what changes at goal??

The last few months I was really focused on getting to goal...it literally took forever!!  My teenage son kept asking me...what will change Mom?  Will you stop going to the gym?..No.  Will you eat differently?..NO.  Then what is the big deal..what will change?"
  It got me thinking...not much!!  I would like to lose a few more for some "insurance"...but wanted to know from others that have been at goal...what do you do differently now??

I have been wanting to touch the goal finish line for so long now...but now that I have...things are the same!  except I am so much happier!! 

Did any of you do things differently?  I would love to know.

Thanks
Patty

Excellent question!!! This is something that I have been asking myself for the past few months. When I reached my goal, it was anticlimatic. What changes? Well, I can eat more calories, but all the other behaviors that helped me to be successful must continue. This is know as the lifestyle change. It never ends. If I go back to former habits, the weight will come back on.
 
I continue to log my food, which keeps me mindful of what I put into my mouth and holds me accountable. Exercise is a way of life and I keep challenging myself with new activities and group classes. For example, a couple of months ago, I added in 1-2 TRX classes/week, in addition to my aerobic exercise. For the past 3 weeks, I have added in a couple of Spinning classes per week. I continue to work with a personal trainer 2 days/week. Now, I am working on getting outside on my bike and next week, I am going white-water rafting, which used to be my passion for many years, before I became so obese. I would like to go on a multisport vacation, and the exercise will enable me to do this. Goal setting is key.

One of the keys is to keep setting activity goals, which will help with motivation to keep on with the behaviors that allowed you to reach goal. It is more than a number on a scale. For me, it is about being fit, healthy, active, and comfortable in my own skin. Everyday, I rejoice and feel very grateful for the gift of WLS. When I am tired and about ready to give up, during Spinning or TRX, I think positive thoughts, that I am so fortunate to be able to move my body like this.

Oh, and the old behaviors are just below the surface and I must always be alert for them rearing their ugly heads.

Gail

I didn't actually exercise until after I got to goal. Once I reached goal, without doing so intentionally, lost 20 lbs below that. I now exercise nearly every day. I don't do so for weight maintenance. I love the way it has changed my body and makes me feel. My eating habits are only SLIGHTLY different. I weigh every day and have a 5 lb range I allow myself. When I get to the high end of that range, I go back to the basics...cutting WAY down on carbs. I still avoid simple carbs whenever possible and don't eat bread, rice, or pasta. I don't care for how those foods feel in my stomach or how I feel after eating them.

Word to everything being pretty much the same!  When I hit goal it was so anticlimactic I didn't even post for about a week or so after it happened.  I wanted to see that number soooo badly and then it was just as you said - nothing changed.  I got back off of the scale and went to the gym (as usual), packed my planned lunch and snacks (as usual), set my mindful intentions for the day (as usual), and then went about my day as usual.  

I still write down my weight and body fat once per week (Friday mornings).  I have allowed some additional calories but carefully planned.  That is the only thing that's changed, I think.  I'm back to writing down all of my food and checking out my portion sizes after realizing things were growing - not my weight, thank goodness, but I just noticed feeling more full.  I rely on quality control in the kitchen to measure portions so I can just eat what's there, so I had to go back and start double checking sizes!

I exercised all of the way through my loss and have continued to do so...yeah, I think this is the point where you accept that what got you to your current weight is what you will be doing for the rest of your life to maintain the weight.  But we knew that going in, right?  :-)

Congrats on goal, though, that's super awesome.  And congrats on taking the time to think about what 'goal' means for you...

 no change at all for me, I just keep going same as ever. I don't "do" anything and I weight myself every week or two and my weight has stayed between 130 and 135, just goes up and down in that range.

Once you get to goal you have to develop a plan for maintenance. thats what this group is about - sharing those experiences - since our doctors don't tell us a lot about how to do this.  For me it was increase calories 100 a day for a week at a time until I got to where I stopped losing. I lost a little more than planned but its ok. Now I find I maintain on about 1200 a day which sounds pretty meager but its what works for me. I still weigh daily and record it and I still journal all my food. I can't keep track of calories and the 70 g protein that doctor says I still need unless I do this. So things are pretty much like pre-goal except I eat 1200 instead of 600 calories and maybe 50 g carbs instead of 30. I stay away from refined carbs and the only carbs I do eat are oatmeal or fruit or dairy or nuts. That stuff is just killer to me so I have to do it but I really don't miss it.

I also realized that having a series of goal is useful in maintenance like it was in weight loss phase. So I set my OH goals section to every 6 months not weighing over 125. Made that a few months ago and now working on meeting that again in December. I think it helps to have goals of some sort whether is exercise related, weight related or staying within a carb or calorie limit or something.

And while we all celebrate that thrill of reaching goal, we come to the realization that life goes on and reaching goal doesn't take away all our problems and hassels (though it sure gets rid of a lot of bad stuff) and that some of the things that made us overeat are still out there. So we have to accept that this second phase of the journey is lifelong and we gotta get comfortable with that and yet just take it a day or week at a time. Hopefully by now we have formed new habits that will carry us through. So capitalize on that happiness of reaching goal and use it as momentum to keep up with the healthy habits. We can all do this together. And congrats again on reaching goal. I know those last few pounds were hard as they often are. But you won!!!!    Diane

 
Hey Patty,

I think for you... like myself.... Not much.....

When Dr.C told me to "stop"

He said.... "Great.....just keep doing what your doing and hold this weight for a year."

I eventually added a few more cals and a few more carbs to maintain....but 80% WL menu.

frisco

I haven't changed anything after goal. I have kept losing (not on purpose). I still track my food, weigh myself every morning and basically eat anything I feel like - mindful of my protein intake.

Mentally, I am in maintenance mode and am now preparing for my plastics next month for which I'm trying to up my protein.

Ditto to the others.  Not much changed for me either.  I may have relaxed the calories a bit for a couple of days, but I didn't like how it made me feel.  I stay between 800-1100 cal/day now.  Always high protein, low carb.  Sometimes I up it to 1200-1300 if I seem to be losing too much again.  I do continue to lose, very slowly, but I have to find a happy calorie range so I don't lose anymore.  I relaxed my manic exercise routine.  I still exercise regularly, but no more 12 mile everyday bike rides.  I'm working more on toning now.  My head still likes to see lower numbers, so I have to tweak that.  I'm still terrified of regain.  I've lost an additional 15 lbs since goal.  I think we are all learning our way, trying to adjust to no longer being a fatty.  It's a new world for us.