I have no trouble losing weight... it's the maintenance (stabilizing once I reach my goal) that gets me.

Any tips?

Thanks...

This is probably the hardest part. If you go to Weight Watchers they have free maintenance for life if you keep within your goal range. You just have to weigh in once a month. The lecturer that I have always tells the new lifetime members that she thinks they sould still keep coming weekly for the first year if not longer. We have a whole group of lifetime members that come weekly even though they hit their goal a 1-5 years ago. So even if you lose most of your weight on your own join for at least the last 10 lbs so you can use their maintenance program. Once you reach your goal you spend the next 6 weeks figuring out how much you can eat without either gaining or losing any weight.

I do the WW maintenance as well but only I do it online. I pay the monthly fee. It's worth the $15 a month to be able to use it. I never went to meetings so I didn't qualify for the free lifetime maintenance but I'll do without 4 lattes to have the online system for a month.

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Proud to say I haven't shopped at a Wal-Mart since Sept 2003

After the way I have been eating the past few weeks, I may not be the right person to give advice, since I am dreading getting back on the scale. As a matter of fact, I am starting back on the right track tomorrow and probably will hold off on my weigh in until next week <grin>. Up until two weeks ago, I have managed to keep off the 20lbs I shed last year. What works for me is to try to eat healthy, keeping within 1,200 calories a day during the week, and allowing myself one *free* day on the weekend. On that day, I eat and drink whatever I want. The other thing that works for me is to keep my exercise routine going. I am actually working out more often/harder than when I actually was losing the weight. I do some form of exercise six days a week. I eat alot of grapes, oatmeal, egg beaters, micro popcorn and I love making whole wheat wraps w/turkey and lots of veggies. I never skip breakfast. I also think another thing that helps me is to allow myself little treats. If I want chocolate...I either have a mini candy bar, or a chocolate fiber one bar. I have found that the older I get....the harder it is to maintain my weight. I have a feeling the closer I get to menopause (I am 46), the bigger the battle will become!

Tammy, you must be very small... If I ate 1,200 calories, I'd lose weight ... not maintain.

Great tips from all... Keep 'em coming.