Lost weight, gained it all back. Please help.

cwolfman13

meganjcallaghan wrote: »

Like people have said, part of the problem for many is that they see the goal weight as the end of the road. Like you "only" have to utilize the tools that MFP or other programs have to offer until you hit that goal and then you've succeeded and the work is done. I hear people say all the time..." I couldn't POSSibly count calories for the rest of my liiiiiiiife!!! What?! are you CRAZY?!!?" As though it's the most difficult thing in the world when it's actually quite simple and not even that time consuming. People I know who will spend hours on a Netflix binge end up looking at me like I've grown a 2nd head if I suggest that keeping a tally of their calories eaten every day might prove more useful than "just trying to eat healthier". Because...you know...that would just take up too much of their time.

actually, i don't view logging as a lifestyle...I view it as a teaching tool...like training wheels on a bike. I eat very healthfully and don't log a damned thing...haven't for over two years and I maintain just fine...because the way I live my life is conducive to maintaining a healthy weight and being fit as hell.

OP...you know how to lose...so do it...and then realize that you can't go back to the way things were...you have to adopt a new normal, whatever that means for you.

Pinnacle_IAO

kaosvarkas wrote: »

Hi All,

I previously used this site and it helped me lost over 100 pounds to get down to 130. I have no regained all my weight in just over a year and am back at 230. I am feeling some major depression and discouragement from this. Does anyone have any stories or words of wisdom they can share? It would really be greatly appreciated. I feel highly disappointed in myself and honestly kimnd of in disbelief.

Thanks

I lost 100 pounds and have maintained for 2 years now.
Maintaining takes every bit as much effort as losing the weight.
Next time you reach your goal, remember, the battle is won but not the war.
You did it once, and you can do this again. GOOD LUCK

meganjcallaghan

cwolfman13 wrote: »

meganjcallaghan wrote: »

Like people have said, part of the problem for many is that they see the goal weight as the end of the road. Like you "only" have to utilize the tools that MFP or other programs have to offer until you hit that goal and then you've succeeded and the work is done. I hear people say all the time..." I couldn't POSSibly count calories for the rest of my liiiiiiiife!!! What?! are you CRAZY?!!?" As though it's the most difficult thing in the world when it's actually quite simple and not even that time consuming. People I know who will spend hours on a Netflix binge end up looking at me like I've grown a 2nd head if I suggest that keeping a tally of their calories eaten every day might prove more useful than "just trying to eat healthier". Because...you know...that would just take up too much of their time.

actually, i don't view logging as a lifestyle...I view it as a teaching tool...like training wheels on a bike. I eat very healthfully and don't log a damned thing...haven't for over two years and I maintain just fine...because the way I live my life is conducive to maintaining a healthy weight and being fit as hell.

Yeah, I'm not even talking about necessarily logging it, but keeping a mental tally of what you've even over the course of the day if you have the tendency to overeat...or for some people, undereat. I can count on one hand how many times I can ever remember actually feeling hungry...whether I had last eaten sometime that day or 2 days ago. So for me it could go either way...I could forget to eat (or eat so little it doesn't count for much) for days on end depending on how busy I am...or I could end up overeating because I also never feel full. Either way, keeping track of approximately how many calories I've gotten over the day whether on paper or just in my head is something I'll have to do so that I don't go to either extreme without even noticing. At this point in my life I find I have to keep track to make sure I eat enough and don't end up at too low of a weight because of all the running I do. Sometimes I'll get to the end of the day, look at MFP and be like "oh. so somehow I have to knock back 1100 calories still. grand."

meganjcallaghan

kaosvarkas wrote: »

meganjcallaghan wrote: »

Like people have said, part of the problem for many is that they see the goal weight as the end of the road. Like you "only" have to utilize the tools that MFP or other programs have to offer until you hit that goal and then you've succeeded and the work is done. I hear people say all the time..." I couldn't POSSibly count calories for the rest of my liiiiiiiife!!! What?! are you CRAZY?!!?" As though it's the most difficult thing in the world when it's actually quite simple and not even that time consuming. People I know who will spend hours on a Netflix binge end up looking at me like I've grown a 2nd head if I suggest that keeping a tally of their calories eaten every day might prove more useful than "just trying to eat healthier". Because...you know...that would just take up too much of their time.

Anyhoo the general assumption seems to be that the good habits have gone by the wayside and it's as simple as remembering that you have to keep the habits and look at this as a lifestyle change rather than a diet....but since that's not necessarily what the issue was, I'm curious....WAS it as simple as that? Or was there something else that came along and caused the regain? Can you pinpoint specific events that caused you to go off the rails temporarily? Is there anything that might need to be addressed aside from the making or breaking of basic habits?

I struggle with anxiety and depression. When I lost all my weight, it could be argued that I was obsessed to the point of an eating disorder. Then I had a complete breakdown, was all the way down to 120 pounds as a 5'6 Male and for the first time in my life I was uncomfortably skinny. When I went inpatient for my mental issues I ate like it was my job because I was scared of how skinny I was. Its been constant and quick regain since then even though I felt like at a certain point I was no longer trying to regain and I just couldnt stop it. So I kept gaining and I got more depressed which caused me to eat and gain more and faster. It turned into a vicious cycle that I've been struggling to get out of ever since. So here I am now.

So is there more that needs to be addressed with this? You can want to make all the effort in the world, but if you haven't put the psychologically related issues to rest with whatever tools you can get from the pros, chances are you'll end up back in the same position again.

BlackPup

I'm totally with you. My progress chart looks like a mountain range. I think I've lost the same weight 3 times over!!! I know I can do it cos I've done it before and this time I'm going to keep takeaway and junk food to a minimum to try to maintain it after I lose it. I also like the idea of having a few kilos to play with and if it creeps past that then start being more diligent.

kaosvarkas

Just wanted to update this post. I am still trying to get started. Had a good day yesterday but screwed it up with eating at midnight last night. I nee to get back on track. I am now 251 pounds. The heaviest I have been in a very long time. To think about how I was down to 120 and I am now back up to 251 is extremely demoralizing. I'm sure you all know this feeling however. I just need to find a way to get back on the horse so to speak.