As of November 1 I've been maintaining a 50-pound weight loss for 2 years. In some ways I consider myself one of the "worst" maintainers around, because I still carry a lot of bad habits with me. I also have a much more freewheeling eating style than many other people on this board. I eat mostly healthy foods and virtually no processed or fast foods, but I eat lots of carbs (about 60% of my cals) including some products made with white flour and sugar. I still overeat massively on occasion, especially when at a restaurant or catered event. I nibble quite a lot throughout the day. I pay no attention whatsoever to my fluid intake, which includes about 4 cups of coffee and 8 oz wine per day.

But if the proof's in the pudding, I guess I'm doing all right. I attribute this to three habits:
1. Consistency with exercise: I work out 4 times a week for a total of 3 hours. I started this regimen after losing the weight and haven't missed a single week.
2. I have fairly small suppers. (I seem to function best if I eat most of my food earlier in the day.)
3. I don't snack much, if at all, in the evenings.

I suppose I may also have some luck on my side: at almost 57 I can maintain on about 2,000 cals per day.

Freelance

Great work on two years of maintenance! In many ways I think that maintenance is as hard or harder than losing the weight in the first place. If it weren't the national statistics wouldn't be so bleak for maintaining weight loss.

I also think you've raised a good point in that each of us has to find what works for us -- and then stick with a proven formula. I know that there will be times when I have pasta and more carbs, but first I have to get all this weight off. Thanks for sharing this. It gives us all hope that there is life after dieting.

Congratulations, Freelance. And there is no "worst." If it's working, who cares what anyone else is doing?

Fantastic job!! You obviously found what works for you, which is all that matters.

Congrats, Freelance! I agree with Saef about the "no worst". Looks to me like you've found the Grail of balance! May your persistence, routine and luck (if any) continue on for the next 57 years!

Congratulations Gabrielle! You've clearly figured out what works for you and how to stick to it. See you here next year, same time, same place?

Great work, Freelance!

As another writer, I do like the phrase "much more freewheeling eating style".

Now there's a motivating idea!

F.

Congratulations on your success.

Regarding Luck... Be Grateful for it.
It appears that you are a "relatively" young woman and ALSO have a height of 5'11".

Personally,
I am a long-time maintainer without your Luck.
I am a 'reduced obese' elderly woman at a height of 5'0",
and
over the past 5 years of my 8 years of maintenance
I have experienced a creep of a few pounds each year while consistently eating about 1050 average daily calories.
Additional exercise has not helped remedy this situation.

Congrats on 2 years. I'm a sloppy maintainer in my twenties hoping I can continue to be a sloppy maintainer in my fifties.

Congrats! I am also a "freewheeling" maintainer who eats a ton of carbs. If it works, it works!

Congrats- I envy your maintenance but if it works for you that's awesome!

Wow, that sounds tough and you're obviously very disciplined. I don't think I could do it.

F.

"Sloppy maintainer" -- love it. It's the perfect term to describe the likes of us.

F.

Ha! I of course didn't mean to insinuate you are "sloppy" - you probably have a very tidy workspace, whereas I am a slob in all areas of life