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?

7 years 😂 it was more tongue in cheek than serious! But I never did deal with a small diastasis afterwards and think I need to do some specific work to strengthen my core before embarking on a serious abs program. The 2 c sections didn't help and I suspect the overhang will never go without surgery but I'd t like to firm up a bit

Good work on the maintain. How much do you think you might like to lose?

Oh I didn’t realise! 😂
Ideally I think I’d like to be comfortably under 9st, so maybe 8st 12 but I’d have to see how wobbly my wobbly bits were by then 😆

My weight has been so up and down this month that I have no idea if I’m losing or maintaining 😂

I’ve recently started to think that I’d like to try to lose a little bit more, but not sure I am bothered enough to do something about it. May be just maintaining is good enough for now 🤔

@CrimsonAlligator how much are you fluctuating? Do you know why?

I know exactly what you mean about being bothered enough. When I wanted to lose weight it was for holiday, which gave me the motivation and the timescale. Now, I’m ok where I am for a bit, because I know it will be a lot of effort to get the pounds shifting again. I need to be ready!

How’s your rowing going?

I’m only fluctuating by a pound or two, so nothing too worrying. I think I’m just becoming a little too complacent. I know that a day or two off plan won’t make that much of a difference, but unfortunately those off plan days are happening more and more frequently 😂

I think I need to set myself some kind of goal. Nothing too ambitious, but enough to keep me on the straight and narrow a bit more than is currently happening...

I’m still going strong on the rowing. I’m in the final phase of the rowing programme, preparing for my 2k “race” in July. It’s four weeks, with a brutal mix of long rows and sprinting. It’ll be interesting to see how much of a difference it’s actually going to make to my 2k time 😊

Have you made it back to the gym yet SingaporeSlinky?

@CrimsonAlligator sounds like we’re in the same boat, I need to set a goal too, I’m getting back into some bad eating habits and I know it’ll catch up with me very soon.

I’ve had another busy week with various appointments and school sports days to watch, so only managed gym classes on Monday and today. It was Pump today, which was tough, but enjoyable.

Lunch today granola and skyr. Dinner will be roast chicken and whatever I can throw together. Possibly chips 😂

I haven’t even been tracking my calories lately and have had far too much crappy food to eat. None of it makes me feel good, so I have to do something!

I’ve decided I’m going to try and lose another half a stone by the end of the year. I only need a tiny deficit for that, but may be it will be enough to get me back to tracking calories and making better choices?!

This maintenance stuff is hard!

Oof, I didn’t realise it had been so long since I last posted!
Been so busy decorating, plus other projects around the house, plus a sickness bug that one of the dc brought home from school and has passed through the rest of us.

Have been to the gym twice so far this week, but think I’m not burning as many calories now, since they changed the morning timetable. There aren’t any cardio classes, just weights, so I really need to start doing more. Diet wise, not so great either, have been snacking on crisps as a quick snack when I’ve been busy, rather than being mindful. Also been eating magnum-style ice creams after dinner. No real reason, I shouldn’t have bought them!

Need to get back on it!

How is everyone else doing?

Ahhh I feel like I've spent more time off the wagon then on this year! I seem to do well for about 3 days and then have a bad 4 days 🙈 something obviously isn't right with what I'm doing for me to be so refocused. I honestly think going to the gym would help me SO much but I just don't have the time :( wondering if even going once a week would be worth it 🤷🏼‍♀️
Anyway my weeks been good. Last night was a bit of a disaster but other then that I've done well for the rest of the week!
My 2 year old is not sleeping at all. I'm averaging on about 5 hours sleep so today will be a test of my will power... already thinking of how mucb I want an ice cream haha!

@SingaporeSlinky ahhh it's so hard when you fall out of routine, just remember how far you've come since the start of the year!

@Wednesdayafternoon sleep deprivation is the worst! You just do what you need to do to get through the day, I remember it well!

To be honest I wouldn’t bother paying a gym membership if you could only go once a week. You’d be just as well trying to fit in a long, brisk walk, at least it’s free!

I have put on a couple of lbs, and I really want to lose it again, because I just don’t like this bloated feeling. I definitely notice that if I’ve eaten a snack or pudding after dinner, I go to bed feeling uncomfortable, and clearly that’s not healthy.

I did go to the gym this morning, no class, but did cardio for about 45 mins, then walked home, so I’ll try and have a good few days of eating well.

@SingaporeSlinky how are you getting in lovely?
I joined the gym recently and I'm loving it! My weight has stabilised and I don't seem to be loosing but I'm hoping more exercise will help me feel better about the body I have ☺️

@watermelonlipbalm have you name changed?
I’m doing ok thank you. I haven’t been going to the gym as much as I’d like, with kids off school, but I’ve decided to try and start the 6.30am spin classes, since it’s the cardio I need to get back into. I’ve been doing 1 or 2 weight classes each week but it’s not enough calorie burning.
Currently around 9st 5, so a few lbs up from my lowest, but still 1st 2lbs down.

That’s great about the gym - it makes you feel like you’ve achieved something in the day, doesn’t it. Even if you end up eating not so great, you know you’ve at least burned off some calories, and of course it’s good for you anyway. It’s lovely when you start to notice a change in your body, and feeling stronger.

So i did a 6.30am spin class yesterday, but kept yawning 😆
Back to 9am class tomorrow. Weighed myself this morning and was a bit shocked to see 9st 8, although I’d had a sourdough sandwich for lunch, and then Chinese takeaway for dinner. Had a slightly healthier day today so will weigh myself the next few days to see where I am.

I’m going to try and switch my coffee for green tea for a few days too. I’d only been having 1 per day at my lightest, but I’ve got back into the habit of having about 3, so that’s about 5 teaspoons of sugar per day, as they’re massive mugs.

@SingaporeSlinky Ahhh yes it's me, Wednesdayafternoon! 😀
Awww bless you it's not nice seeing a jump like that, but don't you find that happens with Chinese? When I eat Chinese I always find that I instantly put on a Couple pounds which normally goes away on its own after a day or two. I think it much be all the salt etc! But good for you with the spin 😀
I went to the gym last night and did a massive hit cardio on the bike and then lots of weights. I can't make it to any weekday classes which is such a shame but I've been doing a lot of swimming and I'm going to try body pump this weekend! I used to live body pump but I think it'll be a massive shock tk my system 🙈 I know it sounds pathetic but I really feel like I deserve some new gym clothes and that'll spur me on... something about new gym clothes always helps!
I don't seem to be loosing weight but I haven't got a hold of the diet. I'm just trying to make the most of the summer hols and try and stay stable! I will make sure I weigh less then the start of the year by the end of it 😅

That’s great that you’re trying to fit the gym in at weekends. I really like going to classes, because it forces me to do a proper workout. If I try and do cardio on machines myself, I get bored. I love buying new gym gear, especially when you find a particularly flattering pair of trousers, I find!

I think once you’re into a good routine with the gym, the food side might follow naturally. It feels wrong to do a workout, then sit and eat crisps, for example, because you start to appreciate your body a bit more, IYSWIM

I did a 30 min Burn It class today and I’m going to try and avoid sugary coffee today.

I hadn’t realised that this thread got started up again! I’m not doing too great with maintaining either. I think I gained about 3 kg after the start of April, but I did measure that after a particularly bad day food wise. May be it’s less if I actually stuck to healthy eating for a few days…

Good idea to avoid those sugary coffees @SingaporeSlinky . That sounds a fairly pain-free, but effective change to make.

I get a real boost from buying nice gym clothes @watermelonlipbalm …and I only exercise in my garage so literally no-one sees them apart from me. If I can justify new gym clothes, so can you!

Exercise wise, I’m still going strong on the rowing. I’m currently training for a 10 k, but am also thinking of starting running (couch to 5k). I don’t really need it for fitness, but think doing some higher impact exercise would be good for me. Plus my shoulders could do with the occasional break 😂

Good for you @CrimsonAlligator I hate running, but am impressed with anyone that can! I’ve heard really good things about Couch 2 5k

yeah I think the nice gym clothes can make you feel nice, and just get you into the right head space for a good workout.

I don’t know why I slipped back into more coffee, it’s not like it’s the weather for it! I used to look forward to my one coffee per day, when I got back from the gym, but I’ve gone up to about 3 and I can’t have it without sugar. So I’ll try just having none for a week maybe, the reduction in sugar alone will be a help.