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?

Wow, well done for losing all that weight in 7 months OP! I'm the same height as you and it took me 5 years!

For me, it's been mostly IF, with the occasional low carb "shock" when I hit a stubborn bit. I'm 10stone 5lbs right now, which is the lightest I've been since my 20s. I think, looking at myself in the mirror, my ideal weight is about 10st 7lbs- I have quite wide shoulders and hips, so any thinner and I start looking a bit angular in all the wrong places. I think I just need to tone up a bit now.

I think it's normal to have a bit of "bounceback" when you end a diet- that's why I'm trying to get my weight to under 10st 7lbs, to account for that bounceback. But yes, you have to remain constantly vigilant. I'm planning to stay on the 16: 8 permanently, as I find it quite easy, returning to episodes of 5:2 whenever I put a few pounds on.

@crackofdoom well done you!

The "bounceback" has annoyed me. But, it is my own fault!

@1wokeuplikethis Oh no. Its not a nice feeling when they don't fit is it?

good luck!

@Mamasaurus123

If you want to loose weight and keep it off you need to change your whole life style.

All these fad diets may help you get the initial weight off but unless you keep the fad diet up forever it's not going to stay off and as some as you go back to your old way of eating it obviously going to go back on. Your better off changing your whole lifestyle , better, balanced diet and sustainable exercise practices that you can keep up forever.

But 11st at your height doesn't sound big. I wouldn't worry about the figures to much either , if you're happy with the way you look what does a number matter?

I'm not to bothered about what the scales say as such, but its more about if and when why clothes fit me comfy!

@riotlady

It sounds like you just need to find a middle ground between how you ate when you were dieting and Christmas overeating. You shouldn’t need to seriously deprive yourself, just limit a few bits here and there

I think the snacks and bedtime eating is the issue.

I'm just hoping I can get the weight off by the time we are allowed out. Otherwise I haven't got much to wear!

There’s a really friendly six week blast thread running at the moment. I’m enjoying that one for support on staying in track.

Saying that I’ve eaten almost exclusively beige carbs and jelly beans today....

@PurpleDaisies I might join.

I'm starting cutting down tomorrow!

Hi OP, similar to you but not as much lost yet, I am 5.7 and have gone from 13st 2, down to 11 over the last 4-5 months. Final weight I hope will be about 10.10 which puts me at a size 12 with my boobs still looking ok . I'm in my early 50's so not aiming for anything less.
A couple of years ago I lost the same amount of weight, actually a bit more and got down to just over 10st. Promptly went back to eating 'normal' and put it all back on.
This time I plan to get back to my weight and then increase calories again up to an extra 6-700 per day and hope to keep the weight off.
If I were you I would nip the weight gain in the bud now and get back on track. Good luck xx

You can only maintain weight loss by making lasting changes.

You ost a lot of weight in that time. Whether you want to lose that last bit again is really up to you but if you go back to your old habits you will put it all back on. Can you carry on with the IF?

Why don't you IF Sunday to Thursday OP and eat what you like at the weekend? I've lost, and kept off, 9kg with 5:2 since last Jan. I've just relaxed non fast days a bit but still do 2fd a week. The weight is still creeping off slowly but I'm pretty much at my happy weight and 5:2 is a way of life rather than a diet...

@6heartsforhumphrey yep, I'm keeping a close eye on my norks to ensure they don't disappear!

@LadyTiredWinterBottom2

You can only maintain weight loss by making lasting changes.

You ost a lot of weight in that time. Whether you want to lose that last bit again is really up to you but if you go back to your old habits you will put it all back on. Can you carry on with the IF?

I am hoping to get back on IF tomorrow. I can't let myself gain anymore weight back.

@harriethoyle

Why don't you IF Sunday to Thursday OP and eat what you like at the weekend? I've lost, and kept off, 9kg with 5:2 since last Jan. I've just relaxed non fast days a bit but still do 2fd a week. The weight is still creeping off slowly but I'm pretty much at my happy weight and 5:2 is a way of life rather than a diet...

I think I'm probably better doing IF 7 days a week. Otherwise I'll end up eating lots on the days that I wasn't doing it, as you suggested. However, it might be an idea to do 5:2 for the first week or so just to help me get back into IF.

I'm not having breakfast this morning.

So I skipped breakfast, had lunch and now trying not to snack

The thing is, as you lose weight your BMR lowers too. You’ll always have to eat less than you did at your heavier weight, as you had a higher BMR at that weight. Your body naturally needs less food now than it did before.

You’ll always have to “fast” if you always consider your old BMR as “normal.” Really you should consider your current BMR as normal and adjust your eating habits towards it, so you’re not constantly fasting. If you want to eat as much as you did before your weight loss and maintain your current lower weight, you need to incorporate exercise to your lifestyle. Eating balanced portions and healthier choices doesn’t equal fasting btw. Fasting isn’t the only option.

My BMR is 1200 calories a day as I’m short/slim. That’s very little to play with, yet I still eat whatever I want and don’t fast - I just balance out my portion sizes and try not to overdo it

@Jackie2022

My BMR is 1200 calories a day as I’m short/slim. That’s very little to play with, yet I still eat whatever I want and don’t fast - I just balance out my portion sizes and try not to overdo it

That's with light exercise something like 1700-1800 tdee, that's absolutely ok to eat normally.

@Jackie2022

The thing is, as you lose weight your BMR lowers too. You’ll always have to eat less than you did at your heavier weight, as you had a higher BMR at that weight. Your body naturally needs less food now than it did before.

You’ll always have to “fast” if you always consider your old BMR as “normal.” Really you should consider your current BMR as normal and adjust your eating habits towards it, so you’re not constantly fasting. If you want to eat as much as you did before your weight loss and maintain your current lower weight, you need to incorporate exercise to your lifestyle. Eating balanced portions and healthier choices doesn’t equal fasting btw. Fasting isn’t the only option.

I will look into BMR. I have heard of it along with TDEE.

I’ll have to look into TDEE too! I’m not familiar with it.

You shouldn't be rating below Bmr. That's for body to function, to heat up, digest, breath and so on. You should be rating below tdee that's total expenditure which includes expenditure on movement like sport, walking and so on.

@Jackie2022 yes thats how much energy you use everyday

Thanks for this thread OP I've restarted intermittent fasting (essentially skipping breakfast). Already lost 2lbs!