I reached my goal and tried to do the maintenance caloris but gained 2 lbs. the first week. I returned to the diet calories, lost the 2 lbs and now plan on staying at the diet calories with a few cheats and extra exercise. I watch the scale and if my weight increases I plan on stopping the cheats until the weight is lost.

Congrats on reaching your goal! It worries me though that you're still looking at things in terms of "diet" and "cheat". It's important to find your stable calorie level. It may take some trial and error, but I wouldn't give up after the first week. Eating maintenance-level calories shouldn't ever be seen as "cheating"... it's just what you get now. And it should be healthy, balanced calories, not just whatever you happen to want at the time.

Don't get me wrong... I'm all for whatever works for you. Just offering another point of view.

I am two months away from my year anniversary of goal. As of today at my JC check-in, I am up 2.5 lbs. from that number. But that goal weight was just a blip on my radar. Once I hit it, I never could see that number no matter what I did. My body liked being just 1 lb higher for many months. It took 4 weeks to just lose the 1 lb. to even get to goal! It really will be more frustrating for you to think you have to stay at a certain number every day rather than watching where your body wants to settle. And as you probably already know, just the sheer volume of solids and liquids in your body at any one time can cause your weight to go up. That is all NORMAL. I can't say I don't think about my weight because I absolutely still weigh myself each morning. Just that I rather like enjoying my days/meals without the worry my scale will not say the same number tomorrow. These are all things I learned during maintenance, and with you just getting started, I hope you find what works for you to stay in range as well. Good luck!

I agree with Lester Lou ..... as always she gives really good "points of view"

Just becuase we aren't "dieting" .... but actually finding out what our bodies will react to different foods ....
I plan on keeping my pedometer ....
and I created my own menu plan ... and even though i may stir away from the "plan" ....
what I've noticed about "skinny" people is they eat differently than I ever did prior to Jenny ...
I have a plan ... and God willing .... I will never again be a size 24!

Be encouarged ... you are making choices that will last a life time.

Enjoy the new you!

Just wanted to add my congratulations!!! That is amazing, and I'm sure you will get your maintenance calorie level figured out soon. Don't worry about this little setback in the first week. You are still figuring things out. Cut yourself a little slack!

Okay, I'm really new at this, the first time on line, so just want to add my congratulations, know how hard it is; as I reached goal just a month ago! In that month I was on holidays for a week and managed to stay at goal, but in the last week I lost another 2.1 lbs. Now I'm worried that I'll lose too much and all those new clothes I bought in LA on holidays will be too big. I guess it really is about playing with the calories, keeping up the exercise, which does allow us leeway and just staying healthy. Keep up the great work.

Thanks for this post - I found it to be re-assuring. I'm working on the maintenance calories, have been now for the 3 weeks. The first 2, I lost a total of 5 more pounds, but this week I've gain at least 3 back. It's a little daunting to be gaining and trying to keep it in perspective. I'm confident that with working out (doing Curves 4 days a week) and keeping my food intake to 1700 - 1900 cals I can master it. Thanks again!