To think I can't maintain my weight loss

[Gr8days]

So since lockdown started last March, I said to myself that I would lose weight, get fit etc. I went from 14stone down to 10stone by October I'm 5ft7. All through Intermittent fasting. I relaxed my diet over November to end of January with Christmas etc getting in the way. I got on the scales yesterday and I'm up to 11st 4.

DH said not to worry, as you did look a bit too thin at 10st. However, I'm scared that I'm starting to undo all my hard work.

My jeans (DH bought me when I'd reach my target) are getting tighter and I feel more hungry, than I did when doing IF.

Should I try and lose the weight (get back to 10st) or should I just keep an eye on the scales and maintain around 11st by not allowing it to escalate any further?

To maintain work out your BMR which is the amount of calories you need to maintain your weight.There are bmr calculators online.

I think people on here could give you a dozen different answers but really it comes down to what you feel comfortable with most and which option you’d feel happier with. If you wanted to lose the extra weight I’m sure you could - you did it before. If you’d feel happier smaller than that’s probably the right choice. But equally if you’d feel less restrictive maintaining your current weight and are happy then that’s probably the better option. It’s really your decision.

Well done on the weight loss! Is there any reason you stopped IF? I would think if you kept to that and within your calorie range, you should find your comfortable weight.

You want to enjoy life I say aim for 11 and stay fit eat healthy and if you lose any it’s a bonus. You are tall so prob healthy BMI and waist size. Your husband sounds a nice chap. Sod the jeans they should fit round your needs not the other way round 😀

I have a weight where I take action. I'm trying to get under it now.. It's hard work, but I don't want to have it creep up and be stones

I'm similar. I lost 4 stone but still had another to lose... then health issues, Christmas etc and I'm back at only having lost 3 stone. I'm pretty determined to make changes again and lose it, but when you have less to lose it's so much less motivating. If only I could get back in the weightloss mindset.

Tips that I need to follow are:

Weigh myself regularly (this mornings weight was a shock!!)

Stop waiting until monday or whenever to start making changes

Dont eat rubbish all day just because I have had one treat

Just do what you feel comfortable with.
Everyone gains weight over Christmas, that’s not something to feel bad about - I think as part of a healthy lifestyle you have to learn to work around Christmas, gain a bit of weight and then cancel it out again in the new year.

Congrats that's a massive achievement! DH lost a heap of weight and keeps in shape with IF. He sees it as a permanent eating habit rather than short term fix. He used to do 5:2, that's how he lost all the weight. These days he basically doesn't eat during the day on week days, but eats pretty much what he wants in evening and weekends.

Also agree with pp about weigh in daily while you get your new eating habits stable. However make sure you don't get obsessed with weight, this can take you to a dark place if you're that way inclined! Speaking from personal experience

@Furrydogmum I think it was a mixture of "oh I'm slim now, I'll eat what I want". Also with it getting darker earlier, plus the lockdowns, I just sat and ate.

@CottonSock that sounds like a good tip! Lose it before it gets out of hand

When I get to my target I'm going to continue IF but make sure I eat the right calories rather than less so that I maintain. I feel like it's just a way of life rather than a diet and it works for me. Can have the odd treat when not trying to lose weight too

Hey Gr8days. Congratulations on your loss! I also lost weight from March last year. I've been maintaining since July by reverse dieting and calorie counting (the same as how I lost weight).

I've been highly aware that the real hard work is in maintaining so I haven't stopped weighing weekly and am still tracking everything I eat. I'm not sure i'll ever really stop closely monitoring.

I think you probably need to decide what your happy weight is - where you feel confident but not starving yourself miserable. I don't know intermittent fasting but is there a maintenance version of it?

Your bmi is still just about healthy at 11st4. There wouldn’t be anything wrong with maintaining at that weight as long as you don’t tip into the overweight category.

Did you feel too thin at 10stone? I’m the same height as you and not too thin at that weight but everyone carries it differently. I’m not sure friends and family are always that objective when it comes to weight loss-they sometimes just aren’t used to seeing you thinner. That’s my experience anyway.

I think there’s always a bit of a balance with how much you want to just eat normally and where you start to gain again. I find exercising really helps with maintenance. It gives you a bit of space to have a packet of crisps! I also do the same thing as another poster-weight weekly and if I’ve gone above a set point I focus on diet and exercise until I’m below my happy point again.

Well done on that amazing loss.

Can you carry on with IF if it was working for you?

Losing weight is a lifetime commitment unfortunately - you need to maintain the weight loss balancing exercise and food intake. You can eat more, but you have to exercise more as to not be in a calorie surplus at the end of the day, else you’ll steadily gain weight. Your journey doesn’t end when you’ve reached your goal, you do have to maintain it.

That’s the problem with intermittent fasting I suppose - when you stop fasting, you’ll gain weight if you’re not exercising more to balance out the extra calories from your usual diet. You might find it easier to not fast, but to eat smaller and more frequent portions throughout the day. Same amount of calories, but no hunger as you’re constantly eating (healthy) food.

It's nkt bmr. That's an absolute minimum to function. It's tdee.

The problem lots of people have is that they finish diet and go to eat "normal" like before, but that wasn't nkrmal and caused the weight gain. Everyone should be really encouraged to not just lose weight, but also look at their orevious habits and build healthy ones. You did really well! Do you think it may be your portion sizes? That's apparently where many people stumble.

The problem lots of people have is that they finish diet and go to eat "normal" like before, but that wasn't nkrmal and caused the weight gain.

Yes-absolutely this. It’s a new normal. I will probably always weigh my pasta and rice to make sure my portions aren’t off. That’s where I know I can easily slip into overeating. Everything else I just think “does this look like a healthy, tasty, portion?”

Between March 2019 and Feb 2020, I lost 7.5 stone by calorie counting. I'm also 5ft 7 and now weigh 10 st 7lb. The one thing that has really helped me was giving up my car so I now have no option but to walk to work which is a round trip of 6 miles. I still struggle daily with food, though.

I'm in an almost identical situation! Maintaining is harder than losing in my experience. Its exhausting that this is something I'll have to think about forever.

@WeeWillyWanky what an amazing loss. Well done you. You must feel so much healthier.

Thank you. I do feel healthier but look about 10 years older as my face looks saggier 😣

@Janaih Its stressing me too. I think I'll probably have to "diet" to stay this size.

@Sheepies I must try and restart IF.

@NeverRTFT I saw it as a short term fix. I need to restart and stick to it in order to avoid gaining anymore weight