Maintenance Tips and Tricks .. post 'em!

[TaDa!]

I have recntly discovered that those silly 100 calorie packs I roll my eyes over at the market are actually really useful for me ... lowcarb and moderate carb foods, of course...

I find I will not overeat almonds or Smartfood popcorn if there are 100 calorie packs in the house instead of "dip your hand in" bags, so I now buy them even for my kids.

The almonds are really expensive, so I do buy the bigger bag and then weigh out 100 calorie portion (.625 oz almonds) into the tiny snack baggies. I find I can convince myself to stop at eating one bag of the almonds or the popcorn as a treat, where I have no self-control when there is a big bag hanging around.

Any tips you can share?

[suzanneyea]

See, I cannot have any carbs like that or it triggers a binge. So, my tip is the opposite, lol, avoid anything that could "set you off" so to speak. I also cannot have oppsie rolls or anything "bread like" or it causes cravings, especially the ones made with Slpenda.
Oh, and workout everyday, even just a little.

[BellaHMB]

Hmmmm...
Weigh yourself every week, maybe twice.
If you start to gain, nip it in the bud and use fitday again!
Remember that ongoing maintenance is almost the same as losing in terms of food.

Bella

[steady]

Originally Posted by suzanneyea

See, I cannot have any carbs like that or it triggers a binge. So, my tip is the opposite, lol, avoid anything that could "set you off" so to speak. I also cannot have oppsie rolls or anything "bread like" or it causes cravings, especially the ones made with Slpenda.
Oh, and workout everyday, even just a little.

I second this!

[debbiedo]

The best way for me to maintain is to make healthy choices and have those options available so when I want tortilla chips I eat fruit or carrot sticks. In the end I just want something to eat most of the time.

I do eat foods not so diet friendly but I look at what I am eating the rest of the day and plan for Wednesday Pizza. My goal is to eat real food and not have foods be totally banned. It isn't an every day all day thing but planned into my day.

I also feel that if I don't weigh regularly I don't eat right and I gain.

I also know the scale bounces around but there should be a top number that tells me time to watch closer and reduce intake some.

I also exercise alot. More then the average person. I think if I stopped I would gain a ton.

I also found I can't maintain my lowest weight 112. It requires less food and more exercise and I am not cutting back more or exercising more. I was told I was too thin so I am trying to stay at a weight I feel good at and where my clothes feel good on me. I am a size 4 instead of a 2. I am still looking pretty good at this point(118-120). I am told I am way too hard on myself and trying to change that. Anything is better then the 148 pounds I was back in 2003 or even when I was in the 130s in the past few years. I am short and a little weight loss or gain makes a huge difference.

Lots of I and Me in this post. I hope it helps others though!!!

[BellaHMB]

Now here is a ?.....

Can you maintain your lowest weight?

I have found that I dip to the low 130's when under stress, but
in general my weight is stable around 135-140. So I wondered
how others experience this?

In my mind, the lowest weight equals success and the higher
weight equals failure (to maintain the lower number) which
I know is crazy making.

Thoughts?

Bella

[debbiedo]

No I can't maintain 112 and stay as active as I do. But then again when I was around 120 my mom would say she liked me better more filled out and not as scrawny and I don't get people telling me I am too thin. So what is my ideal weight? to me it is 115 and I working hard to get there without really dieting in any way at all but just watching what and how much I eat.I have lost 5 pounds in the alst 5 weeks or so without a diet.

[fviegas]

My tips for maintaining (just getting started now, so not
worth much until a few months test):

Do not keep nuts in the house, except in already ground form.

Do not eat sweets in the house. If I want one, I buy it at an
overpriced place, in one unit package. This is my rule, haven't used it
yet, but planning to when I hit 138 :-). I do keep sweets in
the house, I just dont touch them, as I know I can't handle
just one.

If I indulge, I compensate it with IF or meat/fat fast in the same
day, or next day.

Weigh every single day and log everything in fitday.

Keep a pair of tight pants, and try them on occasionally. I tried mine
today, and can almost sit :-)


Best of luck to you all,
Florbela.

[LoraJR72]

Any tips on curbing snacking after dinner would be helpful!

Thanks!

[fviegas]

Hi, ahhh, the snacking after dinner scourge,
that was one of the main reasons for dieting in my case, I
just wouldn't stop eating.

What I do now:

Drink lots of water before,during and after dinner.

Make sure you get lots of fat in your dinner.

Leave a mental space for dessert ( legal one, like a spoon of
yogurt, some berries, whatever suits you) if you get
very hungry before you go to bed. Drink water when you
get hungry. If you get a "hole" in your stomach, after doing
this, go ahead and have it. Most of the times, for me, I
just don't. This "mental space" takes away the feeling of
deprivation.

Good luck!!

[LoraJR72]

Engraziel, fviegas!

[fviegas]

wow, Romantche, I am impressed, I actually had to look it up :-)
you're welcome. And I hope it works for you.

Another trick I've come across is the obvious one of delaying dinner,
I'll let myself go hungry for a couple of hours and then eat dinner at
20h30, until full. No way to eat anything else until bedtime.

Of course this does not work when you have to prepare dinner for the
children at 18h30. In this case, the tricks above, and another one I just
remember, which is to have dinner slooowwwly, so I finish late enough
to avoid food.

Best of luck!!

[madonna1]

I cannot allow myself to snack on nuts or anything for that matter It just triggers me and I feel edgy especially after dinner which is definitely my whitching hour. I could have a perfect day (workout, eat correctly, not too much stress etc...) and then in the evening blow it by eating way too much. i keep my carbs low at all times it's what works for me.

[steady]

Like Madonna, snacking just gets me into trouble, so like Fviegas I delay dinner.

[homestretch]

My biggest challenge yet key to success is remembering how much I have actually lost. Days when I feel really fat (yeah I have lots of them) I just remember that I used to weigh over 200 pounds and my loss is worth fighting for. Exercise is key to me mentally wanting to maintain and not overeat.

[vee716]

I have problems with shifting hunger levels. One day I can be satisfied with very little food, and the next I'll be ravenous & demolish anything in sight. I finally figured out it's best for me to go with the flow. I keep my food intake low and light and stricter LC when it's easy so that when the hungries hit, I can eat more. If I try to fight the hungries, I lose everytime.

Cheese (cheddar for me) is magic. It will eventually kill the hungries. I always have some on hand to snack on. Yes, it's high calorie, but when I am hungry or craving carbs, it works and keeps me from eating carbs.

Exercise is key for me. I just feel better and healthier everyday that I exercise and feeling that good makes it easier for me to stay on track with better food choices.

[Babymama]

Has anyone tried this on maintence yet? Just wondering the outcome.