I am 5 lb away from goal and just searched for Maintenance messages (my profile says 125 is my goal weight, but I hit it and have adjusted it to 120).  Betty Kovacs said that if someone would start a Maintenance Thread, she would add a sticky post to it to keep it on top so everyone looking for Maintenance would find it.  It appears that the programers have not finished the Maintenance module that was started last year, so we need to hold each other accountable, so we don't let all our hard work go down the drain!  I, for one, do not plan on every gaining this weight back!!

Betty, can you please wave your magic wand and put a permanent sticky on this thread?

Anyone who has hit goal and maintained, post and give us some advice, please?!?!?

Everyone that is near maintenance, start posting and asking questions.  I have learned so much from everyone on the 50's board, and from doing searches.  Let's continue to help each other :)

Patti

Hi Patti,

Congratulations on your success! I realize how frustrating it is not to have a more detailed maintenance plan. There is nothing out there that has been designed specifically for maintenance. It can actually be more difficult to come up with a plan for this versus weight loss. The best thing that you can do is to find support like you are doing on here. There is also a maintenance transition that you can make on here once you reach your goal weight. I also recommend that you take a look at the information for the National Weight Control Registry. This is a registry for people who have lost weight and kept it off. You will see some of the things that they do to maintain their loss.

I will send this in to be added as a sticky thread.

Betty Kovacs, MS, RD

Betty, what ever happened to the  sticky thread?  I have been maintaining for several months now on my own.  It would be nice to hear from fellow maintainers. 

 I would love to join this forum! I also keep changing my goal weight and just might lower it a few more pounds. I went from my original goal of 138 pounds to 128 now i think maybe 125 ........... I am so scared to reach maintenance, I refuse to gain an ounce back after all this work! I know I will need support more once I reach my goal ....I definitely am looking forward to hearing from those who are maintaning!

 Losing the weight is only half the battle.  I believe its even more demanding and challenging to keep it off.  This whole web site is only about the first half of the weight loss program.  They need to complete this process and include the follow-up program of maintaining.  I still exercise and eat a low calorie and fat diet.  My portions are small and I make sure that Im taking some good supplements to maintain good health.  Still it would be nice to hear what others are doing to keep their weight down.  I've been maintaining for quite awhile now(knock on wood).

Patti and Betty, thanks for giving this another try.  I'm not sure what a "sticky" is in message board terms, but if it keeps maintenance as a topic near the top of the board, I'm in favor of it.  I, like many of you, have reached my goal weight, twice, and am thinking about lowering it again.  I don't find maintenance to be too hard, I just "diet" during the week and not on weekends.  Losing even more weight will be difficult because it will mean reducing calories again.  Having the support of the maintenance board will be good, we can come hear for encouragement and support, and we all need that.

Judy

 Im glad to see a maintenance thread.  I've been maintaining for the last 6 or 7 months due mostly to exercise and portion control.  I try and eat healthy during the week and do a pretty good job.  I really don't think much about calories anymore because I  buy and eat a lot of lo-cal foods and try and eat lots of fruit.  What really makes it all worthwhile is the great comments I get regarding how I look.  When I show people an old photo of what I looked like about a year and a half ago, I mostly get a comment something like "you don't look like you have ever been overweight".  I guess thats testimony to how the effects of taking Alli and losing 83 pounds will do.  People say they can't picture me as ever being obese.  Anyway, I have gained back some muscle mass.  I lost a lot during the losing phase.  At my age,57, I doubt I will ever be chisled, but as long as i'm healthy and at a good healthy weight, thats all anyone can ask.  Where all this really pays off is my health.  My blood pressure and pulse are better than they have been in 40 years.  that statement is not an exageration,  I feel so much better.  This has been truly a life changing experience.  I hope everyone will share their experiences on this thread and offer guidance as to what they are doing to maintain. 

 Anyone else really nervous about stopping the pills? I have 4 left.....only 4.... I cant decide if I need to purchase another bottle or not... With the holidays coming up I could use the money for other things... but I am so scared to not have them with me.... How was it giving them up .... or do you keep them on hand just in case?

Well if we can't get this message stuck to the top we'll just have to keep posting to bump it back up.

I'm about 3 lbs from my goal of 135.  I've gradually been adding a bit more of the 'treats' to my diet plan.  I know long term I need to allow for yummies.  I just remind myself to focus on portion size.  Gosh the portions in restaurants are HUGE.  When I'm served I immediately set aside about 1/2 of the meal to take home.  If I think that I can't police myself when the server comes I'll look at the plate and go "OMG I can't eat all that, can I have a takeout box?".  That way I immediately set aside 1/2 to take home.  If it's off my plate I'm not tempted.  And I try and enlist the server to help me also.  If a sandwich comes with fries I'll tell them I'm watching what I eat, what can I have that is not fried or full of mayonnaise.  I've gotten quite a few to offer me a side salad as a substitute.  And my husband knows by now that at a chinese restaurant I'm going to request white rice rather then fried.

I think, hope, that it is small steady changes that will allow me to maintain my weight loss.  I know I'm healthier and I'll be 53 next week, I need to stay healthy.

Karen

March 2008 size 18

November 2008 size 8

 Oh boy, that hit home, Brody.  I also have a few pills set aside on reserve, (maybe 20).  I keep them in case I eat very high-fat meals, but because I hardly ever take them anymore I usually forget to take one after the high-fat meal.  I also don't want to use them all up and then have to decide whether I should buy another bottle.  I think once we're on maintenance we should try to keep our weight down just using the education we've received here and not using the pills, but ah, the flesh is weak, and the mind is weaker.  I was very naughty over the weekend and now I'm trying to undo the damage, but of course I came into work this morning and there were doughnuts out for everybody to enjoy.  My will power isn't what it was when I was first on the alli program, and I grabbed and ate a chocoalte one.  Now I must make the rest of this work week very calorie-conscious.  It helps that I have my annual physical this Friday morning and I want to see a big drop between this year and last year. 

Let's keep this thread on top.  I like it!

Judy

Thanks for jumping in and helping with this thread, everyone!  I don't have time to post a lot, but do read all of the messages.  I've gained a few pounds so I'm still working at getting to my goal, but I am determined not to gain it back.  I agree we need to keep posting to this thread to keep it on top till they get the sticky to hold it there! I've been such a yo-yo dieter all of my life but this time I actually feel healthier.  My will power hasn't been very good either - but I need to get back on track so I look good in my swim suit in Hawaii in January!  I know when I pre-plan I do much better - so that is my goal for this week.

Patti

 I'm so glad to see this thread! I'm about 10lbs away from my final goal weight and I've been feeling myself slipping lately. I haven't gained, but I'm not losing either. :o(.

How are you all staying motivated to see this through and stay at a healthy weight?

 Its very easy for me to stay motivated.  Every time I look in a mirror or take my blood pressure, I know that  the time,  sweat, and pain that I have put in, make it easy to stay motivated.  its a no brainer for me. Its also boosted my self esteem to a very high level.  I' m now where I should have been 25 years ago. 

 Well I gave in and bought one more bottle.... only 60 pills...should last me quite awhile.... I have been taking them once a day usually with my lunches. Especially with the Holidays coming up it will be nice to take a pill with the "big" dinners to keep me on track. Motivation is still great! Need to keep exercising and eating right if I want to remain in my new body! Plus I cant wait until next summer!!!!

 I'll bump this back up to the top.  Glad to see everybody is hanging in there.  I've been good all week, but last night had a couple of drinks with friends and ate some Nachos.  That's not so bad for four days worth of dieting very strictly.  After I have my annual physical tomorrow morning I'm going out to lunch at a place that has homemade pie.  I'll call it a celebration for keeping my weight down and hope it doesn't set off an out-of control tangent.  Fingers crossed.

Judy