Maintenance Thread

[SingaporeSlinky]

Hello, I’ve been on a few other threads since January and managed to lose 19lbs (down from 10st 7 to 9st 2). Motivation was a holiday, which I’ve just returned from, but do want to carry on at least maintaining, if not losing more.

Anyone else in the same position? Thought I’d start this to chat specifically about how to maintain, because I feel like it’s slightly different now, rather than focussing on aiming for the big weekly losses, I need to refine my eating habits, and find the balance of how much exercise to do. Before holiday I was calorie counting on MFP aiming for 1200 cals or under, and was going to the gym 5 days a week - a 45 minute class (bodytone, spin, pump, legs/bums/tums) and then doing up to an hour on machines. But I know that’s not practical long term, so need to work out the best combination going forward.

Hoping to hear other successes and strategies if anyone wants to join me?

@CrimsonAlligator I’m good here thank you. I had spin yesterday and bodytone this morning. I was 9st 2 this morning. I have just been thinking about it, and 9st 3 would be my ‘I draw the line’ weight. So for the last few weeks I’ve been pretty stable, albeit haven’t eaten very wisely. But I think I’m happy as long as the scales stay under 9st 3. I think if I go above, that’s when I know I need to rein it in a bit, and put in extra effort.

How are you doing with your rowing? Do you think it’s just a post-holiday relaxation? There’s always a big push before a holiday, so now you’re back, it might just take a week or two to feel back in the zone? I know it did for me. I’m sure you’ll get back into it. Did all your holiday weight drop off again? The jeans are a good idea. When I’ve watched discussions on tv programmes about weight, the slim ones have always generally said they don’t necessarily weigh themselves, but use their favourite clothes to gauge if their weight has gone up. Then because it’s only a pound or two, it’s fairly easy to just watch their snacking and portions and alcohol for a week or two, and get back to where they’re comfortable. And that’s the thing, I want that. Not the mammoth task of knowing I have a stone or more to lose. So I will aim to stay under that.

Talking of jeans, I’ve got a new pair on today and although they’re quite stretchy, they’re a 26 inch waist and a size 8 (supposedly). Again, I know I’m not a size 8, but but I’m definitely not a size 14 anymore 😎

Well done on fitting into size 8 jeans SingaporeSlinky (even if you are a little bit sceptical about whether they really are a size 8! 😄) That’s great progress if you used to be a size 14!

I’m still rowing, but find that I have to make much more of an effort to get started. It’s weird as I really enjoy it once I get going. At the moment, I just can’t be bothered to do it straight after I wake up, so have moved it to the afternoon.

I did 15 km yesterday, trying hard not to think about the first 15 km I ever did, which was absolute agony! Yesterday’s effort was easy in comparison and it was nice to see the progress you can make when you train consistently. I hope that will spur me on to keep going!

@CrimsonAlligator yes that’s fantastic progress. If you’re finding 15km so much easier, hats off to you!

I’m on the Isle of Wight this week, so won’t be weighing but will try and eat sensibly. We’re self catering, so will be cooking ourselves most days. I even brought a box of my favourite granola with me.

Have a great weekend.

Morning, well I’m back from the Isle of Wight and I’m up to 9st 5 🙁

I was having yoghurt, granola and strawberries for breakfast all week, but also had chip shop chips twice, a Chinese takeaway once, and crisps here and there. So not surprising really to have put on a few lbs. It was 3 meals a day instead of my usual 2.

I’ve booked onto 4 classes at the gym this coming week and will try and get back to normal.

Hope everyone else doing ok?

@SingaporeSlinky ahhhhh did you have a nice trip away and enjoy the treats?
Those extra pounds will honestly fly off you! You put them on simply because you ate more but with your normal diet they won't stay there! This time next week you'll be back to normal and you will have a nice trip away to look back on 🥰
I'm currently you doing 16/8 fasting and I'm finding it's really helping me cut some bad habits of early morning and bedtime binging! Really suprised myself ♥️ had the bank holiday off the diet though so looking forward to getting back to it next week 🥰

I had a lovely time, thank you @Wednesdayafternoon
Yes hopefully the pounds will come off fairly soon, once I’m back to my usual routine. I might do some gym work after the classes, like I used to.

I’m glad 16/8 is helping you. Once you get used to it, it’s fairly easy to keep it going, and it definitely helps keep your mind focussed. We stayed self catering, so ended up with lots of snacks lying around and I kept finding myself picking at crisps etc. Must stop that now and get back to it.

Are you still with SW?

Anyone else with PureGym? They have changed the daily class schedule again at mine, so instead of 3 spin classes a week, looks like I’ve got legs/bums/tums, pump, strength and sweat. Mostly now 30 mins instead of 45 mins. Going to try them out, at least the instructors are the same.

For some reason this thread fell of my watch list, but I’m glad to see you back @SingaporeSlinky. I’m sure those few extra pounds will disappear in no time.

I’m not a member of PureGym, but does that mean that they effectively dictate what classes members have access to?! I hope it works out, but that sounds a little frustrating if you’ve found a class you like 🤔

I’m glad you’re finding IF helpful @Wednesdayafternoon . I did that for years and found it a really good way to keep a handle on snacking. I stopped when I started doing more intense exercise in the morning (I used to skip breakfast), but could really do with a no-snacking rule in the evening.

I’m still working on shifting the extra pounds I put on over May. The long bank holiday weekend was more than a little off plan, but somehow I managed to shift a bit more weight. Hopefully that will spur me on to have a good week this week 😇

@CrimsonAlligator I prefer to do the 9am classes, because it’s timed perfectly for me to drop the kids to school and then walk straight to them gym, with a few minutes to spare to use the lockers and set up my equipment. I find that if I don’t do my exercise first thing, I just won’t do it, so technically I could do any classes they have at any time of day, as they’re all included in the membership. 3 spin classes a week for my 9am was too repetitive, but I’m not sure about the new classes. I’ll see how it goes.

That’s great that the jubilee didn’t derail the scales. How are you getting on with your rowing?

So I've just stopped doing sw.
I was really struggling getting to the groups with work and after school clubs and as a result kept falling off track and feeling rubbish!
So I'm finding my feet with 16-8 fasting which I've done for 2 weeks now and love. It's really helping me with my bedtime binges! Also just reinstalled MFP and going to calorie count. It recommends 1200 but I'm gonna set it to 1400. I did 1200 last time and in hindsight it just wasn't enough and it left me feeling uninspired and frustrated so let's see how we go with 1400 ☺️

I’m still going strong on the rowing @SingaporeSlinky . 5 weeks to go until my virtual race (against no one but myself 😄). It’ll be interesting to see what progress I make over that time. I feel that this last week or so, something has really clicked. It’s not so much that things got easier, but that I’ve got a lot faster. I think it’s technique rather than a fitness, but whatever it is it’s great to see progress.

Have you tried out the new classes yet?

This may not be correct @Wednesdayafternoon , but I have a vague memory of people complaining on other threads about MFP setting very low calorie targets. I think you’ve done the right thing in upping it a little. There’s no point aiming for something low and being miserable as a result.

@Wednesdayafternoon Yes I think 1400 cals is very sensible, because 1200 can feel very restrictive.

@CrimsonAlligator yes MFP seems to set 1200 for everyone, it only changed for me once I was already technically at my goal I’d inputted, and even then, IIRC it still only upped it to something like 1260
Do you feel like your rowing technique has refined itself naturally, or have you consciously done something different that’s made it slightly easier?

I didn’t end up going to the gym today as one of my dc had a school trip today and they were crying out for helpers, so I volunteered. Exhausted now! I really don’t know how teachers do it! I know it’s different on a trip, but dealing with the more challenging kids all day, every day must be hard work!

You were very brave to volunteer for that @SingaporeSlinky !

I weighed myself this morning and it seems that I’ve lost most of the weight I put on in May. Just a lbs to go. I’m tall, so an extra pound really isn’t that noticeable. Still it would be nice to start seeing the same numbers I was seeing at the start of May 🤞

Re. rowing, I made a tiny tweak to my rowing technique after realising that I move too far forward on the seat. I just put a bit of electrical tape on the bar to remind myself where to stop and doing that has completely changed how I row and how fast I can go!

Are you still doing any rowing @SingaporeSlinky , or is it mainly classes now?

@CrimsonAlligator aw 1lb on a tall person is absolutely nothing, well done for getting the weight off again from May. I know what you mean though, I got down to 9st 0 3/4 I think, and it would be lovely to get back to that again. I’ve been hovering at 9st 2 ever since Easter really, but I keep giving in to the Kit Kats 😂

Oh that’s interesting such a tiny tweak can make such a big difference to the rowing! I’ve only been going to classes lately. I’m torn between wanting to stay and do machines, but I’m also wanting to spend some time decorating at home, and I just don’t have time for both, even with the kids at school all day. By the time I walk home and shower, eat something, I’ve barely got time to get the usual cleaning done before it’s time to pick them up again.

Ahh thanks all! I am still sort of quietly aiming for 1200 but I'm happy with 1400. I don't want to loose weight by not eating as I want it to be sustainable! Had a really good couple fo days but I didn't weigh myself on Monday so not sure whats what this week 🙈

Morning!

So I had a 30 minute Strength class yesterday, and 30 minute Sweat class today. Both the same really, circuits. Quite tough, but nice to use some equipment I haven’t done before, like battle ropes, SkiErg and those weighted balls you slam down. Certainly did sweat!

Bought 2 tins of paint on the way home so walking with those was an extra 17 minute workout 😆

Oh I've always wanted to try battle ropes! Were they fun?
Kudos on the opportunistic paint can workout 😉

Ha ha, thanks! I may have been too enthusiastic about painting as I’ve now got one half finished room, another with tester patches everywhere, wet patches in the hallway where I’ve retouched scuff marks, and one tin still unopened that I’ve not even consulted DH on the colour change yet 😳

I was very intimidated by the battle ropes but it was quite fun. Very hard work - towards the end of the minute I was ready to drop!

I posted on one of the previous threads quite a while back. I was doing fine maintaining for months and was thinking of making another push to lose more. Then I put got massively stressed while trying to sell my house and stopped counting. I regained about 1/2 stone but now I'm back on track after giving up on the house sale and after a surprise 3lb loss this week have got back to the weight I was in March.

I'm going away with friends this weekend - I've got a few more weekends away over the summer. So there might be some temporary gain again but at least I feel I'm heading in the right direction overall. I'm pleased I nipped it in the bud at this stage as I've yo-yoed by large amounts in the distant past.

About MFP estimates - I find that if I'm on their 0.5lb calorie count I lose 1lb usually. So they are a bit low and I tend to customise them.

How's everyone doing?

I seem to be in a maintenance phase (rather annoyingly as I'm just outside the healthy bmi range and would have preferred to get in it then plateaued for a bit!) so thought I'd mosey on over here.

Positive points- now running 4 times a week and gradually extending the length. Did 10:30 minute mile today which I'm very proud of. Sticking to IF without too much effort and have had quite a few off plan days without gaining (lots of social events in the last two weeks). All seems quite sustainable and, dare I say it- enjoyable

Welcome @Webbedlife thats great you’ve managed to nip it in the bud, as you say, much easier than gaining and losing larger amounts.

Hi @milkfromthesleepycow running 4 times a week is fantastic! I find IF quite manageable too - I was talking to my aunt about it recently and my uncle was listening and asked “how often do you do that?” and when I said every day, he was shocked. He thought it was like a detox once a month or something. I’m not usually hungry in the mornings anyway, and being conscious to stop eating after dinner, so then not eating junk in the evening helps massively with calorie counting anyway.

Sustainability is definitely the key to long term maintenance. No point doing exercise you hate, or eating foods you don’t enjoy, if you know you can’t carry on like that for the rest of the year. I know a few people who do the slimfast shakes for 2 weeks before a holiday, but of course they lose a few lbs, are still not happy when they go away, and go back to their normal diet when they get back, but complain they can’t lose weight. It’s got to be a longer term change.

Sorry I’ve been very quiet on here this week, have been busy decorating and not been to the gym all week. Realised it takes at least 2 hours out of my day, and needed the time to get everything done. Still lots to do, as I stupidly started painting more than one room, as well as changing some accessories around the house, and getting new photos printed for frames. But have booked onto 4 classes next week. Eating has been ok, but I haven’t put much thought into healthy meals, it’s been quick oven dishes mainly, so I will do a meal plan for next week and get back to some nice baked salmon, some salads etc.

Very warm here already, hope everyone has a lovely weekend.

Decorating takes so much time out of your day! I've got some coving in my living room that the previous owners painted peach 😱
I've been gradually getting it back to white - over the last 2years as it's such a faff!!!!

Yep everything takes sooo long. The prep took way longer than I thought, sanding, washing, priming etc.

I started feeling a little softer around the tummy, so was worried I’d put on a few lbs, but I’ve just weighed myself for the first time in a week and I’m 9st 2.5

@SingaporeSlinky is that a maintain or a loss for you? If your feeling softer maybe some ab work? I'm about to start a (very belated!) post partum program as Im worried I have a diastasis that never closed and want to strengthen my core in general

It’s basically a maintain, I think. I’d put on a few lbs on holiday at half term, but I knew some of that would have been water weight from a Chinese takeaway, and too many chip shop chips. I lost that pretty quickly and I’m back to my lightest weight.

My weight seems to have been hovering around 9st 2 so I think I’ll need to really put the effort in when I’m ready to lose a little bit more.

I’ll be back at the gym this week so that should help with abs.

How post partum are you?