Just reached my goal weight! Want to start a group for people like me who have reached their goal this week!

Hey I have just reached my goal weight. I am 5'2 and weighed 123lbs back in July. My goal was to reach 110lbs by my Bday (sept 22). Didn't quite make it, but I hit 108.5 today when I weighed. So I'm done. Now I need to maintain and learn how to stop counting calories and not gain the weight back. I think it would really help to start a group for people like me who have just reached their goal and need some accountability to help them maintain. Just to share ideas and tell each other what's working and what's not. If you're in just reply with your stats and anything else you want to add.

Here's mine

sarahgdyck - age 30, 5'2 - 108.5lb (goal 110lb)

I've been eating more, but still pretty much the same weight. The chart is interesting in that the fluctuations seem to be getting smaller. I was 111 this morning, and have been hanging around there for a few weeks now. I've also been eating about 1,700 to 1,800 calories and yesterday, for the first time in forever (not really but maybe) I had a surplus, ate more than I burned...

Today I just about broke even but that was because we went out to the Indian buffet for lunch--lots of sodium and more fat than I usually eat. I had an hour on the bike this afternoon and made myself go up a big hill...

For me this is all part of maintaining. I'm not as strict as when I was in the losing mode, but I'm still making healthy choices. Will be interesting to see what the scale says in the morning, I'm guessing I'll be up 2.5 lbs, just because of the sodium. I'll add a comment when I put it in the weight log--I love doing that to have a point of reference.

Congrats on the rocking loss playergirl. You really have done excellently and hats off to you for your determination!

I am also 5'1" and lose on 1450-1500 consistently, if I eat 1200 it slides off. So for me maintenance will be much more (allowing myself to have significant rice and potatoes for the first time in months) but since I haven't counted I cannot be sure.

nycgirl it's nice to see you here.  You have come a long way to get here - congratulations.

figurethefat it's good to see you here as well and congratulations.  You aren't a "yo-yo" (bouncy ball maybe) - Gosh you've got yourself spread out though : )

It is interesting to see how you all maintain, how far you have all come, and even to see how you all are appearing comfortable not counting those calories.  I hope in time I have the same courage and confidence to stop counting.

I am looking foward to reading all of your posts and seeing how you all are doing.  I will check in as well with the ups and downs - hopefully ups.  Great job.

Just checking in. I've been eating more lately and lots of stuff out in restaurants, but still was 111.5 this morning so no change from last Monday. For the first time today since I started counting calories the middle of June, I ate over 2,000. All good stuff though. I find that if I keep up with the exercise I can eat more without gaining. At least I think I can.

I know lots of people post up about how they lose weight so slowly. Wouldn't it be cruel if I gain it slowly--meaning everything looks fine but then one day I get on the scale and I'm up like 4 pounds.

Way to go figurethefat.  Glad to hear you're checking in and that you're okay.  2000 calories : )  Funny about that number.  I had done some calculations yesterday.  I had been losing steadily 1.75 - 2 pounds per week which equated to a defecit of 998 calories, reduced my intake to 1200 and exercise.  Correct me if I am wrong, that works out to just over 2000 calories a day if I wasn't losing weight ?

I wouldn't be too worried about gaining weight back, but yes, it would be cruel.  Pretty much you sound like you bounce around all day long so I feel like your burning all of those 2000 calories figurethefat.

On a side note, I have sodium and water retention under better control.  Those simple seasonings I added to my veggies had sodium.  That and I have been paying much closer attention to the daily sodium intake. 

So gald to hear you're doing well figurthefat.  How is everyone else?

Brain working OT.  That 2000 calories was good if I want to maintain my starting weight - never again.  So, it seems to make sense now that less can be more by what I choose to eat, but because I weigh far less now, I don't need those 2000 calories.  Henceforth, the BMR and activity level.  I am getting closer to 1400 cals a day, though some days it's higher and some days lower.  It depends on how really hungry I am the day.  I am adding in brown rice, red potatos (really very tasty) and more in the way of lowfat cheeses for calcium. Oh, peanut butter and nuts do not get along in my tummy, so I tried.  I do eat 6 - 7 times a day. Seems to keep my metabolism going. 

Now, I need to get closer to 1500 calories. I did decide to "take a day off"on Sunday as it seems my Sundays are brewing with activity.  I dropped another pound in the process. 

So, 1500 calories soon to come in the next week or so.  ....and the story will continue : ) Thanks for listening you all.

oh, I'm going out of town for 2 1/2 days so I won't really be logging in my calories. Looking forward to taking a break from it and seeing just how much guestimating and mental tracking I end up doing.

Definitely taking my water bottle and a few gallons of distilled water. We're driving so it's no problem. On the exercise front, I won't have my bike to ride, but I assume I'll be doing quite a bit of regular walking site-seeing. I'm hoping to have access to a gym at the hotel. There will be a pool, but I'm not much of an endurance swimmer.

Anyway, this week I've been much better with eating at home. Made some great healthy hearty split pea soup with smoked tofu. Amazing stuff, lots of protein and fibre. Averaging around 1800 calories a day and burning 400 in exercise.

playergirl I love red potatoes. I think they come out the best of any potato in the microwave. Be interesting to see how the 1,500 goes and if you drop another pound. Maintenance is a learning curve. Oh, as for the calculations, I'm not sure I follow you, sorry. I know the more I burn the more I can eat :P Have a good weekend!

Enjoy the break figurethefat.  I am going to love to hear how you did guesstimating.  No doubt you'll be walking alot of calories off. As for the pool, you don't need to be an endurance swimmer.  The pool exercises every muscle in your body - I know first hand.

As for my calculations, I was talking out loud and probably making sense to no one but me.  I get that way.  2000+ calories was probably what I was eating when heavier.  Now that I am lighter, I don't need as many calories to maintain.

1500 calories will be interesting for me and if I lose anymore weight, I think I may add another 100 calories.  I don't see myself giving up my exercise routines any time soon.  I can't afford (literally) to lose anymore weight.   Clothing for a family of 4 with two teens is expensive.

Anyway, enjoy your vacation and have a fabulous weekend.

Hmm, was gone for 3 days with no logging of calories, except for some stuff early on Friday morning (just by habit). I didn't gain any weight, might have even lost 1/2 a pound. The eating was a bit sporadic, not what I'm used to at home, and there was lots of activity in the form of walking around. Not a fast walk, but just being on my feet.

We stopped for lunch and I had a veggie burger with no dressing or cheese, something I could have at home, so no mystery there. For dinner, had Japanese and the veggie tempura was light and delicious. Also had tofu on the side that was really yummy and not greasy at all. To wash it down had a big bottle of Kirin. Then the next morning we went to this huge breakfast brunch buffet: had 4 slices whole wheat toast, lots of cantaloupe, strawberries, honeydew melon, some breakfast potatoes, a very small serving of scrambled eggs, some Raisin Bran with 2% milk, coffee, and 3 mimosas. I was stuffed and didn't eat until a late dinner which was a boca burger. Also had 2 margaritas, and some steak fries (I gave 1/2 to my daughter). Then the next morning had some wholewheat toast, one poached egg and 1/2 order of hash browns. Didn't eat again until we got home--just a red potato with cottage cheese.

Not how I'd like to eat the rest of my life, but great for a weekend. I feel like I got to eat lots of stuff I normally wouldn't so a bit of a pigout, but within reason. I was happy with myself.

Also I did "structured" 30 minute walk and swam laps for 15 minutes too. I'm still tired from all the siteseeing!

Wow! Good Job figure! That is Great!

I really, really wanted to tell you it was Inspiring to me, so I hope you don't mind

Hope I do that good  next year! That is Really Encouraging to me

figurethefat you are amazing. So happy for you that you had an enjoyable time.   Did you get back and start logging calories from memory ?  Just the thought of letting go, sounds courageous and admirable.  Welcome back and it's fabulous to hear that you did well. 

Thanks for the kind words. No I didn't log from memory, just let it all go. I did start logging in yesterday again. I like to know what I'm eating :) and how much I'm burning for activities.

My water was lower than usual when I was away too, don't think I mentioned that. I was tired yesterday but feel better today.

Well, I have been trying for the 1500 calories and for some reason I don't quite get there. I don't want to get there by eating "junk" food and sweets.  I get between 1350 - 1450 a day now.  I think I may add another whey protein drink that's 110 calories.  I am just so finicky.  Hummus, laughing cow, avacados and the such, I just can't get myself to buy it or eat it. 

Fats are at about 20% Proteins at about 25% Carbs at about 55%.  Seems proteins are on the high side, so I am waivering at the additional whey protein drink.  I have been thinking of granola.

In the meantime I am not doing what I set out to do, which is to maintain my weight.  I dropped another pound to 118.  I'll get this yet.  There are about three weeks left for October.  I can and will maintain.

Thanks for listening all : )

playgirl--everytime I buy an avocado I regret it. I hate dealing with them after I cut them open, and often they have black inside, yuk. Last time I had one (earlier this week) I ate it in 20 gram servings, but it was disgusting and I was glad to see it go :)

I love medjool dates for adding healthy calories. One big one has about 90 calories, is a sweet treat and I think has some fibre. As for Laughing Cow, I have some "lite" ones in the fridge that I bought about 3 weeks ago. I've eaten 2. They have lots of sodium and quite honestly are not that good.

You could make you own hummus! I do, with drained canned chickpeas (I get the low sodium ones when I can), some nonfat plain yogurt, a bit of tahini, minced garlic and lemon juice. It keeps well in the fridge, and makes a good dip for carrot and celery sticks. Just whirrr it up in a food processor, or blender.

One thing I have found that I like are the "Veggie" cheese slices. For some reason i don't mind eating these processed slices like I do the other processed cheese slices. One is very satisfying and really good with some wholegrain crackers from Wasa.

Ok, enough about food. I'm kind of full from my first breakfast anyway so I don't know what I'm going on about. Good luck with the maintaining!

Hi everyone.  I'm 53 117lbs.  I've been at this weight since Jan. '07.  In the past, I maintained my weight for about 15 years and then remarried and quit logging down what I was eating.  Gradually, I put on 25 lbs and as a result had to get pretty serious about it last year.

For me, I must weigh everyday.  My motto is to NEVER gain 5 lbs.  I keep a food diary (on CC) not so much to count the calories, but to look at what I've been eating throughout the day.  It's so easy to forget about something if I just pop it in my mouth without being accountable.

I do have the occasional day where I indulge a little more than I should, but I see it on the scale the next day and get right back on my plan.  I also focus on drinking plenty of water and counting those glasses.

I remind myself everyday that I am not doing this to look good in a bathing suit (although I like that) but because I want to be healthy as I age!

Karen

Hi klauer, glad to see you here.  Congratulations on maintaining.  Sounds like you're doing a fabulous job.

figurethefat, thanks for the ideas.  I do appreciate it.  You weren't rambling. You were offering ideas - I did kind of ask : )

Hmmm.  I was just in another thread.  What struck me the most about a statement the most is how my thoughts may be consumed with feeling the need to meet a calorie goal that I am counting. Now I am counting because I don't ever want to be as heavy as I was when I started and to be accountable for the food I put into me.  It may have just turned into an obssession for me.

I can't tell if I am really hungry or just shakey because of low blood sugar.  I always thought I was hungry when I was shakey.  I admit, I honestly can't tell when i am hungry or if it is something else.

I almost want to stop counting for a couple of days, write done what I have eaten and tally the total after two days.   In other words, go back and add up the calories in my food logs.  I wonder if I did that I would get up to 1500 calories.

Any input ?

4.2 more pounds and i'll be at maintenance level. omg i'm all excited. being a moderator in this group allows me to read through all your guy's struggles and it's comforting to know that maintaining can be done. sometimes I don't feel like I can give accurate support because I don't know exactly what maintenance is like.

when all is said and done, i'll have had a 154.2 pound loss. :) clocking me in at 140 pounds.

Maybe by Christmas I can really put in my own two cents from straight out experience. I'm excited!

Nowadays I'm just logging, but don't really look much at the total calories, just at the analysis. I would be eating the same pretty much regardless of posting it.

Except for tonight when I went a bit wild with the bit-o-honeys. I just kept reaching into the bucket for more. Finally I thought, wow, how many calories are in a bit-o-honey chew? So I fired up my laptop and collected all the wrappers. I'd had 19! I had another to make it an even 20 and logged it in. 532 calories in bit-o-honeys tonight and I honestly feel nauseous. They were good, but I went overboard :/

So I don't really have an answer playergirl, but do take a break. Maybe just one day of not writing it down and just keep eating healthy. It was liberating for me not to have to "log" everything in when I was on the trip. I might start having one day a week when I don't "log."

2beittybitty--thanks for your kind words. You are doing great, keep up the good work :)