Right, I need your best weight maintinance tips. Please.

[DrivenToDistraction]

After having 2 DC in two years, life in general and a very stressful few months have resulted in me ending up at my ideal weight. About 1 1/2 stone lighter than pre-DC . It's all taken me somewhat by surprise TBH.

My weight stabilised about 2 months ago but I seem to have gained a pound or so back along the way. Obviously 1 lb isn't a problem but I don't want weight creeping back on. DS is just finishing BF and it feels a long time since I haven't been PG or BF, I'm used to needing extra calories. The weigh loss is a real bonus for what have been an incredibly tough 3 1/2 years. A bonus that I want to keep in the bank

The thing is, I had bulima at the end of my teens and into my early 20's. That's 10 years behind me now but I don't want to risk developing control issues around food. I've never yet been able to diet since I recovered, I could feel old ghosts creeping in and it felt safer to be a wee bit heavy TBH.

What I need to know is how you maintain a stable weight. Is it a day to day thing or periodic dieting . My weight crept up slowly from the end of my eating problems - about 1 1/2 stone in 8 years. Can't be doing with that again .

Oh, and I totally refuse to eat 'light' products. At all.

Hello, I'm mom of 3 and loved BF as an excuse to eat what the hell I wanted morning, noon and night whilst remaining a smug size 10. I was size 14 pre babies.
The BF of DC3 ended 7 months ago. To maintain my wieght I have Shredded Wheat (as Ian Botham says in the ads its 100% wheat, no sugar, no nothing) for breakfast with seeds and raisans with semi skimmed milk, for lunch homemade soup and my evening meal is exactly what the rest of the family are having.
As a hot drink I have Green Tea with Jasmine, it is a natural metabolic stabiliser. For soft drinks, juice.
If I get pekish I'll snack on crackers or rice cakes with sugar free peanut butter, nuts, yoghurt with granola or fruit.
Every Monday I make a big pot of soup. I use the carcass of Sundays dinner and boil a stock, drain it then add to the stock any old vegtable I fancy or whatever the supermarked have discounted, season (no salt though). I refridgerate it once its cooled and it lasts till Saturday.
So far so good, still a size 10.
If I go out or the family have treats I won't deny myself, lifes too short to punish oneself.

I would suggest doing three very, very simple things to maintain your weight

1. Take a half hour of exercise daily. Brisk walk, digging a garden, aerobics, tennis...doesn't matter what it is really as long as you're physically active.

1. Fill half your plate at every main meal with vegetables or salads before you add anything else. Doing this means you are well-nourished, your tummy is nicely full and the calorie load of your meals is relatively low.

1. Get about a litre - 2litres plain fluids daily. This helps reduce fluid retention and keeps the digestion ticking along nicely.

A decent breakfast is good for you, and will keep you going if you have some protein. Soup is good for lunch and for some reason because it's stuff mixed with water it'll keep you full for longer. Something with carbohydrate is good for supper.

Fruit and veg have lots of water in them. Whatever you do, enjoy your food!