I need some help trying to get this through my head, for the past year i have been trying to lose weight and i had a very strict diet, i have not had a BITE of candy, icecream, cake, pie or any other junk food for a year now and i have lost all the weight i think i can/will lose and now im looking to maintaining my weight and i would like to maybe if possible have a treat once in awhile like a serving of icecream a month or something like that but its so ingrained in my head even if i have a little bit of icecream i will gain weight, but i don't think its possible to gain weight from having a single serving of icecream but i really don't know what to do. Any ideas? I would like to maybe reward my self for all my weightloss but even such a small amount scares me.
Weight-Loss Maintaining weight and treats.
- Thread starter JRM
- Start date
Weight-Loss
dilynnlew
New member
JRM,
I am also maintaining a weight loss...in fact, if you have time, check out my maintainence diary in the diary threads!
Maintaining is scary, I must admit. I think a big part of your problem is that you have not allowed yourself any treats for such a long time. While I was losing, I did enjoy the occasional treat, sweet, or dessert. Logically, you know that a very rare bit of dessert, etc...is not going to cause you to put all the weight back on. If you are eating right MOST of the time and working-out, you should be able to enjoy an occasional cheat on your diet!
You did not mention if you are following an exercise plan? Also, do you limit your number of calories each day, and if so, what amount do you eat? Budget in those extra calories if you know you are going to have a treat...that's what I try to do and it is working so far! It would also be beneficial to know your BMR and RMR to help you know how many calories you should be eating each day.
Good luck and don't worry about an occasional treat...you will NOT blow up overnight! Believe me, I know how scary maintaining one's weight is!!
I am also maintaining a weight loss...in fact, if you have time, check out my maintainence diary in the diary threads!
Maintaining is scary, I must admit. I think a big part of your problem is that you have not allowed yourself any treats for such a long time. While I was losing, I did enjoy the occasional treat, sweet, or dessert. Logically, you know that a very rare bit of dessert, etc...is not going to cause you to put all the weight back on. If you are eating right MOST of the time and working-out, you should be able to enjoy an occasional cheat on your diet!
You did not mention if you are following an exercise plan? Also, do you limit your number of calories each day, and if so, what amount do you eat? Budget in those extra calories if you know you are going to have a treat...that's what I try to do and it is working so far! It would also be beneficial to know your BMR and RMR to help you know how many calories you should be eating each day.
Good luck and don't worry about an occasional treat...you will NOT blow up overnight! Believe me, I know how scary maintaining one's weight is!!
Thanks for the reply dilynnlew, i do exercise about 5-6 days a week for about an hour each time and i typically keep my calories under 2000 i don't think i have been over 2000 in awhile also according to a calculator my BMR and RMR is:
Factor Category Definition BMR RMR
1.55 Moderately Active Moderate exercise or sports 2,798 2,686
3-5 days a week
Factor Category Definition BMR RMR
1.55 Moderately Active Moderate exercise or sports 2,798 2,686
3-5 days a week
dilynnlew
New member
What is your height and current weight?
How long has it been since you started maintaining your weight? Sorry for all the questions...I just want to be better informed in order to help.
The short reply....it's great that you are still working out, and I think it is fair to say that an OCCASIONAL treat will not affect your weight negatively!
How long has it been since you started maintaining your weight? Sorry for all the questions...I just want to be better informed in order to help.
The short reply....it's great that you are still working out, and I think it is fair to say that an OCCASIONAL treat will not affect your weight negatively!
KaraCooks
New member
I think it will be hard for a while. I know last year after I lost about 80 lbs, I took a break and maintained at my current weight for about a year. It is scary - I've gained back between 8-12 lbs (depending on the day) and I'm in the process of losing again ... I'd like to drop another 30-40 lbs all together.
I think the thing for me is that even when I was losing the first time around, I didn't deprive myself of the occasional treat - I knew that if I went into it saying "I can't have ... [whatever]", I'd give up because I'd feel deprived. I know it works for some people to just completely cut out whole groups of food, but I knew I couldn't.
So for me, maintenance wasn't much different except that I allowed myself to eat more (of everything, not just treat foods).
I dunno. I'd say to just start adding in those treats on a regular basis - not every day, and not in vast quantities. Start *planning* for it, just like you planned for your weight loss. Even when I'm losing, that's what I do with my treats - Saturdays are the days I allow myself to go have a burger with friends, for example. For you it might be that on Wednesday and Friday you'll allow yourself a single serving of ice cream. Or one day a week you'll allow yourself to go out to eat with friends and order whatever you want. Or something like that. But plan it so you don't find yourself going overboard and eating your "treat" every day.
Good luck - and congrats on reaching your goal!
I think the thing for me is that even when I was losing the first time around, I didn't deprive myself of the occasional treat - I knew that if I went into it saying "I can't have ... [whatever]", I'd give up because I'd feel deprived. I know it works for some people to just completely cut out whole groups of food, but I knew I couldn't.
So for me, maintenance wasn't much different except that I allowed myself to eat more (of everything, not just treat foods).
I dunno. I'd say to just start adding in those treats on a regular basis - not every day, and not in vast quantities. Start *planning* for it, just like you planned for your weight loss. Even when I'm losing, that's what I do with my treats - Saturdays are the days I allow myself to go have a burger with friends, for example. For you it might be that on Wednesday and Friday you'll allow yourself a single serving of ice cream. Or one day a week you'll allow yourself to go out to eat with friends and order whatever you want. Or something like that. But plan it so you don't find yourself going overboard and eating your "treat" every day.
Good luck - and congrats on reaching your goal!
dilynnlew
New member
I know exactly what that mental block is like! Just the thought of eating something a little "forbidden" is enough to cause a panic attack! Believe me...take baby steps...try a small portion of something you really want as a treat...maybe once or twice a week. I think you will be pleasantly surprised that it makes no difference overall in your weight.
Now that I am maintaining, I am weighing myself twice a week. That way, if I start to gain, I will hopefully catch it early, and make those necessary adjustments. Good luck and go have a small goody!!
Jeanette401
New member
Instead of making it a 'breakout' from your diet - try working it in.
Targetting 2000 calories a day? Make sure to include the ice cream or other treat in those 2000 calories. Maybe that means you have a little less for your other meals, or you fill up on salad and veggies instead of something else you'd eat, and then the ice cream isn't cheating, it's just part of the plan. Maybe not an every day part (Cookies are a sometimes food now!) but if you can work it in and plan for it, you'll feel less like you're cheating, and less likely to go "Well, since I'm cheating anyway, I'll just eat the whole gallon of ice cream!"
Targetting 2000 calories a day? Make sure to include the ice cream or other treat in those 2000 calories. Maybe that means you have a little less for your other meals, or you fill up on salad and veggies instead of something else you'd eat, and then the ice cream isn't cheating, it's just part of the plan. Maybe not an every day part (Cookies are a sometimes food now!) but if you can work it in and plan for it, you'll feel less like you're cheating, and less likely to go "Well, since I'm cheating anyway, I'll just eat the whole gallon of ice cream!"
If you want a treat you don't have to feel guilty about go for Special K bars. All are delicious! Especially the bliss ones.... they are dipped in chocolate and only 90 calories.
You can also do frozen yogurt instead of icecream. I hate to admit it, but I have had two servings of double chocolate frozen yogurt the past 3 days....... but hey, im pmsing, lol.
You can also do frozen yogurt instead of icecream. I hate to admit it, but I have had two servings of double chocolate frozen yogurt the past 3 days....... but hey, im pmsing, lol.
Thanks for the advice ill check out the special k bars, i also have another question regarding calories and fat and daily %'s that i never really understood. Im wondering if when the labels and such on food say for fat, 11% of DV does that mean that i can safly have up to 100% of the DV of fat and not gain fat? It just never made sense to me.
Omega
Moderator
I read this thread because I too am in the early months of maintenance - having been on project since Feb 2007 and been at goal since the end of May.
LOL - The amusing thing is that if anyone fancies the idea above - I have been having frozen yoghurt every day for months now (including prior to getting to goal). I swear by it. I get fat free yoghurt (Shape by Danone) and put it in the freezer a couple of hours before I want to eat it... It is just so yummy and the 4 yoghurts I have each day give great nutritional value with great protein, calcium and fibre for the calories spent. The only negative is that they do not do Shape in chocolate flavour - so if anyone is looking for that it will not suffice.
I agree with what everyone is saying about maintenance being a scary place. I joined both Weight Watchers and Slimming World (their main competitor in the UK) 20 pounds prior to getting to goal when I got spooked about how I would cope with maintenance. I liked the idea of the life membership and the support through maintenance. I figured that I had never had a lot of faith in their width of experience and ability to help people lose a lot of weight - but they have an awful lot of experience in helping people lose 20 pounds and keep it off.
I am dealing with maintenance currently by trying to eat much the same as before - but gradually cutting back on my exercise levels - which were quite high...