Does anyone see a reason not to do this?

Eating the maintenance amount for your Goal Weight- Has anyone done this with success?

I am 141-142 ish with a GW of 135. I am 5'6" and considered a healthy weight now and feel pretty good at my current weight. I am in big rush to get to 135.

I put in 135 and maintenance and lightly active and CC tells me I will need to eat about 1790 cals to maintain 135 when I get there.

Someone suggested just eating that amount and I will eventually be that weight.

I would like to do this because I am lifting weights and with my target cal intake at 1500 it seems as though I always go over even on non workout days due to increased hunger-so it would be more motivating for me to actually hit my target. Plus I feel I will get used to eating as a smaller person who is not "dieting" or restricting.

Any thoughts appreciated!

Maybe it was me - I have suggested it a couple of times here on cc.

I feel it is probably a very healthy way to lose weight.  Your loss will be very gradual, maybe even not noticeable unless you are keeping track over long periods of time, but you won't have to worry about going into "starvation" mode and making your metabolism suffer.  And you are right - you will then be used to eating the right amount - though there probably isn't much of a difference between maintenance at your current weight and that of 135.

But if you are in a big hurry to get there - well that won't work.

If you are lifting weights regularly, then yes, you do need to up your calories, especially on lifting days.  More muscle = more calories burned.  No wonder you are hungry!  Another thing is you need a high protein level - I've heard 1 gram for every pound as a basis.  I have a hard time eating that much - wrong mentality, maybe, but protein does help curb the hunger.

A compelling idea, and I can't wait to hear others chime in with their opinions.  I've got 10 pounds to lose, and I might just go that route.

Hmm. I started at 152 so alot of people haven't noticed it much, except for people that haven't seen me in some time. I actully suspect I have been doing this all along to a degree because it has been such a gradual loss.

I weigh just about every day too-so I can keep track if there are spikes or I am overestimating my burn.

I am not in a hurry now but when I was over 145 I was in a huge hurry because my old "skinny" clothes were not fitting yet-but now they mostly all do.

I have adjusted my target to 1750 and will see how it goes.  I have also recently statred to do 2-3 low carb days-I think that will  off set any complacency my body may feel about getting the same amount of cals each day.  

Puh8-I am constantly searching for protein and very vigilant about it since I don't eat meat or poultry! It does make a huge difference in hunger!

I have been doing this for about six months now. I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I feel much better with this eating plan.  Right now eating healthy and feeling my best are more important to me.

Original Post by spoiled_candy:

I have been doing this for about six months now. I haven't lost a lot of weight, but I feel much better with this eating plan.  Right now eating healthy and feeling my best are more important to me.

This really is the most important thing!  Too many people obsess over a certain number on the scale, and make themselves feel horrible trying to acheive it.  CC recommended about 1450 calories for me to lose weight, and I just can't do it (though admittedly, I set myself to sedentary, though I was working out 3X/week).  I don't do hunger well - so I will eat until I'm not hungry.  My big struggle is to eat well, regardless of how I am doing on calories, which ironically, seems to help me on my calories.  That is what makes me feel good, too.  NOt to mention, gives me energy to exercise!

Good luck, everyone, on your goals!

I've actually been doing this too, since I joined in April.  I've eaten "maintenance" since then, as my original goal was to simply not gain any MORE weight.  Prior to CC, I know I was eating WAY more than my 'maintenance' of just about 2,000 calories per day - probably I was eating 3-4000 calories per day easy.  So, dropping down to 1,500 - 1700 calories per day is just not realistic or sustainable.  I've done that before and always gained it back.

So, for me it's about trying to do the long-term eating habits change -- eating what I need, getting good nutritional grades, and seeing if I can make this stick longer-term.  So far, I've lost 8 pounds just on "maintenance," because any exercise I do is contributing to weight loss.  It's nice to have lost weight, but my first goal was to just not gain more, and I've been successful with that!  :0)

That actually sounds like a good idea. I wish I had thought of that before I started. I could have eaten a whole lot more. Oh well. Good luck with your journey!

Original Post by bigfatarmsbegone:

That actually sounds like a good idea. I wish I had thought of that before I started. I could have eaten a whole lot more. Oh well. Good luck with your journey!

 bigfatarmsbegone, seriously if your profile pictureis a recent one i can't see why you would need to lose weight you look helathy and slim to me anyway.

Original Post by rosl:

Original Post by bigfatarmsbegone:

That actually sounds like a good idea. I wish I had thought of that before I started. I could have eaten a whole lot more. Oh well. Good luck with your journey!

 bigfatarmsbegone, seriously if your profile pictureis a recent one i can't see why you would need to lose weight you look helathy and slim to me anyway.

 LOL that's because since I started here I've lost 22 pounds. When I came here I was like between 145-150. That's huge for someone of my height. I'm 5'4". I just reached 123 pounds yesterday but I'm going for a few extra pounds. I want to be 117. But we will see I guess.