The steps were very useful for me for a number of reasons. Firstly they stopped the sudden gain of glycogen/water. This would have demotivated me. They restored my metabolic rate. They stopped me suddenly thinking the job was over, no great firework display and celebration of food when I got to goal...still have work to do.
They also gave me more time to work out how I was going to maintain.
SS is like walking with someone holding your hand. The steps are like walking beside someone. Independent, but with a guide to help me with my destination.
True maintenance was being left out in the field and being told that I was free to go wherever I wanted...good luck
After completing the steps, I calorie counted quite strictly for a 6 to 9 months so that I really knew what I could eat, sorted out my portion sizes, worked out how I could maintain on the foods I wanted to eat. I also used a calorie counter that helped me understand about getting a balance with foods. Healthy foods/less healthy foods/protein/carbs and above all, fats as I had been low fat for a long time and I wanted a more balanced way of eating (more like 30% fat...considered more 'normal' eating).
I did do an NLP course. I did Mikes. It was fab, but I was already 3 years at goal so wanted it more to help my clients and add to my knowledge of what it takes to maintain.
I didn't read many books at the beginning, but read masses of articles about how the body, hormones and mind works when it comes to both dieting and maintaining. Not any old article off the web, I researched as accurately as possible and checked out everything.
I think the most useful thing for me was getting it in my head that the diet wasn't the journey. The diet got me to the starting point, not the end. When I got to goal, it was the beginning of my biggest project. To learn how to be a normal eater as I didn't want to diet again.
I am a 'normal' eater and very comfortable with it, so I guess that makes me a successful maintainer
It's been a massive 'project' for me. One that has been scary, fun, and above all, given me so much insight into why I overate and how my body and mind work with my choices of food.
Can't say it was a quick recovery, but I don't regret one moment of really getting to grips with this once and for all.
I have a couple of posts somewhere. One that Katy mentioned and another with tips. I'll post the links in a mo.