I have a provocative topic today, and it’s something I’m dealing with myself right now. My friend Sage Lavine has noticed that I’m often super vulnerable with my community and tend to talk to you when I’m in the middle of the river and am not sure if I’m going to make it through. She said I should wait until I get across the river, and I see her point. But sometimes I like to talk to you from the middle of the river, when I’m still vulnerable.

This topic may resonate with some of you: What if you are not fully satisfied with your weight, and you’re in maintenance? What if you have weight creep? 

Here’s my situation: I’m 21 years into maintenance. I have a normal BMI and am a size four. My weight isn’t as low as it used to be, by as much as 15 pounds. I’m 5’ 3”, and have a small bone structure. For most of the past 21 years, I’ve been between 110 and 119 pounds. Lately, it’s hovering around 120. I definitely don’t want to be as thin as I once was (down below 110 pounds), but it feels to me like I’m five to ten pounds above my ideal weight.

I’ve been lifting weights and can do four pull-ups now, so I’ve added some muscle, but my waist measurement is up, which is key for me. I haven’t done a body composition test, but I have taken food out of my food plan. Lots of food. In fact, I’m hovering around a weight loss food plan, give or take.

I only have one fruit and one grain a day (both at breakfast). My vegetables are 12 at lunch and 12 at dinner (6 oz cooked and 6 oz raw for both), and I have half an ounce of ground flax seed at breakfast, in addition to the one other protein. Other than that, it’s the standard BLE weight loss plan. 

I’m not hungry or tired. I’m not sleeping poorly, I am menstruating regularly, and I have no other signs that anything is off. I feel great! And I feel like I look good. 

In order to succeed long-term at weight loss MAINTENANCE, you need to undergo three essential identity shifts. This is what my fifth book is about. It’s called Maintain, and it will be released on April 21, 2026. It talks about the three identity shifts you need to succeed in maintenance long-term. The third one is that you’ve got to be willing to be someone for whom the food and weight problems are solved, and you’ve got to move on.

I’ve done that. And I’m hesitant to pick that up as an issue again. When I was in Maui with my daughter recently, I lost three pounds. My food was simple and clean. So I know there are ways I could clean up my food. 

If you’re experiencing weight creep, the first thing to do is to take out food. My mom, who is quite small and slight, eats little portions. Maybe I need to do the same. But do I want to cut back my food plan any further? I don’t know. 

My weight creep is more of a plateau at the moment. It’s crept up to five or seven pounds over the ideal, and now it’s hovering there. Several times, I’ve resolved to clean up my food plan and get the weight off. But then I don’t do it, because I’m at peace with my food. And I guess I just don’t care enough.

You could adapt the Four Questions to this: Do I have peace with it? I do, mostly. Is it healthy? Yes, it is. Is it escalating? Not anymore. If it was continuing to creep, I would take out food. If you experience steady, continuous weight creep, my advice is to get really Bright and clean up your food plan. And, finally, is it messing with your weight? For me, yes, it is. But just a little. Not a lot.

If you are struggling with this, I feel you. It’s hard. I don’t have a lot of scale chatter now. I see the number each week and move on. Almost no food chatter, either. My life is full, and I don’t want to pick up this problem again. 

My family and I are going on a Disney cruise soon, and I will be putting on a smoking hot dress and enjoying myself. I’ve got so much life to live, and that’s how I’m framing this. Perhaps this is my new normal—but I’ll update you as we go along. 

I hope that something I’ve shared has been helpful. I know there are many people who love living Bright but aren’t happy with their weight. I shot this vlog for you. You’re not alone. Some of us are still wading through that river with you.