Hit my "fatty" rule-

I tried a 3 pound limit, but it is not viable for me.  There is something about my system that has drastic fluctuations in water weight.  I can gain/lose 4 pounds in a 24 hour period.  No joke, weigh before bed and wake up in the morning 4 pounds lighter.  Usually though I swing 2-3 pounds.  This time is different though- I can see the weight on the waist line.  That is no****er weight. 

I really love this.  It is true -- in the past when bad behaviors crept back in I would avoid the scale.  No more.  I weight everyday (that I am home).  I just had a 4 lb creep from a sugar binge / travel water retention.  I jumped back on the scale and back on track (off the sugar) and lost those 4 lbs in a couple of days. 

I'm not in maintenance yet, but I will definitely leverage a similar strategy!

Great!  That is why I posted... most posts deal with how to maximize the weight loss phase.  Maintaining doesn't have to be difficult, but it is important to have a plan.  This has worked excellent for me so far.  Karik is another one that has a great strategy to deal with regain.  Different flavors, but what they have in common is being proactive, addressing the issue of the regain, and adjusting. 

Way to go. You quickly identified the problem & had a plan of action to correct it. Am sure that you will succeed with your plan and am sending you best wishes in your journey.

Good for you! I plan on setting a 5 pound limit myself once I am where I want to be :-)

So true, I do the same. If I see the numbers go up 3-5 lbs. whether it is water weight or not I panic and get into weightloss mode. The gain can happen fast, maintenance is not easy! It is a balance that I am still working on. Sugar is my weakness, I believe becuse I can no longer eat large meals and sugar products can be eaten in quantity, (sliders). I defintely have to keep it out of my house. Posts from vets on the struggles of maintenance and giving us a heads up is great because it makes me think and learn from their experiences. Thank you for your post!

You rock and you will get there.  It's great that you have such a clear plan, that can be the hardest part for me!  

Excellent, practical advice. As always 

Take that bull by the horns! I totally agree that weighing regularly in maintenance is the key. Identify the problem early and the fix is easier. 

Staying away from mirrors and the scale helped me to my downfall. I don't say caused but helped the weight gain. That's all on me.

Good luck to you!

I haven't been on the site for a while, but yours is the first post that I read.

We are right at the same place - 5 pound gain, huge weight fluctuations throughout the day, know this gain isn'****er weight, school year just ended, and sugar is my weakness (and we are both tall ladies!)  So in a nutshell your post is exactly what I needed to read.

I've almost decluttered the kitchen and I'm recommitting to my training.  I like your plan and will get back to the basics because losing 5 is infinitely easier than losing 50. The only downfall is that my significant others keep telling me that I am too skinny and need to stop losing or at least stop worrying.  But I think the absence of worry is what got me to 314 pounds. Am I right?

I've rambled a bit, but thank you for your post and I'm cheering for you and your ability to nip the problem in the bud. I know you'll knock it off in no time!

And Happy Summer!!!