Maintaining......

Easy so far. I just stick to a low carb high fat way of eating. A bit of fasting now and then if I have put on a pound or so. Soon goes

I think how easy it is to maintain weight after slimming down depends on how slowly you lost the weight in the first place. When I dieted hard and saw the pounds dropping off, it was easy to think, once I had lost the weight, that I wouldn't have to carry on once I had achieved my goal. That approach never worked as the pounds crept back again. Three years ago, I started the 5:2 diet. I'm not particularly advocating the 5:2 but a steady, controlled weight loss over time actually reset my 'eyes bigger than my stomach' syndrome! I've lost three stones and maintained the loss. Perhaps I don't want to eat as much as I did, but I don't deprive myself of treats such as meals out with friends, desserts, even chocolates but I know when I'm at risk of getting out of calorie balance and adjust as I go along. It's not a chore, I don't think about it any more and don't count calories. I weigh myself weekly. After all the years of trying to lose weight, I am comfortable and can wear the clothes I like - without the big knickers (just pretty ones I hasten to add).

I've mislaid my fitbitand no longer able to count steps. I've lost weight, still have a belly, with probably a stone or so to be happy.

My BMR (that's the number of calories your body needs without adding in exercise) is a miserable 1230 cals per day.

So if I eat more than that I'll put weight on. That's it. For ever.

I'm a very average 5'4 person of about 10st. Makes you think...

When I mislaid mine GOAB I downloaded (free) a Bluetooth tracker. Then I turned off Bluetooth on all other devices, and use the tracker (a bit like a Geiger counter) until I found it.

If you google 'find my Fitbit' that's the place to start.

Happy Tracking.

Thanks Anya! I'm really missing the blasted thing; I'm a bit obsessed, I think.

I struggle to maintain, harder than to lose!

I lost 1.5 stones at slimming world, and left 4 years ago. How i have manGed to maintain my weight loss is to weigh myself and record the weight in my old Sw book regularly each week. My friend scoffed a bit at me a bout this but gained all she had lost and more, and has now restarted at sw.
It has kept me on track for the last 4 years, however i do have more to lose but dont seem to be as good at doing that.
Its hard.

Just as BBbevan said, LCHF is the only thing that worked for me.

I agree with Bbbeven too , best thing I have ever done , I also do it with fasting , it's a better way for me being a diabetic . The fasting also helps with Insulin levels . Much happier now . It was so hard before , no counting calories .

I agree with nana.I had lost 20lbs between April and Christmas. I did put on 4lbs over the Christmas week (mostly alcohol!)but have nearly lost that again .I need to lose another 4lbs to be a healthy BMI at 5ft 3ins (I wasn't obese just a bit too cuddly)My (raised) cholesterol-the prompter- level has dropped from 5.7 to 5.2.I gave myself a year to lose the excess and should manage it .
I realised that it's in between meal eating that piles it on with me and that's where I've put a lot of effort .I'm trying to change my relationship with food as I think that's the key .I'm a typical comfort eater and 2015 and early 2016 were stressful . I've noticed my slim friends will choose salad over chips and will skip dessert if they aren't hungry. I also find I can't physically eat so much at meals now without feeling bloated as my stomach has shrunk .
My weight has ding-donged for the last 6years by about half a stone to a stone.This time I'm determined to keep it off .I continue to help DD 1 with some quite strenuous flat renovation .I'm sure that has helped Digging gardens scrubbing floors and heaving stuff to tip burns off a few calories ...

I manage my weight by just jumping on the scales first thing in the morning, when the scales show over about a week or so that I am a few pounds up then I have a hard diet day or two, no biscuits, cakes etc until it is back where I want. I eat mainly a low carb diet as I am gluten free and hate potatoes! Veg, a bit of meat, fish, fruit and loads of coffee.

I lost a stone and half two years ago,for stepdaughters wedding.Then-another wedding last year I'd put some on so tried hard but couldn't loose it all.weve another wedding this year in June,so off we go again! Yawn ?. I basically follow slimming world but don't go to tha classes,bought there ready meals from Iceland, and eat those while cooking something else for Oh.Or I have a small portion of whatever I'm cooking for him.Have lost half a stone in 4 weeks.Its not easy to start but now it's just second nature.Have cut the wine out, just one glass at weekend.?.But just got into some jeans,feels good.So daily diet is,porridge with fruit teaspoon honey sprinkle of cinnamon, lunch soup(Aldi) and roll &butter half an apple.Dinner as above.Hope this helps.Someone famous said "No food tastes as good as slim feels".

I lost nearly 8 stones by 2008. It took about 4 years. I began at Slimming World. thought I can do it myself and began to gain weight, went to Weightwatchers and lost again. Then I was unable to exercise, broken arm and operation in 2009, gained a bit and stopped weighing in weekly as no longer free, as just over the goal.

I thought i'd go back when I was free, but a stone and half up I went back and paid to lose again . I now go weekly and have maintained. I remain free, gain some, lose some, but the weekly eye-to-eye with the group leader helps me stay on track.

I do have days off, I lose the plot sometimes but for health reasons I have to keep the weight off. I want to see my grandchildren for some more years . Unfortunately I think you do need to exercise as well as eat healthily. WW is basically sensible and healthy eating. Treats within reason.

Oh, when I began to lose I'd just gained lots, divorce and moving near too many takeaway places, and was size 28 skirt. Just under 19 stones.

I have dieted on and off for years but am now approaching my correct weight for the first time in years following the NHS Choices 14 week plan (my second round) of healthy eating and exercise - I plan to carry on with this not necessarily counting calories every day using MyFitness Pal as I do now but once I am at my goal weight (5 lbs to go) I shall weigh weekly and just cut back on food/increase exercise if I put a pound or two on.

I started dieting at 13 and it became something of an obsession all my life. My sister became anorexic, mainly due we now realise to the pressure from our parents to "be slim" - they both have an absolute hate of "fat" and judge most people on their shape and size!
Now at 61, I eat very little bread, try not to have any processed foods, avoid sugar, drink only decaf coffee and tea, water and occasional glass of wine. Chocolate is a rare treat as is a pudding.
So - the problem? In order to lose weight, I need to eat so little it is incredibly difficult. I did lose 2 stone for my son's wedding 4 years ago but it meant 8 months of being rigidly on 3 tiny meals with absolutely no treats whatsoever.
This regime is so difficult to maintain when trying to enjoy retirement.
I can cope easily without sugar and carbs but a lifetime of dieting seems to have left me with a body that thrives on fresh air! How I envy Barmyoldbat who can have a couple of days without biscuits and lose a pound or two.
I am wondering what else I can give up for Lent!

I joined slimming world in April 2016 and came within half a pound of my target weight. I am now away for seven weeks and a few pounds heavier again. I will go straight back to SW on my return to repair the damage. Think they are a great organisation and hope to crack the target later this year. Sticking to the regime is not an easy business it depends so much on the brain being in the right place and lots of support.
Nobody ever said it was easy, but hang on in there.

Low carbs for me. Carb calories store fat for 'later', other caloric content is used more immediately.

It has kept the weight off. I'd gained two stone before my back surgery and so was determined to get it off. I am within 5 pounds of my original weight. It's a battle, but I need to walk MORE. Just need to find the time. I walk to our shops as they are close, and that's a 20 min walk each way. Sometimes trailing my wheelie shopper along.

Banny1 i find that cycling helps to keep the weight off. I am not some mad cyclist, just a granny on a sit up and beg bike with a basket. I tend to just plod around on it and once or twice a week I go on one of the many bike trails around, at the moment its the Taff trail and some days just a gentle ride of 7 to 10 miles to some days hitting 30 cause health wise its a good day! Good luck you can do it.

I just remember when I am eating what a nurse told me " your stomach is the size of your fist" look at the portion size you eat. Can you fit that choc bar, crisps into your fist after eating your dinner. All the excess goes straight to your hips!! Does make me stop and think before I raid the fridge.

Lost 3 1/2 stones over THREE years. It's staying off and I eat whatever I fancy whenever I fancy. HOWEVER....... my portions and quantities are minescule compared to what was my norm years ago. No, and I don't feel deprived. It has become a way of life and just exactly as all the gurus said and whom I chose to pooh pooh after many years of 'panic/rush/painful' attempts of successful failure. If I go out for a lovely lunch (which I do regularly) there's no breakfast other thank few walnuts to tell my system I've not died and then there's very little in the evening unless I get the urge whereupon usually a slice of buttered toast suffices. I think this must sound pretty awful to many of you as it would have to me all these years ago. Honestly it's not. I weigh myself roughly once a week which is simply a (bad?) habit of many years. This is peppered with plenty coffee and water. I'm not overly exercisey (is that a word?!) but try to walk briskly for the 15 mins to the shops and that's it. My motivation is mostly to try to elongate my life since my son decided to indulge me with two lovely grandaughters at a pretty late stage in my life. This is no guarantee of course but I'm trying. I guess the message is don't be put off if you've 'ONLY' lost 1lb. Just keep that one off and go for the next one. Success, better health and a bit of
fitness is the aim and NOT the calendar.

The only way to not gain weight is DO NOT put in more calories that you won't burn off. I sound strict and abrupt but I used every excuse not to lose weight. I.e depression ,thyroid, medication and any other excuse I could think of . Until I finally had a stroke 4 years ago.
So then I never worked but had to go to rehabilitation to learn to walk and balance etc. I went into a class in mt local gym. Filled with amputees or heart atracks or strokes . So I had no excuse not to try any light activities. I soon got to really enjoy these meeting up with people no different to me. I wasnt aware but the pounds were flying off and my strength was getting better . I ended up going each day either for light swim or aqua exercises or even light badminton .
I can now proudly say I have lost 12 and a half stone. I maintain my weight because I changed how I thought about food. Instead of living to eat now I eat to live.
Boredom makes people eat so I keep busy. I have a glass of iced water or brush my teeth it gets rid of the hunger thoughts. We have a nice group of people and do walking now. You can start by just walking in the local park. It is good fun releasing those feel good.endorphins . There is no excuse one of my friends who comes has no legs . (He lost them with diabetes).

Gosh Playermojo007 hat's off to you. Amazing.

You probably need to maintain a low calorie diet, not go back to the one which put weight on you.

The only things you NEED to eat are a serving of protein (egg / cheese / yogurt / meat)with as much fresh fruit / vegetables (of any sort but if cooked, no sugar) as you want each day.

This will give you good health and keep weight stable. If you add biscuits, cakes, rice, pasta, bread etc. you may put weight on again (depending how much you eat).