Maintaining goal weight

[AutisticLegoLover]

How do I maintain my goal weight? I'm around 4lbs off my ultimate goal weight. I've lost it slowly and steadily through basic calorie deficit, eating more healthily and increased exercise although only a small increase on my previous exercise. I was very active before. It's mainly eating less and eating better though. Once I get to my goal I'll have lost just over 2 stones. I'm wondering what the heck I do when I get there? Do I slowly increase back up to my maintenance calories?

Bumping for the morning crowd.

Pretty much. For me maintenance is still eating well and moving, just with a few more calories!

My maintenance calories once at goal are between 1788 and1990 depending on how much exercise I'm doing. At the moment I'm eating around 1550 and walking 10 miles a day up and down some big hills. In the holidays my walking is less due to no school run but still around 5 miles a day. I bounce on my gym ball if I can't walk much in a day and I've started doing planks and weights. I'll maybe increase by 100 over a few days once I reach my goal and see how that goes for 2 weeks to start with.

I've just had my first ever maintenance year in my 40 years of slow gain, dramatic short term loss, slow gain etc.

Basically I have my favourites from the weight loss diet - soups, fish and veg, salads, light breakfast of fruit and Greek yogurt - Monday to Friday and then not count or do anything restrictive at the weekend. If I want a meal of pasta and red wine on Saturday followed by fajitas with all the sauces on Sunday I'll do that. Then back to yogurt, soup, grilled fish & veg on Monday.

It's just giving yourself some freedom back and remembering to balance treats with looking after yourself!

Thank you for the replies. I'm wondering if the small number of replies is indicative of the number of people who reach and maintain their goal weight as it is said that most people regain most of not all of the weight lost and even end up heavier. I don't plan on going back to my previous eating habits and am honest with myself now. I used to think I wasn't eating that much and believed it was peri-menopause causing the weight gain or maybe my thyroid or something that was outside of my control. No, I was just eating too much. I'd eat 2 sticky buns as a morning snack nearly every day for a start and my portions were too big. My fitness pal was s big eye opener to portion size along with how little energy I burn exercising, even walking 10 mikes a day. It's not enough to allow for the extra things I was eating or the portions I was having. It would be easy to slip back into bad habits but I'm going to continue to use mfp. I've lost almost 2 stone and am now 56kg and am feeling much more comfortable in my body and clothes. It's taken a fair amount of effort, a lot of will power and a total change to my mindset but it has been worth every night I've said no to bedtime snacks. I love to eat and read before I go to sleep. Chocolate usually. I now brush my teeth after dinner around 5-6pm and that's it then until breakfast at 7.30am. I'll keep that habit 99% of the time. The 1% allows for nights away or movie nights with the children. Maintenance seems like it will be harder than losing but Im determined to keep this weight off.

I think you're right @AutisticLegoLover it's about not going back to your previous eating habits (or in my case, not going back to them full-time!).

In my case I hit 40 and didn't need or want to eat or drink the way I did before. I just don't have the capacity for it. I still have big meals and wine at the weekend because DH likes to eat well and he finds it hard when I don't want to enjoy food with him like steaks or pasta or roast dinners, but I look forward to Mondays and going back to my lighter habits. I still snack but I portion it off now.

So the weight is staying off because I prefer the way I eat now!

I'm too addicted to porridge and Greek yogurt to go back to my previous eating. I love them both so much and I have porridge every day for breakfast and Greek yogurt with cherry and berry compote and honey for lunch. Dinner varies but breakfast and lunch is always the same. I've got one kilogram to go now. Never thought it would happen. I see no reason to gain any of it back so I'm hoping I stick to things.

I've maintained my goal weight for years now - can't remember exactly how many, but 7ish?
For me the key is being very active and eating pretty much whatever I want, as long as it's reasonably healthy. I don't often eat takeaways, and don't drink, which helps.

@fellrunner85 that's great! The good habits are really important. I'm around a pound away now and will stick to how I eat and exercise because I enjoy it. I'd love to get to a stage where I don't think about it but don't gain anything beyond the natural cyclical variations and fluid retention from anything salty.

I’ve got a friend who has been slim all her life and still is now in her late 50s.
I asked her how she maintains her slim figure because she doesn’t do excessive amounts of exercise and will enjoy food treats.
She said the way I do it is slightly frowned on these days. But I weigh myself every few days even though I’m not on a diet, so I am constantly aware of my weight. I enjoy meals out, sometimes I binge on crisps or whatever. But as soon as I notice I have put on a few pounds, I cut back until I have returned to my normal weight.
So simple and yet apparently effective.