maintenance phase Finishing Weight loss phase and heading into Maintenance

[jar312 22]

So I think that I am officially at the end of my "Weight loss Phase". I am nervous about heading into "Maintenance Phase". I am spent so much time and emotion trying to lose weight all these years that it feels weird that I am here and don't have anymore weight to lose... I almost feel like "Now what?" Has anyone else felt like this?

[Chelenka 827]

I look forward to feeling like that! LOL! Congratulations on achieving your goal!

pre-surgery weight 325; surgery date 2/28/2013; surgery weight 307; 8 weeks past-op weight 281.4; 12 weeks post-op 274; 4 month post-op 266.2; 5 month post-op 262.6

[mokee 588]

Congratulations! You should be so proud. I have read about maintenance and usually they just increase calories 100 at a time until they reach a point where they no longer lose. There are charts where you can figure out how many calories you should eat to maintain your weight. I am so happy for you. I hope I join you one day.

[colleenb 5]

I am exactly where you are! I reached goal today and am suddenly realizing that I spent my whole life either losing weight or gaining weight and now I'm kinda feeling lost and thinking I'm not sure what I do next.I guess its all part of the journey:)) Good luck to you and congratulations!!

[Susie in Lima 320]

I have 4 pounds until Maintenance and was thinking about the same thing. Thanks for posting and letting me know that I am not alone. Congratulations by the way, this is a big day! Today I hit the 100 pound weight loss goal and I guess I expected confetti and balloons to fall all around me haha but guess I will just have to be happy in the knowledge that I am almost there and then like you said "now what??" Weird feeling!

[FeeIsMe2 508]

Congrats! I actually have 19 lbs to go and was thinking the same thing this morning.. not sure how I will feel when I do finally get goal, I feel like I've been battling weight for so long, I will truly be feeling confused, kind of like "OK now what?"

[clk 3,519]

Yes. There's a fabulous thread in the Vets forum where we discussed the whole "what now?" question.

The shift to maintenance isn't that difficult if you're already eating a moderate diet. You add in some calories and you weigh as frequently as you need to in order to remain accountable. Then you live your life. You still have to remember that you were obese and you still have to watch your habits.

My biggest maintenance issues weren't ever about actually maintaining my weight. I was able to do that pretty effortlessly with daily weighing and small adjustments to my diet as needed.

It was realizing that (for me, at least) the weight loss made me happy, but it didn't make me a happy person. Does that make sense? I had a lot of issues and the obesity was a symptom of those problems, so once I hit goal I really kind of expected to just "be happy" but it still took work. I still had to deal with whatever was making me unhappy and resolve those issues. My weight was a distraction, an easy target and scapegoat for all that ailed me. But the answer wasn't so simple as just "lose weight, be happy."

In any case, watch your habits and behavior. Weigh daily to stay accountable. Track your food when necessary. Learn how to eat more normally, without going off the rails. And most importantly, enjoy this. You worked hard to achieve your goal and you succeeded. No matter what else bothers you or upsets you always remember that and be proud of this accomplishment.

~Cheri