Maintenance- what does it look like.....

[enjoythetime 1,457]

So, as I'm nearing my goal weight with 12lbs to go, I have a question for all of those who are in Maintenance. What does this look like?

Do you continue to do the exact same thing you've been doing and then your wieght loss eventually tapers off? Do you increase your calories until you find a balance that stabalizes your weight, do you get Fluid taken out of your band and stay at the same caloric intake? Just wondering how this all works itself out. I would imagine if you're consuming 1200 calories per day and know from your history that this typically results in about a 2lb. weight loss each week that you would need to adjust your caloric intake until you can stay where you want to be right? I'm very exicted about being so close to my goal weight but also very nervous. Maintaining as we all know is the hardest part. I learned what my body needed to lose the weight but I have no vision of what maintenance part looks like. Any help/advice is greatly appreicated!!! Thanks!

[2muchfun 8,927]

Checked out your gallery. You're quite the hottie now!! Apparently you missed the memo from the "band deniers" that the band doesn't work

I got down to about 25 lbs of my goal and I've been on this maintenance watch for about 1.5 years now. It's difficult. It's so easy to spike up 10-12 lbs over the holidays and then have to go back to paying attention again. Looking forward to summer so I can get outside and work off this extra 10 lbs plus maybe another 10-15.

From what I've read from others who got down to goal, they didn't change anything. Kept the same tightness on their band and just kept on eating like a Bandster. I'd bet that they allow themselves some leeway though. Maybe consume an extra glass of wine or an occasional Ben and Jerry's? Seems like it would be a mental thing once you get to goal?

tmf

[Jim1967 3,569]

I am flirting with goal myself so I find this thread interesting. My goal is also a number picked out of my head. My Doctor never gave me a goal to strive for. Actually, my initial goal was 220 and when I hit that I wondered if 199 was possible so I changed my goal. So I am slowly getting to that goal but really my plan is to keep losing as long as my body wants to give it up. It's not like I am suffering from malnutrition.

Sorry I am rambling and not trying to hijack your thread.

I have a deep fear of hitting a final weight goal. Having lost so much weight before and gaining it all back plus another 90 just scares me and has me on edge about history repeating itself.

[HealthyNewMe 1,935]

As I posted before.... The fear is legit .... We are all DIET EXPERTS, but we've never been MAINTENANCE EXPERTS. But, then again, we didn't have our bands. I'll be following this thread closely. I'm not near there, but I love to read and become INFORMED. You all have become important to me!!!!

[cheryl2586 3,053]

Well I will just say it is not so easy. You have to pretty much watch everything you put in your mouth because that scale will start moving the other way easily. I haven't strayed from my Protein. I don't do meat well so I eat mostly Beans, tofu, and such. You have to be careful because when you think oh I can eat what I want that is when the problem begins. It is very easy to put it back on. I would say losing was much easier then maintaining. Everyday is a struggle as to what to eat because I do not eat the same things over and over. It would just be so easily to tire eating the same foods daily. I think that maintenance is way harder then losing was.

[MandaMom23 684]

I've been wondering about this as well! I've set, and gone beyond a 'goal' weight 3 times now! First 175, then 160, then 152....now, I've decided to just keep doing what I'm doing, and let my body decide when it's at a happy weight. The weightloss will have to stop eventually, and if I keep up what I'm doing now, I shouldn't (hopefully...) have to do too much extra thinking to keep the weight off!

The thought of maintenance scares me, the thought of gaining all my weight back terrifies me even more!

[Sharpie 3,306]

I think you have to adopt a life long habit of eating healthy.. maybe once at goal you can sneak in an occasional treat but don't go hog wild. I am about 15 lbs from my goal (not my Dr's) he says do what I think is good for me. at my age (67) and height 5' on a good day getting too thin is not good (as if that will happen).. I am hoping to get to my healthy weight in the next few months. At that point I will probably continue doing what I am doing unless I start to lose too much at that point I will add some Protein.

[gowalking 10,790]

Count me in on the scary maintenance phase. My goal weight was also fairly arbitrary. My PCP said to me at the start of this journey that if I could get to 150, she'd be thrilled...so that was the weight goal I set. I too was one of those who lost alot of weight once before and swore I'd never get heavy again. Of course I eventually gained it all back and some. All I can do is recommit to keeping it off and knowing the band is there to remind me not to overeat. Everything else...like what we eat, is a choice we make and for many of us, the band wll not change that. I bet if I wanted to consume half a box of chocolates, I could. Same for other slider foods...cookies, chips, etc. I'm presuming it will be a lifelong 'one day at a time' kind of thinking and getting back on track as soon as possible if I find myself wandering off the straight and narrow. All I know is that I don't want to be obese anymore. I love this feeling of being normal and not worrying about my size anymore.

[enjoythetime 1,457]

Checked out your gallery. You're quite the hottie now!! Apparently you missed the memo from the "band deniers" that the band doesn't work

I got down to about 25 lbs of my goal and I've been on this maintenance watch for about 1.5 years now. It's difficult. It's so easy to spike up 10-12 lbs over the holidays and then have to go back to paying attention again. Looking forward to summer so I can get outside and work off this extra 10 lbs plus maybe another 10-15.

From what I've read from others who got down to goal, they didn't change anything. Kept the same tightness on their band and just kept on eating like a Bandster. I'd bet that they allow themselves some leeway though. Maybe consume an extra glass of wine or an occasional Ben and Jerry's? Seems like it would be a mental thing once you get to goal?

tmf

TMF...you're too sweet. Yeah its a good thing I missed that memo from the "band deniers" I would've had to graciously put them in their place;)

Thx for your words of encouragement and direction!! I think you're 100% correct on it being a mental thing, this whole process has been built around mental training and changing life long bad habits.

You're doing so great and I know you're a valuable source on this forum so thx for taking the time to provide advice!!!

[B-52 7,113]

All depends upon how you and your band are doing it to loose the weight in the first place....

[enjoythetime 1,457]

I am flirting with goal myself so I find this thread interesting. My goal is also a number picked out of my head. My Doctor never gave me a goal to strive for. Actually, my initial goal was 220 and when I hit that I wondered if 199 was possible so I changed my goal. So I am slowly getting to that goal but really my plan is to keep losing as long as my body wants to give it up. It's not like I am suffering from malnutrition.

Sorry I am rambling and not trying to hijack your thread.

I have a deep fear of hitting a final weight goal. Having lost so much weight before and gaining it all back plus another 90 just scares me and has me on edge about history repeating itself.

Jim a HUGE congrats to you! !! How awesome is it that you exceeded your goal and set new a new one and are well on your way to achieving this one great job!!

You hit the nail on the head when you say the scary thing is to thinking about history repeating itself.

[memebear 44]

I cannot wait to have your problems. Very inspiring to see so many successful losers.

[Lady VS 1,147]

Hi there. I'm still doing as if I'm trying to lose. I still eat within 800-1000 calories. Each day is different. I did not get an unfill because I want to keep the restriction that I have. If I were unfilled, I would gain weight for sure and I'm certainly not trying to do that. Good luck.

[LeeB1946 261]

Me too. Have about 12 pounds to goal. Then I asked the doctor what happens. He said not much as the band stays in the Fluid stays in and the body just stops loosing weight. I have given away 90 pounds in the past 18 months. Have had the band for 1 year now. The reality of the fact that the loosing phase is nearly to an end makes me sad. Now, I have to grieve the part of me that is gone. Sounds strange, but have to deal with it or my old self will come back. So, maybe time to talk to psych and the dietitians about what to do for maintenance. Great topic.