Have you met your goal weight? Topic

Dietitian 03/18/15
Members benefit from hearing each other's stories. If you have successfully met your goal weight and are now in maintenance, share with all of us how you did it.

Here's an article weight maintainers might find helpful: http://www.mynetdiary.com/weight-maintenance-with-food-diary.html

Best,
Kathy Isacks, MPS, RD, CDE

PaisleyBean 10/07/15
Hi. Do you recommend a goal weight, and then an immediate adjustment as soon as there is fluctuation, or a range, say a five pound range, which then allows for minor fluctuations?
Also, yes I am having troubles. I felt safe within the MND framework while losing (and I did, nicely), but am now scared to eat what I need to, daily, so sometimes I don't, and I think it has started to create cravings and rebound eating.??
Besides, how do you eat your full allotment daily? Finish topping yourself up before bedtime, if you have, for instance, a couple of hundred calories still available?
I'm probably overthinking this, but....anyone??

Dietitian 10/08/15 replied to PaisleyBean
Hi WorkInProgress - tracking consistently is the best way to discover the maintenance calories that are right for you. The equations provide a good first start, but one's own data tells the best story. It is important to read the Daily Analysis, and to understand how the Settings work, how the Exercise Plan works, why its important to log current body weight regularly. This article summarizes it: http://www.mynetdiary.com/customizing-calorie-goals.html

I have a 5 lb range for maintenance and if I am up or down within the range but the system gives me calories info to reach the target goal every time my current weight is updated and is above or below target. I sometimes ignore the small ups and downs - and if it annoys you, you can set the target date out a year or so and the calories adjustment will be minimal.

Try to trust the fact that you can eat a bit more and actually maintain.

Note that not all fitness devices will accurately estimate your true exercise calories burned. Although I like to wear the wrist gadgets, I found that MyNetDiary's exercise log actually did a great job estimating my calories burned. Then I tried their Running app to start and stop activities- that was also very accurate for me (and it loaded into my exercise log automatically).

I like having my heart rate monitored so I tried FitBit and AppleWatch. Frankly, the calories estimations for me worked best with the exercise database from MyNetDiary (either manual logging or via the Running app).

But everyone is different. Use the calories estimations that seem to work best for you and don't worry if they are different from each other. Your body weight over time will tell you what is working. But you know if you are undercutting it if you are extremely hungry on maintenance - don't let common sense escape you.

Let me know if you need more assistance. Hang in there.
Best,
Kathy Isacks, MPS, RDN, CDE

PaisleyBean 10/09/15
Thank you so much. I've read the linked articles, and will try to relax. I like the 5 pound leeway thing, so that's what I'll do as well. And also try the running app. Thanks again, feeling more settled.

Have you met your goal weight?