I thought I would share with everyone some of my rambling thoughts with respect to maintenance...not only for those who are on, or approaching it, but also for those out there who may still have a while to go, but are curious about the experience.

- maintenance isn't a sudden thing. You don't just wake up one morning, hop on the scale (or input your measurements into a calculator for bf%) and go "Hey, cool, I get to start maintenance today!" Just as losing the weight is a process (and as much a mental one as physical), so too is shifting into maintenance. For me, the process of thinking about maintenance began about 10 lbs before I hit goal. I knew I was going to get there, and my mind started to automatically begin the think through how it was going to be.

- Maintenance isn't a big change from now. Here's the truth - its still hard slogging sometimes. And in some ways its harder. When you are losing and put on a few pounds, you just think to yourself..."yup, but its part of a downward trend"...now you think "uh-oh...is this a problem...a trend...what am I doing...why am I gaining again"

- Maintenance diets still require tweaking - at least mine does. I still get addicted to certain food...legal but lethal I like to call them. Why? Because anything inexcess is going to pack on weight. Emotional overeating is still a struggle. I'm trying to replace it with yoga ... with varying rates of success.

- You continue to apply everything you've learned, everyday. I learned to plan meals, set goals, and cook in whole new ways. I learned how to develop strategies to deal with social situations and nay-sayers. It never ends...but I don't have to work as hard at it anymore.

So that's it for Part 1...I have no idea if there will be a part 2...have to go do more thinking now.

Take care!

Lisa