Looking for some maintenance advice...

Here's the skinny...  (no pun intended)

I've got a cruise in a little over a month - going to Cozumel Mexico with my mother. Now - I've reached my pre-cruise goal of 195 (down from 245) and I swear, if I lose any more weight I'll have to go buy a whole new wardrobe for this cruise - and I simply cannot afford to do that. 

I'm switching to maintenance mode until after the cruise - then I'll have another 20lbs to lose to reach my 2-1-09 goal of 175.  But I just want to run my maintenance plan by you and see if you think this'll work for me. 

I'm planning on upping my calorie intake from 1400 to 1750 and am going from 6 days a week at the gym to 3 days a week.  For exercise, I will stay on the treadmill just for cardio - where as I have lost the past 15lbs on the eliptical. 

My normal expenditure is 2000 calories so 1750 - 1850 should keep me maintaining..

What do you think???

Kind of trying the same thing right now. I want to maintain. I started eating more calories, more fat and protein also because I don't think I was getting enough. I have gained about 4-5 LB but I look and feel better. I am short 4'10" and was at 89-90LB. Now I am about 94-95LB but most of it is muscle. I added more weights and allowed for more recovery time between lifting and that really helped. I think you just have to try it and find out how your body reacts. I think my set point is about 95LB. Have fun on  your cruise.

ouch!  Lucky girl, a cruise to Cozumel.  In my mind and in an opinion, you're kind of "stuck" between a rock and a hardplace.  Congratulations on the weight loss so far !!!  If you know well in advance you are leaving for this cruise, I would slowly ease into a maintaining mode. Truth be, will you really honestly be counting the calories on a cruise ?  Certainly you will try to make the best choices, but since you aren't cooking, can't ever tell what you're getting.  I almost wan't to say, keep on the weight loss plan you are on currently.  I wouldn't change a thing.  That's because you're going on a cruise !!  You may, just may, end up putting on some weight.  I am not saying you will, but, you may.  Toss it around in your mind.  What IF I do gain weight on this cruise ?  It's a choice you have to make.  Quite honestly, I would want to stay on my weight loss plan until the cruise and go ahead and enjoy myself silly on my Cozumel cruise.  Your plan sounds okay though, however, I would want to see 5 days of exercise.  Good Luck on making your goal weight, congratulations so far and have Fun on your Cruise !!!

I'm really psyched for this cruise.  I bought a new little black dress and everything!!! 

SO, I really appreciate the feedback I've gotten.  While I"m not quitting altogether (ate 1502 cals today and kept it "balanced") I am going to ease off a bit.  Just to give my system a bit of a rest - that way, when I get back from the cruise and kick it back in gear for the last 20lbs, It'll be a bit of a shock for my system and it'll come off quicker. 

ONce I reach 175, my plan is to maintain for about 3 months and then hit it again to reach my ideal weight 145-150lbs (I'm 5'7" tall , 26yrs old).

We'll give this a run and see what happens.  Perhaps 4-5 days at the gym and sticking around 1500-1700 cals/day.

And I will be eating smart on this cruise.  My mom had Gastric Bypass about a year and a half ago so she and I are going to be good together. :)

I have been maintaining for about 5 months and I eat about 1800 calories a day.  I do pilates just about every day but maybe miss once a week. 

I have to ask though - what cruise are you going on?  We are taking one in October (Disney) that stops in Cozumel and one in November (Carnival) that does as well.  How funny if we were on the same ship!