You're going to get answers all over the spectrum. I was super low calorie until I reached goal, and have maintained for 4 years at over 2600 calories per day. I know plenty of women here who maintain a normal BMI at 1800 to 2000 calories. And none of u**** the gym, either.

Good to know, thanks!

Umm I am a gym hitter!

Here has been my experience on maintance when not going to the gym.

Earlier-I hit my goal/happy weight of 142 lbs. I went to the gym and lifted weights 3 times per week. I also ran and figure skated. I ate low carb/low glycemic index.

Then I chopped my finger off in a kitchen accident. When they reattached it, I was not cleared to exercise for 5 months. I could not even speed walk for fear that I would fall and try to "catch myself".

During this time, I reduced my portions and stuck to my low carb/low GI diet (cheetos might have made me feel better but I wasn't chancing it). You would think that and the significant "muscle mass" I had from weight lifting would help me out in maintaining my weight loss. NOPE!

Instead I gained 12 lbs in 5 months (about 2.25 lbs a month) and it is VERY HARD to lose it now that I am cleared for the gym. My first week of working out I managed to lose a WHOPPING 0.4 lbs. O.4! Like-where is the rest of my weight loss!?!?!?

So I believe we all have a basal metabolic rate. Some of ours are so low that unless we DO SOMETHING to burn more calories, we will gain the weight back.

I consumed fewer than 900 calories a day while losing 200 pounds. I maintain now on about 2000 (my RNY was 9 years ago).

I have gained 10 pounds a few times over the years but I have lost them each time. It was not due to any metabolic adaptation. It was because I ate more than 2000 calories over an extended time period.