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Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
04 May 2016, 13:14
by MaryAnn
I've never started one of these threads, but it's already May 4, so...
I'm carrying on with my maintenance journey, about 2.5 years. I'm in a phase of feeling blah about everything, so I've decided not to weigh for awhile. (I'm exercising again suddenly, so I think any gains would reflect inflammation, but I'll bet they would still upset me.) The thing is, I do the same thing no matter what the scales say: three fasts a week, but not strict 500 calorie ones, more like 700ish.
I want to focus on being healthier, instead of a number. It's all good... just the usual slip into too much sweet stuff on non-fast days. I don't think it's craving/hunger, more a weird addiction. Though, having said that, I'm far less likely to indulge when I make sure I eat proper meals on non-fast days.
Anyway... I'm almost finished with my first year of teaching on my new job. Teaching physiology has been interesting. I've learned a lot I didn't know about metabolism. I love the job, and mostly love NYC (except when some cheeky so-and-so steals my packages). Apparently I'm the only one in the city looking forward to summer!
Happy maintaining everyone! Have a great month!
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
04 May 2016, 14:28
by P-JK
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
05 May 2016, 13:15
by Wmr309
I feel a bit of a fraud as my weight is creeping up, rather than I'm maintaining within my self imposed range. However, just finished a fast and it was relatively easy. Made three soups today; one from the original 5:2 book, all weighed out, for dinner tonight, one mushroom minestrone (vegetarian) for other family member and lunch tomorrow, and a Dutch pea and ham soup for a non-fast day.
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
20 May 2016, 11:07
by P-JK
How are we doing fellow mainteneers? I'm preparing for a week in Spain, to ensure that my actual situation is in line with the icons that indicate my maintenance status
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
20 May 2016, 11:39
by StowgateResident
I'm still here and still in the same situation as last month, that is maintaining at or around my 147 pound target but definitely not anywhere near my hoped-for 140 pound one! I don't know if that makes me a maintainer or a failure! However, I fasted yesterday and have decided to try and cut right back on the sugary/carby treats which I have been desperate for over the last few months. If I can reduce those in my diet then I'm sure that I will be much more likely to maintain properly.
Good luck to my fellow-maintainers for this month - wherever you all are!
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
20 May 2016, 13:33
by MaryAnn
I spent my first year of maintenance characterizing myself as a failure because I never got back down to my lowest weight. Finally I gave myself a range, and usually, but not always, I stay within it. But even at my worst moments, I don't get anywhere near where I started before IF.
Basically, I think we should be gentler on ourselves with how we define success and failure. I think the Biggest Loser study should put it in perspective. Or even something like the Look Ahead trial (link below to a Weighty Matters post about it), where even the most successful people were maintaining at above their lowest weight.
I.e., you're totally not a failure, @StowgateResident!
http://www.weightymatters.ca/search/lab ... aintenance
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
20 May 2016, 14:22
by StowgateResident
Thank you, @MaryAnn, for your wise words.
It is true that, even at my heaviest, I have never come too close to the 170 pounds that I weighed back in January 2013, when I started this WOL, so I guess that's a win!
I hope that you have a great time in the UK - enjoy your holiday and catching up with your friends.
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
20 May 2016, 18:36
by AnnieW
I've been maintaining since July 2013 but at a higher weight than intended. When I was losing weight I sailed past my target of 58kgs and got to 54kgs without any bother but that turned out to be a bit too low as my weight climbed back to 59kgs and stayed there. I seem to stay between 59 and 60kgs without too much bother, so I guess I've settled for that. As a general rule I'm eating in a window between 1.30 and 7pm - lunch and dinner and the occasional 0 cal fast day which generally is no bother. I only eat breakfast on Sunday's (porridge/banana/cocoa and soya milk) when I get back from my long run. I don't eat that many carbs as in bread, potatoes, rice and do eat full fat everything, except milk
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
21 May 2016, 00:01
by StowgateResident
Hi, @AnnieW, it's good to know that you're still around. Like you I am settling for a slightly higher number because it is much easier to maintain at that point on the scales. I have just realised that I have been using eating windows for ages without even thinking about it. Doh!!! I gave up breakfast a couple of years ago when I realised that it made me hungrier. However, I am rather an owl so I do tend to have a snack at about 10.00pm just to keep me going until my post-midnight bedtime.
I would like to lose a couple more pounds to give me some 'wiggle room' for when I go of to visit family in Belgium in three weeks time. Other than that, this WOL is working for me!
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
21 May 2016, 08:26
by barbarita
Still Fast-5ing every day. Weight reasonably steady but consistently above the maintenance range I set in my early maintenance period. I am not desperately trying everything to get it down as I don't think it wants to go lower at the moment and why stress myself out over a few pounds? More important that I keep away from sugars, starches and processed junk.
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
23 May 2016, 12:51
by brougham
Up until a month or so ago I was on autopilot maintaining since fall of 2013, and still doing 5:2. I had a job change in April and yada-yada have had a few weeks of 6:1. The scale hasn't really changed much but I dont feel quite the same physically/mentally. I'm going to make a real effort to get 2 fasts in this week.
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
23 May 2016, 14:24
by carorees
barbarita wrote: Still Fast-5ing every day. Weight reasonably steady but consistently above the maintenance range I set in my early maintenance period. I am not desperately trying everything to get it down as I don't think it wants to go lower at the moment and why stress myself out over a few pounds? More important that I keep away from sugars, starches and processed junk.
In short: ditto (well nearly...I don't always have as short a window as 5 hours but otherwise exactly the same situation).
It seems that most of us maintainers are in a similar situation but as Mary-Ann says, the fact that we are maintaining well below our start weight means we are all winners!
And I keep thinking of Yoni Freedhoff's wise words:
your best weight is whatever weight you reach when you’re living the healthiest life that you actually enjoy. The truth is there will come a point where you can’t happily live any better — where you can’t happily eat less and you can’t happily exercise more — and your weight, living with that life, is your best weight.
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
24 May 2016, 09:17
by Merlin
I'm back just about within my chosen range and wondering- is there a so called set point for the mind as well as the body? -I've been watching my weight creep up slowly and have been thinking maybe I should try a fast- but not managed it. Couldn't face the idea at all. However last week I really didn't like the number on the scales and since then I've done 2 fasts which has reduced the number to a more acceptable level and I'm hoping lose a bit more over the next month.
I still weigh daily so it's not as though I didn't see the gain and know the indulgences responsible.
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
24 May 2016, 09:28
by carorees
You could well be right there @merlin!
Re: Maintaining May 2016
Posted:
26 May 2016, 15:27
by StowgateResident
I could have written your post myself, @Merlin! I watched the scales increase but it was only when they were about to nudge 151 pounds that I managed to get back to fasting. Luckily, the excess (mainly water - due to my heavy carb consumption) is on the way down but I want a bit of 'wiggle room', so will be fasting for a further couple of weeks - just to be on the safe side!