I've struggled with staying on plan, but finally in the last few weeks, i have stayed on plan so today i reached 145 pounds. I'm pretty happy with that even though my goal is about 137. I haven't even stayed on plan that long so it's not like i need a refeed or a diet break physically. But, the reason i am considering a break is that dieting ALWAYS puts me in danger of binging. But, if you're overweight, you have no choice--you need to diet even if there is a danger of binging. Now, i am at a weight where it would be acceptable to stay. I can either try to lose more and risk binging, which would end up making me GAIN weight, or i can eat at maintenance for a while. I'm thinking about eating at maintenance for a couple weeks. I have to be very careful though--still count calories very carefully--otherwise i'll gain 3 pounds and then think "crap i have to diet now," then overly restrict my diet, then binge--and so the cycle begins again.

I know it doesn't seem like much, i've only lost like 12 pounds, but they have been a huge struggle and i want to do EVERYTHING i can not to gain any of those back. Maybe i will maintain for a couple weeks, then try cutting calories a little bit again.

I think thats a fantastic idea.

I agree. It sounds like a very well-reasoned plan. Too many of us get hung up with speed. As we all know, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

F.

Thanks ladies! I know you are both maintainers so i hope to follow in your footsteps.

I used an online calculator which says my daily calorie needs, at 145 pounds, are just over 2200 calories. That sounds about right...might be a little bit higher because i'm a little more active than the category i picked (i picked the exercise 3-5x a week category, in reality it's 7x/week)...but i definitely want to be conservative here. So my short-term plan is to eat 2200 calories per day.

I need to mentally prepare myself that once i increase my calories, my weight will probably go up a couple pounds. Nothing to worry about right? If i can maintain a 10-pound loss (so stay under 148.5), that would be great.

I agree, it`s a great idea!

Sometimes its good to give our bodies a rest from "dieting" and just maintain, that way, I find, when you want to get rid of the remaining pounds, they'll come off easier.

Sounds like a wonderful idea

And yes, there is a chance your weight will go up slightly: you'll be eating more and thus the weight of the food will add to your weight and you may gain back a little water weight. Don't be alarmed.

For me when I hit maintenance my weight ticked up two pounds for about a week and then stabilized

Good idea IMO, I've seen your struggles with binging and I'm SO HAPPY you are doing better.

Thanks for all the support! I'm nervous and excited about the world of "maintenance." Krampus...i'm doing a tiny bit better but i can NEVER let my guard down. That is one thing i have learned.

No reason that needs to happen, especially if you increase your calories gradually (say, by 200 every couple of days).

F.

True, but i have been pretty low-calorie the last couple of days so i think 145 might be artificially low. I might gain a couple pounds of water weight. Of course it would be great if i don't! I do plan to increase my calories gradually.

I am all for a "diet break" but be warned your weight might go up - it doesn't mean you've gained fat it is just the natural consequence of eating more. Your body will have greater gylcogen stores and more food digesting which means more waste etc.

Maintaining is more difficult than losing for many people. Goodluck!

as always... ^^^^^^^ ditto John

But you seem to already realize this, so thats half the battle. If you are going to take a maintenance break for 2 weeks, then just dont weigh yourself, if possible, or be prepared to see a higher number..... But YOU KNOW ITS NOT FAT. That water and Glycogen can be manipulated right back off again when its time to start losing again.

Youll be amazed at the energy you have, if you take a break, but continue to eat healthy...... good luck, and ignore those3 pounds or so youre gonna get!!

ETA- i took a huge maintenance/REFEED for 10 days once, and i gained 12 POUNDS!!! But i felt GREAT, till about the 7 or 8th day.. then i just felt bloated But i wasnt eating AT maintenance, i was purposefully eating ABOVE maintence.....

and you know what? those 12 pounds?

Gone exactly 2 weeks later. To the day.

I've never eaten ABOVE maintenance for that long, but that doesn't really surprise me either... breaks are good!

Yep, i am prepared for the gain. And it will seem like nothing compared to the gain i experience after some of my binges (also water weight, but i retain a frightening amount of water for days). My main goal is to not binge. If i don't binge, i know i won't gain more than 2-3 pounds of water weight during my maintenance phase. As long as i stick to the plan, it will work!

good luck!! remember to get in lots of good carbs (higher glycemic index variety) to help reset your falling hormone levels... it will make fat loss easier when you do go back into fatloss mode