Welcome to the Bootcamp Maintenance thread!

[BIWI]

As several people look like they're reaching or soon reaching their target, I thought it would be a good idea to start a maintenance thread.

I know lots of people are worried about how they're going to maintain, so having a support thread for ideas and suggestions sounds like it's going to be important!

How's it going with the Diet Doctor recipes Velocity? Is it worth subscribing to?

How do folks decide when they are done with weight loss?

Face shape wise I think I'm about done. But I can still grab a good handful on the inside of my thighs, several handfuls on my tummy and a good chunk of bingo wings. Joking aside I still have plenty of fat knocking around under the skin....

My BMI is now 22.2.

Brassica I went with getting back to my pre baby weight, when I was also very fit and running a lot. My body is a totally different shape now, and nowhere near as toned, but I felt I needed a cut off point otherwise I didn't want to get obsessed and try to lose more.

I still have 'curvy' bum and thighs but that's just me now. Although saying that I have crept up about 5lbs on my lowest bootcamp weight. Am trying to shift a few, but steadily and sustainably.

If you are happy with overall weight and bmi but still conscious of bits and bobs then maybe focus on exercise and strength training to tone up a bit (says me... Currently lying on sofa, eating chocolate and reading Mumsnet!)

I'm running (just finished c25k) and rowing these days. I weight less now than when I met DH by about 6lbs and less then when I got pregnant by about 10lbs!

Running and rowing has changed my shape. I made it to this weight briefly this time last year following a VLCD (in the week, pizza at the weekend!) and doing the Jillian Michaels Shred. But I'm several inches different now.

So this is uncharted territory for me now!

My goal was BMI of 20, which I feel I look good at. I'm happy between 8st 4 and 8st 10. After that I get a bit jiggly of thigh. I'm very pear shaped so I have very slim arms (not skinny as there's muscle there) and a bony chest, but my legs look good & it's easier to hide your chest than your legs!!

I got two new 5k pbs last week so it can't be doing me much harm. 28.06 baby, yeah!

@Hippadippadation OMG I've just done the calcs. For me to get to BMI 20 I've got another stone to go! It's one of the reason I asked the question. We're all so different. While I've got handfuls I'd jiggly bits so clearly fat to lose I'm pretty sure if I lose another stone my face will look way skinny.

And while I've got your attention can I ask a 5k question? I've just finished c25k. So I'm running for 30 mins but I'm only managing 4-4.3k. What are your tips for reaching 5k?

Urm, not really. Just keep going! When I "graduated" c25k it took me about 34-36 mins to run a 5k. Your time will improve as you improve.

Back to BMI - I think it's body shape as well. I've only got a small frame, so BMI 20 doesn't look too bad. If you're larger framed (and taller) then you'll naturally look better at BMI 22 etc. If you're happy, then stop.

@FurryTurnipHead the menus are great and the site creates a shopping list. My approach has been to go for the Keto recipient list knowing that I'm likely to have more than odd piece of chocolate. In terms of weight loss, i am at my lowest for years and should be happy with that but I can still see the extra fat that I'm carrying but I am trying to maintain where I am and then see if I want to go for another push.

The recipes sound interesting Velocity, I could do with some inspiration!

Well done on the running Brassica! I'm a runner too, and agree with Hippa, your times will steadily improve. If you want to boost your speed a bit, then try to incorporate a couple of short sprint intervals into your runs. Even if you only do 2 sprints of 30 seconds, it will make a difference, and eventually you will be able to push yourself further.

How's everyone doing with maintenance? I've been struggling, so am now back on bootcamp to try and shift 5 lbs before holiday at half term. Already feel better for cutting out the sugar.

On another note, I was in Iceland earlier stocking up on cauliflower rice. Noticed they now sell packs of frozen avocado! 8 avocado halves for £3.50. Can't decide if it is a brilliant idea or repulsive... They looked nice though, so it would remove that doubt of 'is it ripe enough / are there any dodgy black bits'. Anyone tried them? If not I'll brave it soon and report back, when I gave the freezer space!

Oh and Brassica my BMI is now 22.8. I need to lose a bit, but like you I couldn't go much below 22 without looking unwell I don't think. I will always be curvy of arse, but if I was to lose all that fat, I'd be completely flat chested too, with protruding ribs and golf clubs for legs! So I wouldn't worry about the numbers, just base it on how you feel and look maybe?

Well I saw 9.13.8 on Saturday morning. But that was wine dehydration if you follow me

I'm currently around 10.1. Think just for fun I'm going to aim for about 9.11/12 and make 10st my new limit.

I'm following BC pretty well. Except for the wine I'm afraid!

Thanks Furry and Hippa on the running front. This week I'm consolidating running for 30 mins. Next week I'll try pushing the distance and maybe the sprinting

I'm back on C25K as well. Just about to start week 5 tomorrow.

@BrassicaBabe - the thing about C25K is it's based on time initially. So you run for half an hour. For a lot of people who've posted on the threads here about C25K that's not going to be 5K as many people have a slower pace.

Now you've 'graduated' then you can focus on distance and also your pace. I found that using Map My Run was quite helpful because after each 10 minutes it tells you your pace and distance, so you know if you're running at a slow pace (or slower than you'd like).

The other thing that made a big difference was a bit of a doh! moment for me. I'd been running a lovely route alongside the river, but because it was on a fairly muddy path, I slowed down noticeably, to avoid slipping. Once I started running on a harder path, my pace speeded up!

How are folks doing? I'm stuck at 10.1. Dipped yesterday to 9.13, had cauli cheese for Valentine's Day, back to 10.1! I want to get to 9.11. I'm going to have to consider giving up wine for a little while

Hope the cutting out wine is working Brassica and very impressive you has Valentine's Day cauliflower cheese!

I'm doing badly at the moment, on holiday in Eastern Europe, where as a vegetarian I would probably die if I didn't eat carbs! I've been on a lot of bread and chips... I can see the impact on my flabby body, but am not worried about it, will just go straight onto bootcamp when I get back.

Brassica!

Hellooooo. Anyone there? I'm about 9.13. I see the occasional 9.12 but never for more than a day. I think by default I'm in maintenance. (I think my wine consumption keeps me where I am!). I'd really like to get to 9.10. Hey ho.

How is everyone else doing?

I've settled into an easy way of eating. Although I need to make some effort on the water and FLGV front. I've found that I'm getting lazy. Last night for dinner I just had a chicken leg. I'm quite reliant on snack cheese and pepperami too. I need to make more of an effort to cook. I need to give myself a good talking too!

Well done everyone for sticking with it. Had pizza last night for the first time in 6 months and was forced into a sandwich a couple of weeks ago but more or less sticking to plan. I don't have the energy for exercise but it does need to happen. Maybe need a spring initiative!

Hello? How is everyone? Tis me, the person who used to be a large water mammal from Africa.

How is everyone doing? I seem to have settled between 8st7 and 8st12, which I'm pretty happy with. I am having the carby veg, fruit and will have Oat & Barley porridge on my running days for breakfast.

I've noticed that bread, biscuits, cake etc spike my blood sugar & I get a sugar crash about half an hour later & feel sick, faint & dizzy etc. So I find it best to avoid them. I'm ok with potatoes, wholemeal pasta & brown rice, quinoa etc so I have them a couple of times a week.

Hello Bear

Well, it's a slow old slog!

My update on 8th March:
"I'm about 9.13. I see the occasional 9.12 but never for more than a day."

Well a month on and now I'm a regular 9.12.* with an occasional 9.11. So maybe another month and I'll be at 9.10 goal. It's not enough to make a difference, it's the principal now! (Or is that principle?! Need to look that one up )

But I'm afraid wine is still a regular feature.

Still don't really know how I plan to maintain

I basically maintain by sticking to the LCHF rules but I don't sweat the small stuff! I also 16:8 so try to use that to balance when I have less control over what to eat e.g. spending the weekend with friends. I now just prefer to eat this way as my body feels better for it. The past few days spent with friends meant a lot of crisps, chocolate etc which is hard to resist. Lots of cheese as well though which I ate lots of!

When I am at work it's easy to keep to plan but holidays are definitely more of a challenge!

So regularly 9.12. But 10.1 this morning post Dominoes pizza blow out last night (and yes, I ate the whole massive thing!!). So I'm having a go at a 3 day egg fast as one last push. Not sure I'll manage 3 days 🤮

Just signing in to the low carb maintenance thread. I finished the last Boot camp at my goal weight and have so far stayed the same with mainly low carb but more snacking at weekend. I have signed up to the next Boot camp but will try and carry on as I have been with more carbs every so often. I'm finding mealtimes fine as I prefer my cauliflower rice and low carb bread etc but I need to be careful with the amount of sweet treats creeping in. Realise now just how addictive sugar can be!

@Thing101 - here's the maintenance thread. As you can see, it's a but quiet