I would usually come on here to make a topic about how I should lose weight, but I realized something: That's not my problem. I can do an hour of Dance Dance Revolution every day and I'm good...I'm guaranteed to lose more than one pound per week. I seem to only do this in the summer, though, as it's much more of a cold weather exercise to me. Now, I'm a lot more motivated in the summer and plan on gaining muscle and losing fat (I'm by no means fat as it is, but I would like to have a better physique.) My problem is maintaining. Anyone can lose weight, yet once it's done, where do you go from there? I always...ALWAYS end up putting weight back on. I'll usually go from 160 lbs to 150 lbs on a yearly basis during the cold weather seasons (strange...I know. I'm 5'9" so I think that's good for weight.) The thing is, once the Winter comes to an end, I gain weight again. My motivation dissipates once the Spring and Summer come. My question is, what do I do to prevent myself from putting back on 10 lbs every year, and prevent gaining it all back? It's like a neverending cycle!

Well ... if you're not going to exercise, then you have to start watchign what you eat. In the long run, what you eat, and how much of it, is pretty much the key to losing weight and maintaining weight loss.

I'm definitely going to exercise, as well as watch what I eat, but when I'm at my desired weight, I just stop altogether, then it piles back on...should I continue exercising on a regular basis?

This is a lifestyle change that we do here not a "diet". Lifestyle changes last all life long - and that means all months of the year. When you get to your desired weight - you keep on exercising and watching what you eat - just you eat at maintenance instead of at deficit. This may mean that you exercise a little less and / or you eat a little more. You dont say "that is the end of that" and eat like gave you extra weight last time round. That behaviour is pretty much guaranteed to give you extra weight this time round and next time round for ever...

I'm sorry, but I HAVE to say it...

I find it absolutely hilaaaaarious that this is how you're measuring your level of fitness.

DDR is intense.
Assuming you're playing a fast song on a harder level.

Yeah yeah find it funny but it WORKS!! Lost 40 lbs off of playing DDR, and yes I played on the harder modes and continue to do so today. Thing is, DDR is more of a cold-weather activity to me...

If you like to match your form of exercise to the seasons maybe you should find something equally effective that you associate with warm weather. Lots of people enjoy swimming or tennis in the summer. Maybe another dance game would be the change that is as good as a rest... The thing is that your own experience has demonstrated that if you do not do any exercise you "yo-yo" and put the weight back on again.

Lots of people believe that we should do a number if different types of exercise to build up our muscles as well as simply burning calories. Doing any exercise is definitely better than doing no exercise.

Yeah definitely...wish I had a pool...

I looked up "Yo-Yo dieting" and I definitely fit the definition. Ugh, now to find a method to stop this once and for all...

You and I are the same height and weight, and I'm a woman. You're not overweight!

If you want muscle instead of fat eat healthier foods and think of a Summer/Spring activity that you like as much as DDR in the Winter. You shouldn't fret over 10 pounds, really, unless you're aiming for more all-encompassing changes. I'm trying to lose weight for a competitive sporting event, but I don't have the illusion that I'm overweight for a normal person. Just something to think about. And congrats on losing 40 lbs. with DDR - that's really impressive!

You dont need to own a pool to go swimming.

for sure u needs to continue your exercises, thats a bitter fact that even though u've reached ur desired a weight, u still need to keep going on wtih ur workout to stay there...

so stick to ur exercise routine and and watch what u eat..??..

thanks...