Is it just me?

I've noticed that I'm more motivated to lose than I am to maintain. It's almost like if I don't need to lose a few pounds then I don't know what to do with myself or what to focus my attention on. I will get down to a weight I like and then I go crazy until I've gained a few pounds and then it's back on plan to lose those few pounds. Only I think if I'm honest I do it intenionally so that I have some more weight to lose. I've been losing for so long now that it's almost as if I don't know how to not need to lose weight. Anyone else experience this? Lily

Absolutely! I feel the EXACT same way! This whole "maintenance" thing is so weird for me. Obviously I've never been good at it or I wouldn't have ended up at 328lbs and I feel like I really don't know how to do it. I seem to do what you're describing~gain a few pounds and then it gives me something to focus on to take it back off. I have my 18mth check up next week and I'm going to ask him about it. Do you think this behavior could be harmful to us or to our future/continued success??? Could it be another form of food addiction?? OR, am I looking way too far into this, LOL! In all honesty I don't think I've given up on losing more weight b/c it seems like what I'm supposed to do even though my BMI is great and my husband has practically forbidden me to lose more weight (he thinks I'm a little too thin already). Wow, who knew just a year and a hal*****hat I'd be worried about how to maintain my weight! If my surgeon has anything of value to offer on this subject, I'll be sure to post it for you! Hugs, Tracy B 328/152 5'9"

You couldnt have explained it any better! I totally am feeling the same way. Its like Ill get down to 145 and then its like okay Whew I can eat something "bad". Then when I see the damage its like Okay gotta get this off again. I have always been trying to lose weight since I was 13 so maintaining is something I dont know how to do I think. When I get to 150 I panic so its back to losing again. Im so glad you posted about this, now I know Im not alone! Candy

AB-SO-LUTE-LY! You, and the ones who have responded so far, have described my behavior and thinking exactly! I had ZERO success rate with maintaining a weight loss in the past, even after losing huge amounts, and I really am totally uncomfortable with how to do it! Like another poster put it--when I get down to my lowest, then I sorta feel like I have permission to let up, which would be FINE if I just added a little more NUTRITIOUS food, but for me, it turns out to be bad carbs. Then I go up 4-5 lbs. and start the cycle over again! Now, this wouldn't be so horrible IF it never got any worse than this; however, I'm scared to death that the 4-5 lbs. will soon be 8-9 lbs., then 10-12 lbs., and so on. Yes, my whole adult life I've either been gaining or losing! It's really, really hard to stay motivated to do the right things, eat good food choices/amounts, and keep exercising without that immediate reward of losing! Good post! Jo 295/155 (at goal)