Anyone lost weight and now maintaining their new lower body weight? I'm finding it hard!

[MrMagnusDoodle]

I have lost 4st 10lbs, taking me down to my target weight. I've been at target for 3 months now but I am struggling getting used to being able to eat a little more now that I am maintaining and not trying to lose.

I was pretty laid back when I was losing, but now I'm maintaining I am feeling a sense of panic if I put any weight back on. I still weigh in at my SW group each week and so far have been within 1.5lbs of my target, sometimes a little above, sometimes below.

If you have lost weight and maintained your new weight have you got any tips?

I have kept it off for 3 years now. Stop seeing it as a diet and realise that it is a new way of eating for life. If you are out with friends and relax one day you have to allow for it the next day. Start running on a regular basis - it is a great help.

Forgot to say - well done!

Put in treats so that you don't feel hard done by- I have chocolate everyday but just one, or one square.

Exercise is the main key...and also having a balanced attitude, so if you know you have been overeating for a week day or two, then cut back for a day or two to compensate.

Maintaining is hard, exercise helps and also having a few strict days after overindulging.

Exotic Can't run for health reasons, I used to jog but had to stop. I do low impact gym sessions 2-3 times a week though.

The balanced days thin is what I am doing, that's how I've stayed within 1.5 lbs of target weight for 3 months and it does seem to work.
What I don't seem to be able to get over is the panic that somehow, if I put 1lb on, I'll put 4st + back on. It freaks me out! Did you have that feeling, how long does it take to go away?

I meant balanced days thing is what I'm doing, so if I have a more calorific day I cut back the next day etc.

I have put on 4lbs (lost 4 stone) just don't seem to have willpower..... Was at target for at least a year weight creeping on a little in last 6 months. Size 8 clothes still fit and working on increasing muscle mass through weightlifting so some of gain might not be fat. I find it easiest to maintain when I weigh myself daily and have a strict few days if I have overindulged. I am jealous of naturally thin people who have no appetite to ever overindulge!!!!

I'm struggling with this right now.

In 2009, I was 12st 2. With dieting, I got down to 10st 4. With a gym membership (I'd never had one before and got ADDICTED), I got down to 9st 3. That was 2010.

It's now 2012 (obv) and I'm 10st 1. The gym has got by the wayside and biscuits have wrestled a foothold into my daily routine. I'm terrified -- already my size 8 clothes have made way for size 10, and my thighs just look bleurgh.

I need to get back in control or I'll wake up one day soon 12st 2 again!

Er, but that will never happen to you, OP.

What worked for me for 2 years was eating my old "diet" meals (fish, veg, meat, salad, fruit) 90% of the time, and only having Bad Stuff 10%. Recently, I've noticed that I've dropped my guard on certain foods -- i had two bags of crisps yesterday! And although they were both only about 100 cals each, they still cause my thighs to balloon. In the old, healthy, gym-y days, I'd NEVER have gone near crisps.

I don't know how I can get that old healthy mindset back. The idea that healthy food is Nicer than unhealthy. I need it back.

I think you DO have to be strict. I still weigh myself every day, and always will.

I used to take it off and put it back and yo-yo up and down. The turning point was realising that it had to be a change for life. I love feeling healthier with more energy and I love being able to fit smaller sized clothes - it keeps me from going back to old ways. There are some things that I just never do e.g. have more than about 4 crisps. I have cut biscuits out entirely - apart from the odd occasion. They are addictive type foods so once you have one, you want more.

Anuvva That is exactly what I'm scared of, it just creeping back on. Maybe the fear is a good thing and will keep me on the ball?

Go by waistbands-if they start to feel tight then be quite strict for a few days.

I think I'm going to have to ban biscuits like you did, Exotic.

But the way my head is about food right now, I'd most likely EAT all the biscuits to get rid of them!

I just weighed: I'm 10st 1. If I could get back to 9st 7, I'd be soooo happy. It's only 7lbs - why does that feel so daunting? I've lost 4x that before!

No. I'm 10st 0. Sorry.

Sorry for hijacking thread with repetitive, mad posts!

i don't weigh myself every day. However, I try not to fool myself about what i have eaten or how much I have exercised. I have lost & put on again the same 4 stone aprrox 3 times. However, I have managed to stay a happy weight for the last 2 years.
The way I have done this is by eating well 90 - 95% of the time. This means lots of veg - no potatoes - hardly any bread - some fish & chicken - greek yoghurt and frozen fruit. Exercise wise I do spin at the gym - that takes care of 2700 calories a week!