Hit my goal.......now what?

[Nugget 29]

I finally hit my goal...........

My feelings are mixed. Although I am happy and excited for this new chapter in my life, I don't know how to switch from that weight loss phase into Maintenance, I am a little scared to start eating more and adding the amount of calories they are telling me to. I do not want to lose anymore.....but certainly don't want to gain. As a guy, I don't want to look scrawny, I enjoy having that solid thick look. I have hit the gym hard and lifting weights again, with big dividends. I have actual pecks (not man boobs anymore!!!) and actual "pretty boy" muscles such as biceps instead of fat rolls! All kidding aside, the working out is going great and I can actually say I am hooked on it.

It is just hard to tell yourself to start eating more food and more calories after you have been programmed for last 6 months to very lean to reach maximum results. I am still losing 2-3 pounds a week on that process. It is a slippery slope and I want to be careful. Anyone else have any opinions or methods in the maintaining process.

[JamieLogical 8,710]

I didn't track my food while I was losing, but I started tracking off and on since I've been in maintenance just to make sure I really am balancing my calories in and calories out. I highly recommend weighing every day as well. I had a bit there where I wasn't weighing daily and when I got back on the scale, I was three pounds less than I thought I was. So weigh daily to stay on top of it. If you see the weight start to drop or creep back up, you can make adjustments much more quickly. Just be conscious of normal fluctuations in your weight due to Water retention. If you eat a lot of sodium or sugar one day, it will show up as water weight the next day, so don't let that send you into a panic.