'Obsessive' dieting

[Eatsleepwork]

I started dieting last August and have gone down two dress sizes and lost around 2.5 stone.
Has anyone else found it hard to stop dieting? I'm so worried about putting weight back on but know I need to stop losing it now (people have started commenting that I've lost too much, mentioning the 'obsessive' dieting and asking if I'm ok).
I was loosely counting calories and know I need to eat a bit more but I'm finding it hard to do that and see it as a slippery slope to being overweight again. I am still eating normal meals but don't snack and don't eat any junk ever (chocolate, crisps, cake etc).
I quite like having the control over what I eat but am conscious that it is starting to control me a bit too and want to stop before it gets too far. At the same time I want to maintain where I am now and not gain any more but haven't worked out how to balance it.
If this makes sense to anyone well done and if anyone has words of wisdom please let me know!

[Sitoff]

I am possibly slightly further down the line - I lost around 2.5 stones and have managed to maintain since last May. Previously I did not consider what I ate really but since losing weight I am concious most of the time about my eating. I suppose that will always be the case for me if I want to maintain. I struggle a little with a desire to lose more but with a bmi of 21 I think I know I do not need to but I would like a flatter stomach! I am trying to reeducate myself to think that it is ok to exercise self control but not ok to allow myself to be controlled iyswim? I do allow myself treats if I want them sometimes to try to ensure I am eating in a normal way. Having said that I am not influenced by people saying I look too thin - I really am not I am just thinner than they are used to me being.

[Eatsleepwork]

Thanks, that really resonates with me.
I just can't allow myself to have 'treats' and in fact don't see them as treats. I have people commenting every day on my weight now and a few have asked if I meant to lose all the weight and if I feel ok. DH thinks I am fine but should stop now whereas my mum just saw me for the first time in a few months and said I was obsessed and taking it too far
I don't know my BMI so maybe I should work it out.
What I need is a personal chef to prepare the exact number of calories I need every day to maintain this!

[Eatsleepwork]

Interesting- my BMI is 20.8, which I think is pretty normal, although I am still losing weight weekly. Guess I just need to work out how to stay at this stage without 'losing control' again.

[Sitoff]

I have had similar comments about my weight but ignore them just as I would have if someone had previously said I was overweight. I am pleased with my weight now and feel well. I am slowly coming to the realisation that I have to stay in control of what I eat or the weight will creep back on. I weigh myself every morning (maybe that is the sort of obsessive behaviour you worry about but I just feel it is easier to keep on top of it and can ignore small daily fluctuations but know if I gain a little I could tackle it quickly) I consider what I will eat daily (I am fortunate this is easy as I do all the buying and decision making in the house and everyone else is supportive) but I am able to enjoy something offered by someone else or when I am out. To me that seems a good place for me to be. I would imagine you have or will come to the point where you decide you do just want to maintain and might have an internal battle but you have lost the weight which is the hard part so you can do it. A glass of wine with friends, a piece of birthday cake or an ice cream on a day out will not sabotage all your efforts. Going back to making all the same choices you made before might! Good luck.

[ErrolTheDragon]

If you're used to approximately counting calories, perhaps you could calculate your TDEE (ie how many you should need to maintain current weight), that would give you an idea of roughly how much more you should eat to stay steady where you are.

[Eatsleepwork]

Thanks. I did that a while ago and it said I had to eat 1850 per day to maintain my weight but I'm still sticking to roughly 1500. I know I have to eat more but that's the bit I'm struggling to get my head round. Logically it sounds simple- eat more but stay the same. In my head I'm thinking eat more and gain weight again... Think I'm worried it's the proverbial slippery slope to going back to how i ate before and I won't be able to control it

[ErrolTheDragon]

Well, how about you gradually increase what you're eating until your weight loss tails off?

[Eatsleepwork]

Yep that makes sense, just hard!
I think I should count my calories more carefully for a few weeks to make sure I'm getting 1850 then I'm still in control. (I do like to control all parts of life!)

[Allie82]

When I was maintaining on weight watchers they allowed an extra 6points a day, which isn't really that much. A nice yougert, bag of crisps, small choc bar, starbucks latte. Just a little bit extra each day. Perhaps have a small dessert or something? I know what you mean though it's hard to stop once you reach your target! X