Maintaining weight after losing stones

General_Grant

I know we are told not to crash diet but to lose weight gradually so that we learn to eat better.

However, I've lost over 5 stone over a number of years (was up to size 22 and now somewhere around 8-10-12 depending on the brand). And I am so used to having between 1500 and 1900 calories a day that I very seldom go over that. So I've been losing even more weight than I intended. My doctor asks me whether I have a good appetite and I really don't know how to answer that truthfully as I can't say I particularly look forward to eating.

Have others of you experienced this? I know some slimming clubs (like WW etc) have maintenance plans but I've never attended a slimming club so have no idea whether they address this situation.

shykins

maintaining weight after a big loss is not easy for various reasons.

like you i lost a lot of weight and didnt really know how to get my head around the time when i should stop losing. in fact i carried on losing to the point people said i looked ill.

all i can say is it took some time for me to see it but i had a health scare which was a bit of a wake up call and made me realise keep losing was not healthy.

you will have to find some foods you do like and add them to your diet so that you maintain rather than carry on losing - perhaps a few snacks during the day might be easier?

hope thats some help

pollypenny

We started 5:2 exactly three years ago. I reached my target five months later. I lost two stone, OH lost three.

We maintain on 16:8. That means that we don't have breakfast when we get up, but at around 1pm. Then a normal evening meal. This is a very easy way to maintain. After the first week we found that we were used to smaller portions and that our appetites had reduced enormously. If ever we have over-indulged, a day on 500 cals sorts me out.

maddiemay

It can be really hard to gain weight sometimes, I had been poorly and lost almost 2 stone in about 2 years (half a stone would have been fine, but this was too much of a good thing).

After shed loads of test I was eventually diagnosed with a couple of forever, but treatable conditions. My appetite was still poor and my stomach had shrunk. It has taken me another 2+ years as the treatments began to work and me gradually being able to eat slightly (still small) larger portions. Dietician suggested that I add a little cream to soups, sauces, puddings etc, eat and drink whole milk/full fat products and add in some nuts and lots of avocado and oily fish Also to add in small snacks during the day. Obvs she did not want me to start eating lots of unhealthy processed foods.

I am now at a weight that I am happy with (painful joints and a certain amount of vanity as I look awful if too thin) and have a BMI of 20.3. I lean towards a lowish carb way of eating as I put weight on too easily if I eat very much bread etc.

General Grant - I hope that you can find a way that suits you and your lifestyle.