Maintaining My Weight

Ancelia

Hello

I have been losing weight for about 9 months now and last week I lost the last lb that I wanted to lose (which makes 2st 3lbs). I'm now a healthy weight at 120 lbs and my height is 5ft 4, I'm by no means skinny but I've never felt better and I just feel so healthy but what I'm worried and confused about is maintaining my weight.

Im so worried that I'll just lapse and pile the weight back on again so basically my question is how do I maintain my weight and not lose any more or gain any? I run 2/3 times a week and I swim once a week (but that varies as sometimes its only once every 2 weeks!). I know that I can't just 'go off a diet' as it's a lifestyle change and it has been for me, there's no going back to how I used to live.

But I don't know how much more food I can add into my daily diet... for example: after having salads/soups for lunch for the past 9 months can I have sandwiches about 3 times a week with healthy fillings or will that cause me to gain weight?

Sorry for the really long post, I just don't have a clue about how to go about this!

Help would be hugely appreciated, thank you!

Dotcomdolly

Well done Angelica on your weight loss. I have the lost the exact same myself. I think if you read the nutrition stickies it will give you some great guidelines on healthy, nutritious eating to take forward.
I would also add in weight training to your exercise programme.
I think if you don't go back to your "old ways" and look at food from a nutritional perspective, keep active, you'll be fine.

Amtmann

Time to break out ze German guy again:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgEuOyQW0wk

You could also consider one day of fasting per week. A fast day will put a fair dent in reasonable caloric surpluses and slow down weight gain.

Main thing is keep eating healthily, do daily exercise (at least 30 minutes of daily cardio is desirable in my opinion), and weigh yourself weekly for early detection of a weigh-gain trend. Most diets end in failure so unless you do all these things, then yes, it is almost certain that you will regain all the fat that you lost.

Bottom Line: Change your lifestyle.

christmas2010

Congratulations on your weight loss.
I would suggest you leave your diet as it is but just increase quantities slightly. Or add in the occasional treat.
Weigh yourself once a week and adjust your diet accordingly.
If you're the same weight then carry on, if you're up or down then adjust your diet to match for the following week. It'll soon become second nature.

muireann50

Hey ancelia,
first of all, congrats on the weight loss. I'm just starting out on a change of lifestyle, I'm the same height and weight you were and want to lose the same. Just wondering could you tell me how you did it, just healthier food and exercise or low carb etc? Cheers

Ancelia

oh sorry I didn't see your post until today!

Em I didn't specificly choose a 'low carb diet' but I cut down on the amount of bread, pasta, potatoes I ate and just cut down on my portions. I know it sounds extremely obvious but I basically just ate when I was hungry and stopped when I was full, before I would have just kept going cause I loved food. I still love food, I just enjoy it and don't use it as a past time or binge when Im having a bad day or anything. I distract myself now and don't resort to food.

Oh and also exercise is a key to feeling your best and feeling healthy. I have soo many skinny friends who can't run for the bus without getting completely out of breath! I would say to definitely encorporate exercise into your daily routine at least 3 times a week.

Hope that helped

Good luck