Conference rocks::weight_control

    I have been on maintenance for just about four months, having reached
    my goal last October 14th.  To date, I've found that maintaining my
    weight has taken a bit of work, but no more so than losing the weight
    was, and not as difficult as I thought it was going to be.
    
    I think that this is because I lost the weight with a program (Weight
    Watchers) that encourages forming good eating habits, rather than
    through a plan where you follow a crackpot eating regimen until
    the number on the scale hits where you want it to hit.  Frankly,
    I don't look at the Weight Watchers plan as solely a weightloss
    program.  The way their dietary regimen is set up, divided into
    so many fruits, so much vegetables, X amount of protien, it's what
    a good healthy balanced diet should contain anyway.
                    
    I've found (so far anyway) that the statement Weight Watchers makes
    about weight fluctuating within a plus or minus 2 lb. range pretty
    much on the mark.  Since weighing in at 163.5 on that happy night
    in October, my weighins have ranged from a low of 161 to a high
    of 165.
    
    I really believe that the key to keeping the weight off is making the
    good eating habits that one follows during a good weightloss program
    part of one's everyday life.  And no, this doesn't mean (as was noted
    in the quiz I posted in another note) giving up "goodies" forever.
    What it means (to me anyway) is: continuing to make sure I get the
    minimum amounts of those foods needed for good nutrition; keeping
    in mind that the occasional treat is fine, but 3-4 trips to the
    ice cream bar a week is not smart eating (those who work in ZKO
    know what I mean); and remembering to plan ahead for those holidays
    and special occasions.
                                       
    In closing....to all those who have reached their goal, congratulations
    and best of luck in keeping it there...to the rest of you, looking
    forward to your joining me soon!
    
    
    Paul
    

I have been on maintenance (Weight Watchers) since the beginning of January,
1987, so it's been a little over a year.

My maintenance program is going pretty well.  Last week I weighed in .5 under
goal.  There were a couple of times I let things get a little out of hand, and
was maybe 4 pounds over goal then.  At least I caught myself in time!  It wasn't
too hard to get back where I belong.

I'll agree with everything Paul said in his reply.  You have to think of Weight
Watchers as a plan for eating correctly, not a diet.  When I fell into the "I'm
at goal, I can eat what I want" style of thinking, and didn't get out of it very
quickly, I ran into trouble.

Yes, you can splurge a little more, but just a LITTLE more.  Actually, it
depends a lot on the individual.  I find I have to stay pretty close to the
weight-loss plan to avoid gaining weight, and I guess I sort of resent that a
little.  But whenever I think of it, I tell myself I'd rather be on the weight
loss plan and look like this!! :-)

I'm (still, a year later!!) trying to get 5 pounds under my official goal, which
was 10 pounds below the top for my height.  I want to see how I look and feel
there, but I guess I'm already in a sort of maintenance-mindset, and don't
have the initial go-for-it attitude most of the time.  (at the moment I do :-)).

I find as many substitutes as I can for the higher-calorie treats, which are my
downfall.  I still eat fruit and Weight Watchers desserts at home.  Why not,
they're great!  I try to eat "on program" most of the time, so as not to avoid
problems if I decide to go a little crazy.
    	             
When you get to thinking "the diet is over, back to normal", you have trouble
maintaining your goal weight.  You really have to change what "normal" means
to you.

Jill

    I just hit goal again two weeks ago.  The last time around, I did
    a Weight Watchers at Work program.  The weight came off quickly,
    and the beginning of maintenance went rather smoothly. 
    
    Unfortunately, I added maintenance calories incorrectly.  I was
    running 4 to 5 days a week, and needed to add a considerable amount
    of calories to maintain.  I started to eat Snickers bars to add
    the calories.  It was a bad eating habit within the confines of
    a good, balanced eating program.  I started taking other liberties
    with the program, gained all of the weight back within 8 months,
    and lapsed back into the old eating patterns.
    
    Not this time.  I plan to add calories with fruit or bread exchanges
    - a much lower fat approach than a Snickers bar!  Bananas pack 160
    calories, and offer the added benefit of potassium.  I'll treat
    myself once in a while, but I'm going to stick to program.
    
    Are there any "heavy activity" people on maintenance with
    ideas/suggestions about adding calories?
    
    Mike

    re .3:
    
    One figure that you may find helpful...walking, jogging, or running
    a mile burns up about 100 calories.
    
    
    Paul

             <<< ATSE::DOCDISK:[NOTES$LIBRARY]WEIGHTLOSS.NOTE;2 >>>
                        -< Weightloss and Maintenance >-
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Note 414.0                     Weight Maintenance                     No replies
BIONIC::MONAHAN                                      64 lines  28-FEB-1989 14:04
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    It's hard getting the weight off, but I hear it's harder to KEEP
    it off.  I've worked something out for myself that I can see me
    sticking to, easily, for the rest of my life.  I lost 20 pounds
    over 6 months ago, eat ALL I want (when allowed) and have KEPT the
    weight off.  
    
    How do I do it?
                 
    During the week I usually eat a piece of fruit for breakfast, a
    light lunch (usually more fruit or some veggies, fancy salads, hard
    boiled eggs, ANYTHING that's good and LOW CAL), and a piece of
    fruit for an afternoon snack.  I've found that the heaviness of
    a bananna is usually best for my breakfast.   I also have a light
    snack when I get home from work, about 1 - 2 hours before eating
    dinner.  For dinner I eat generous amounts of what ever the special
    of the day is, 8^), but it's always low cal.  There's SO many recipes
    that are tasty and low cal!  One of the easiest, and one of my
    favorites, is a LARGE selection of vegetables tossed in a wok with
    some olive oil, fresh ginger and tons of garlic.  I serve this over
    a bed or rice (I prefer the brown - NOW) and I always put fresh
    spinach in the rice when it's simmering.  I also use Molly McButter
    on my baked potatoes and LOVE it.  (only if the steam melts the
    butter).
    
    Friday night through Sunday night I eat all I want, what EVER I
    want, when ever I want it!  Believe it or not, after doing this
    for so long I look forward to Mondays!  (I usually eat too much
    over the weekend and make myself sick!)  I lose 5 pounds every week
    and gain it back every weekend.  It works best for me because I
    love food and by sticking to my maintenance plan this way I never
    gain weight!  (aside from the 5 pounds)  If I get a craving during
    the week I usually let it wait until the weekend (which starts Friday
    night)  Sometimes I take a day off but don't totally splurge.  I
    save that for the weekends.  
    
    The above also works out for me because my fiance has what ever
    he wants for lunch and eats what I can for dinner.  We're both little
    piggies over the weekend!
    
    I'm just now starting to get into an exercise routine that I love,
    one I thoroughly enjoy.  My fiance and I work out together with
    various exercise tapes.  Doing it together, laughing and groaning
    together,  makes for a FUN time.  Exercising also decreases my
    appetite.  We're getting to the point now where we're exercising
    on the weekends!  If we keep this up, maybe I won't gain that 5
    pounds back!
    
    Just thought I'd enter my story and let others know what I'm doing
    to maintain my weight.  To get started it's probably going to take
    some self discipline, but now that I've been doing it for so long,
    it is the easiest thing for me to do!
    
    I'm going to Jamaica for my honeymoon in 2 1/2 months, one of those
    all inclusive packages.  I hear the booze is terrific and the food
    is out of this WORLD!  I'll be eating and drinking all I want for
    2 weeks straight but will diet again when I get back and immediately
    take the weight off (if I gain any!).  
    
    The reward is looking and feeling great!
    
    Guess I've rambled on long enough!
    
    Denise