trying to lose anything, lets have some off-plan stuff and not worry about it". Why? So yeah, I stink at maintenance and need some tips to get better at it when the time comes.

Maybe continuing to log my calories would help. I did not do that. I just ate like a little piggy...

I really suck at maintenance. That's why I'm back where I started years ago. I plan to go hang out in the maintainers section when I get closer to goal and learn from their wisdom and experience.

All I can do is tell myself to never, EVER go back to my old way of eating. Like everyone always says around here, it's a lifestyle change, not a diet. I want to make sure I follow that mantra for life.

I have a trip coming up next week, and it will be my first maintenance attempt (I'm assuming I won't lose). I'm nervous about it, but I've already packed a whole bag of my own food to be sure I stay at least MOSTLY on plan.

yes, at maintenance, you should definitely continue to log your calories. the first time i tried this, when i finally hit 180, i just stopped logging. i then gained back up to a weight of 274 lbs. logging keeps that accountability there, and it's also pretty essential to keeping track of how much food you're actually consuming.

I have sort of been on maintenance for about three weeks or so. I say "sort of" because I shoot for 1400-1500 calories, but if I reach 1700, I don't fret. Also, 1700-1750 is maintenance for my goal weight, not my current weight. I don't actually weigh myself, but I'm guessing based on the size I am now (and the comparable weight I was at in the past at this size).

Throughout this time period, I have continued to log my calories. I won't stop doing that, even when I don't like to face what I'm logging. For example, I bought groceries at Whole Foods on Friday, and there were so many goodies, that I gave into having a bite of this, a taste of that, a lick of the other. I really wanted to not log all that, but I did it. Yes, I had to "guess-ti-mate" but in such circumstances I always over-estimate just to be safe.

Also, if I feel like I'm losing my control a bit, I try to get back to strict behaviors. For example, I notice that I was getting a bit more lax on weighing and measuring and that I was getting into the habit of having a sweet every night (rather than just a few nights a week). So, as of this past Sunday, I've resolved to restart strict weighing and measuring and to lay off the sweets for at least a week. I think I need those sort of "road blocks" when I begin feeling as if I'm letting things go a bit.

Remember: The basic behaviors that you used to lose should be part of your life in maintenance as well.

Speaking as someone who has made it through 6 years of maintenance, you might have to take a look at what maintenance means.

For me, maintenance looks like weight loss. I estimate calories every day (even if it's just a rounded to the nearest 100 ballpark) and I stick to my "forever no's" (no fast food, no cream based sauces, no packaged baked goods, limit alcohol).

I also don't let "bad" meals get out of control. I might have an overly indulgent dinner, but it's balanced by an onplan breakfast/lunch.

If I am out of my normal comfort zone (trips, etc), I plan for it. For example, for a work trip for a week in a hotel, I bring my own oatmeal, bowls, spoons, dried blueberries, so I can at least start each day off right.

Maintenance is work but lots of great stuff in life takes work.