How do you maintain your weight after weight loss?

[Laufeythejust]

I’ve gone through cycles of losing and gaining about a stone for the last 10 years but I’ve finally broken through and lost around 3 stone. I’ve done it slowly and it has taken me about a year and I’m at a weight now that I am happy with but I’m really worried about putting it all back on!
I’ve kept at this weight for around 4 months now, I exercise 5 days a week- my Apple Watch reckons I burn around 400 calories a time (I know that’s likely inaccurate as I do a lot of weightlifting). I monitor my calories and allow myself 1750 a day and have a takeaway every couple of weeks but it just seems like so much effort having to constantly track what I eat, I’m only ever full when I have a binge/ takeaway
Is this just life now and something I need to get used to?

I don’t track calories any more. I weigh carbs to make sure I’ve got a sensible portion and weigh myself once a week. If I’ve gone above a certain number I focus on more exercise and eating less junk but apart from that I just try and eat well most of the time and that works for me.

Have you actually tried stopping counting snd moving to just eating well and exercising without tracking?

Should have said, if you’re never full apart from after a binge/takeaway you might need to look at what you’re eating and increase your protein. That will most likely help.

As you have maintained for 4 months it sounds like you have hit upon the calorie level you need to stay where you are, given the exercise you do.

The only thing that has helped me lose and then maintain is calorie tracking (plus the 16:8 approach). You might be able to get away without calorie tracking but if you find the weight creeping back on then you'll probably have to go back to that, at least for a while.