Does this suggest that maintenance may be easier than it is for some?

I stayed at basically the same weight from early December till the very end of February.  I was no****ching what I ate.  I was not counting anything other than protein.  I kept a running tally in my head as to how much protein I had eaten and just made sure I got in my 80 to 100 grams a day.  And, I exercised some, but not a lot.  All the while, I stayed between 203 and 206 pounds.  For 3 whole months.  Then, I kicked myself in the butt and started watching things again and the scale is slowly edging down once more a tenth of a pound at a time.  I'm currently at 201.2 and working towards onederland and my goal weight of 185.  But, I was thinking today that if I could go for months eating sensibly but not tracking anything other than protein (even had one day where I did look at totals and hit 2000 calories) and not exercising like crazy or even semi-regularly, would it maybe mean that I will have a bit easier time maintaining when I get to that point of my journey?  Or, is it perhaps attributed to the level of malabsorption I currently have and may not have later on?  I'd say I was averaging 1500 to 1600 calories a day.  I was getting in 80 to 100 grams of protein each and every day.  I exercise a bit but not a lot and not terribly regularly (always has been my hold back on getting to goal).  I'd like to think that as long as I eat healthfully and get my protein in, I may do just grand at maintaining...  But, I am curious what the rest of you think!  I don't plan on getting lax again any time soon, but it is a nice thought that the maintenance part of my journey won't be a daily battle to keep from regaining! Lea

Lea, Thats a great question. I've been kinda wondering the same thing lately. I had just posted that I was having a hard time watching my foods in the later part of the day but I haven't gain either. I guess we've been blessed so far but I know I need to get more focused. I have about 10 more pounds I'd like to lose before it get too hot outside. I know if I just get back on track it will come off. I have been afternoon grazing for awhile now and am having a hard time getting away from it. Good luck with your continued weightloss. I'm crossing my fingers that you are right in your theory. Sandy

I've been sort of simmering on this idea for a while now...  Every time I thought about the fact that I wasn't losing, I also realized that I hadn't gained either!  It is a cool concept, but not necessarily the way it will pan out! Lea

Every body is different.  How fast or slow your metabolism is, what your RMI and BMR is, how much calories and nutrients you absorb, etc, etc.  You really can't tell by this one experience.  The more weight you lose the less calories you need and the less calories you burn.  You will have to wait and see.  It does seem that you have things on track though

Yep, those are further cir****tances to consider...  The less you weigh, the less you burn just living...  But, I'd like to think that the less I weigh, the more active I will be as well.  Every pound I take off of these bone-on-bone knees and the degenerated discs in my spine allows me to be a bit more active and do a teensy bit more exercise per week... Hugs, Lea

Hi Lea, I'm not sure on this one. I am 4yrs out and yes, I do from time to time enjoy more that I should but I do know that I have to really pay attention to what I eat and how much I move for the  scale to move down. When I stay with the basic diet I do well, if I wander the scale goes up. just a bit but still its up. I guess we will never not have to watch it but I don't think we will have to always "diet" but I'm convinced that our pouch will always tell us enough is enough.  if we just remember to NOT graze and to eat 3 square meals and 2 snacks if needed daily and move at least 30 minutes every day that we will be just like those "Normal" people we always watch from afar. Good luck with your journey, an movement of the scale is good even in 10th....

This is why I still weigh daily for the most part.  If I am not putting a whole lot of thought into what I'm eating (other than keeping up with the protein), then the scale will be my first warning sign that I need to refocus...  I eat what I want most of the time.  If you are getting in 80 to 100 grams of protein though, it doesn't leave room for a whole lot of wandering as you can only eat so much with a properly functioning pouch... Lea

Hi Lea, 201.2  Wooooo Hooooooooooo!!!!!  Keep up the GREAT work!!!  I'm rootin' for ya! Hugs, Doris :o)

Thanks hon!  I'm not in onderland with you yet, but I'm coming up behind ya!! Lea