Maintenance -- just not doing it right -- PLEASE support, don't judge!

Hi Ann,

I just wanted to say hi and I'm right there with you!  I too have been struggling for the past 6 months.  I too am gaining and nothing I do is reversing the trend.  I do believe that our bodies have a "set" point and it is going to try it's darndest to get to that set point.  That set point is just higher then I want it to be.  I wish I had answers and I wish I had a magic pill but I honestly don't know what to do.  I'm actually seeing my nutritionist today but I'm not hopeful that she's going to offer anything new.

I wish I had more words of wisdom but I wanted you to know that I feel your pain.  We are friends on MFP so maybe we just need to keep encouraging each other.  

Good luck to all of us that's in the same boat.  

Can't really add much as I too am struggling with a return of my ED - see post above.

I am currently reading "The Mindful Path to self compassion - Freeing yourself from Destructive Thoughts and Emotions " by Christopher Germer.  I am enjoying it. Hugs and best wishes.  I am taking only a day at a time as longer seems undoable at this point. 

I think one day that is high but with 7 good days is not so terrible.  I really try to look at maintenance as balancing over the course of a week or month, and not necessarily a day if that makes any sense.  So, if I have the almond croissant (like I did yesterday- outrageous calories) then I adjust for a few days... but not crazy deprivation type adjust.  Just no sweet treats, extra on the veggie, and as always focus on the protein.  So in all... I try to stay focused more on consistency and not perfection.  (Same as I did in the weight loss phase.)

Now,  I have hit the fatty rule where at a specified weight if I hit it I put myself back in weight loss mode until I drop 5 pounds.  This has happened maybe 3 times in the last 9 months.  Initially my trigger weight was 195 (goal weight) , but I adjusted the trigger weight down to 190.  I have found that I am able to pull the 5 pounds off without too much difficulty, but a fair amount of it seems to be water weight for me given how quick it drops.  I am just a person that bounces 3-5 pounds each month based around my menstrual cycle. 

If 5 pounds is a lot for you though I think it is wonderful that you are being proactive about it right now.  Are you putting yourself back in your weight loss mode? Or perhaps increasing exercise... in general, what steps specifically are you going to take?  Are you a low carb person or a bit more generous?  If you are on the more generous side, then I would encourage you to not eat more than 30 grams at one meal, because it could flood your system with insulin.  If you are a lot smaller than me (very likely) it may be a smaller number.  If you are a low carb person though and that works for you then go with that.  Are you still measuring and tracking, or just eye-balling it?  I have found that I have a lot of "drift"  (for lack of a better word).  My portion sizes will creep up on me if I don't take the time to measure and weigh every so often.  So I can eyeball typically, but for sure need to stay grounded with measuring and weighing at least 1 time per week.  During weight loss though when I need that I go back to measuring and weight everything until I have adjusted back.  

Go to a support group if you can.  I am a true believer in how much those help.  Therapy is good too so glad you are working that too.

Hang in there and make up your mind to first stop the gain, and then chip away at losing the slight regain.  You can do it!