The keeper protects what’s already working—not perfect systems, but imperfect practices that got you this far. Research by Wing and Phelan on long-term weight maintainers shows maintaining is harder than starting, and small erosions—missed days, “just this once” exceptions—are how flames go out. Successful maintainers internalized behaviors as identity, not rules. What you protect today, you keep tomorrow.
This companion covers maintenance psychology, what the keeper protects, the threat of erosion, and the keeper’s wisdom. (4 min read)