Close to target, am I daft to think I can maintain?

[ThisMustBeMyDream]

I'm only about 11lb to target (bmi 25) now after over 6st lost. It has taken me 18 months, slow and steady loss (after the initial first couple of stone came off). At first I didn't need to do much as the medication (Saxenda) worked well with appetite regulation. After 8 months the losses slowed right down. That's when I started the lifestyle changes.
I calorie count, weigh and measure all food and log daily. I try to eat high protein (90-100g per day). I joined the gym and prioritise it so that I make sure I go 3 x a week for 2 hours and do half cardio and half weights each time. I've massively (and I mean massively!) upped my activity levels. I walk everywhere I can now, regularly do 10k steps per day. I've made it in to a habit ie. We walk to school. I walk to the gym. Walk to the shops and so on. I don't associate going to the cinema with treats any more, or have that costa hot choc when going shopping. I take my lunch out with me religiously so I'm not tempted. But I know where I can fall back on if something happened and I needed to get food out and about. I guess that sounds miserable to some, but for me it's a real freedom. Food doesn't control my life, my life isn't centered around food any more. And I like it this way!
I feel like I've made so many little changes in my life that they are now habits. Good habits.
I'm still terrified to get to maintenance though. How will I manage? I've lost weight before (although this time I've lost more and am at a lower weight) and only kept it off for a couple of years. Is this enough, will I be strong enough without the medication? All I keep reading is how people will put the weight back on after the medication stops. I really, really, really need that to not be me. I've given so much to this process. I can't let myself down. I think my biggest fear is that I can't get my BMR up despite weight training for 9 months now and doing progressive overload. I'm 5ft 2 and aiming to be 62ish kg. My BMR is just under 1400 cals. I currently eat 1300-1400 and burn around 4500 cals each week to lose 0.5-1 pound through my excercise/daily steps. So my maintenance is around 1700 but in reality I think its more like 1600 and I have to keep up that level of excercise. It's a scary prospect to consider when coming off medication.
Any words of wisdom?

What you have achieved is fantastic. I have lost less overall but am in almost exactly the same place as you. I’m 5ft2 and 3 pounds over BMI 25. I have lost and gained before and I am so determined this is the last time but terrified. I think my BMR is similar to yours.

I don’t have wisdom that has been proved but I am thinking:

1. keep tracking
2. really watch portion size - this time I have eaten normal family food but less of it and that seems to be much more sustainable than eg giving up carbs which I’ve done before. Esp when eating out portions are too big for a woman my size and I won’t feel like I have to eat full portions anymore.
3. Keep up with weights/strength training
4. find people in same place for support
5. ive moved to oushk and will consider low level long term maintenance dose if that’s where things go

you sound like you have made amazing changes to your lifestyle so I think you have the mindset to make it work long term. Some people regain but not everyone does.

Hey, well done on what you've achieved, that's amazing.
I'm in a similar position, 5ft 1, just a few lbs off target and BMI 25. The idea of maintenance scares me but what I've read is that people who maintain the good habits may have a slight weight gain so I'm pinning my hopes on that.

When I started this it was with a view to putting an end to the yo-yo dieting I've done all my life. I've joined the gym, go at least four times per week with a mixture of classes and swimming. I decided to try intermittent fasting and for the first time in my life I've found something that suits me. I'm not a breakfast lover so this is working well for me with a high protein/low carb diet.

It's about finding what works that's sustainable I guess and for me, I think I may have finally found it.

Good luck, you've got this x

Have a listen to ESG fitness podcasts- she talks a lot of common sense and particularly helps 'small women' who unfortunately need less calories in life. Congratulations, you can do this.