"If you're fat and lose weight, you're probably gonna get fat again"
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I think it happens when people do unsustainable things to lose weight and/or don't have a good understanding of how to behave on a permanent basis for maintenance. They go for some crazy program rather than saying "for the rest of my life I will have to behave in this new way of tracking food and working out regularly." When it comes to studies, they tend to find that the people who do keep the weight off are the people who continue working out and don't get slack about it. If you keep your muscle mass up and burn calories through activity regularly you stand a much better chance of keeping the weight off than if you return to being sedentary and allow your body to lose muscle thus burning fewer calories and gaining weight back.0
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One thing I wonder is how often are these people weighing themselves after they lose the weight? Since I got my own place and have a scale in the bathroom it's become a ritual. My weight gain the beginning of this year did not stop me from weighing myself, at worst i'd be like "damn, 220 again?" and huff and maybe eat a bit less in the following days.
I still don't understand how the weight "creeps back up" on someone. When I hit my goal the only way I will gain (which I'm not going to let happen) is if I see my weight go up every day and actively say "i am done giving a *kitten* and am gonna let myself get heavier" and watch the process. I have never seen the point in hiding from the scale when one is available.0 -
DuckReconMajor wrote: »One thing I wonder is how often are these people weighing themselves after they lose the weight? Since I got my own place and have a scale in the bathroom it's become a ritual. My weight gain the beginning of this year did not stop me from weighing myself, at worst i'd be like "damn, 220 again?" and huff and maybe eat a bit less in the following days.
I still don't understand how the weight "creeps back up" on someone. When I hit my goal the only way I will gain (which I'm not going to let happen) is if I see my weight go up every day and actively say "i am done giving a *kitten* and am gonna let myself get heavier" and watch the process. I have never seen the point in hiding from the scale when one is available.
True. It's habit everyone should maintain. I remember reading somewhere that those who weigh themselves during maintenance keep off 30% more weight than those who don't.0 -
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If addiction, I can believe it. Regardless of addiction, I don't believe the success rate is very high for long term adherence.
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They say that people who lose on crash diets have the same success rate for maintaining as those who don't. How you lose the weight is no indication of success when it comes to keeping it off.I think it happens when people do unsustainable things to lose weight and/or don't have a good understanding of how to behave on a permanent basis for maintenance.
It's all very depressing when I think about it, lol.
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They say that people who lose on crash diets have the same success rate for maintaining as those who don't. How you lose the weight is no indication of success when it comes to keeping it off.I think it happens when people do unsustainable things to lose weight and/or don't have a good understanding of how to behave on a permanent basis for maintenance.
It's all very depressing when I think about it, lol.
So you are already thinking of become a statistic?
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amusedmonkey wrote: »In maintenance a person's focus on diet tends to taper off since seeing the same number on the scale (that is if they keep the amazing habit of weighing periodically) is not the same as anticipating different numbers each time.
Whoa. I never thought about that. I AM very driven by seeing the number go down. I never thought about how seeing the same weight over and over again in maintenance could affect motivation. Good to think about before I get there!0 -
Peole regain the weight because they go back to their old habits once they lose it. Don't do that, and you won't regain the weight.0
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I'm driven by seeing the numbers do what I want them to do. When I was losing, that was going down. In maintenance, that's seeing them stay about the same. Seeing the same number over and over again is a good thing. When I bulk, it will be about seeing them go up.amusedmonkey wrote: »In maintenance a person's focus on diet tends to taper off since seeing the same number on the scale (that is if they keep the amazing habit of weighing periodically) is not the same as anticipating different numbers each time.
Whoa. I never thought about that. I AM very driven by seeing the number go down. I never thought about how seeing the same weight over and over again in maintenance could affect motivation. Good to think about before I get there!
ETA: Although, right now, the numbers aren't doing what I want, so I'm probably going to have to add a couple hundred calories a day, soon.
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yopeeps025 wrote: »
They say that people who lose on crash diets have the same success rate for maintaining as those who don't. How you lose the weight is no indication of success when it comes to keeping it off.I think it happens when people do unsustainable things to lose weight and/or don't have a good understanding of how to behave on a permanent basis for maintenance.
It's all very depressing when I think about it, lol.
So you are already thinking of become a statistic?
Everyone is part of the statistics, even those who keep it off. Those 2/10 who keep it off are in those stats.
If the stats are right, 8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back will, in fact, gain it back. It only makes sense to consider it.0 -
DeguelloTex wrote: »
I'm driven by seeing the numbers do what I want them to do. When I was losing, that was going down. In maintenance, that's seeing them stay about the same. Seeing the same number over and over again is a good thing. When I bulk, it will be about seeing them go up.amusedmonkey wrote: »In maintenance a person's focus on diet tends to taper off since seeing the same number on the scale (that is if they keep the amazing habit of weighing periodically) is not the same as anticipating different numbers each time.
Whoa. I never thought about that. I AM very driven by seeing the number go down. I never thought about how seeing the same weight over and over again in maintenance could affect motivation. Good to think about before I get there!
Good point. Maybe when I get to maintenance I will be driven by recording the same(ish) weight every week and watching the number of weeks grow. Different goal, but still number-driven.0 -
I heard someone describe maintenance once as gaining and losing the same 5 pounds over and over - makes sense to me. After losing 125+ lbs and being in maintenance for 15 months, I look at scale weight as a game - can I keep the numbers in my range and if I go over or under my range how fast can I get back in my range? Took awhile to shift my focus from seeing the numbers go down constantly but coming up with a new challenge for myself helped a lot.0
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yopeeps025 wrote: »
They say that people who lose on crash diets have the same success rate for maintaining as those who don't. How you lose the weight is no indication of success when it comes to keeping it off.I think it happens when people do unsustainable things to lose weight and/or don't have a good understanding of how to behave on a permanent basis for maintenance.
It's all very depressing when I think about it, lol.
So you are already thinking of become a statistic?
Everyone is part of the statistics, even hoes who keep it off. Those 2/10 who keep it off are in those stats.
If the stats are right, 8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back will, in fact, gain it back. It only makes sense to consider it.
n=1 will succeed. I don't really care who gives up because I know I won't. Statistics are facts about the past and you keep holding it to truth about the future.0 -
HappyCampr1 wrote: »There's one thing that I agree with in the article. It says a lot of formerly obese people lose weight and then decide they are ok even though they are still overweight. That's me. Normal range for me starts at 148-149. I'm currently 150.5, but I normally maintain around 152. My BF% is good for someone my age (49). I'm ok with this weight and so I'm one of those statistics in the article.
Glad I'm not the only one. I've got 10 more pounds and a few % BF I'm working on, but I've maintained a long time in the slightly overweight category. At least according to BMI I should be <159 lbs, but I'm fairly happy, healthy, and fit at ~165.0 -
Meh, a lot of people who lose a ton of weight do it through medical VLCDs and fad diets. You can even add the surgical folks as well. I would expect those people to gain a lot of weight back since the probably never learned anything about nutrition to begin with.
I would be interested in seeing how many people gained weight back AFTER learning just the basics of weight loss.0 -
my thoughts are that 95% of people who are overweight and lose weight will regain the weight because they talk a good talk about living a more healthful lifestyle, but really it only ends up being temporary. They never actually adopt a healthier lifestyle...they just go back to same old same old.
I've maintained my weight loss for over two years largely because I've adopted a healthier way of eating than I used to and regular exercise is a huge part of who I am now vs. who I was just three years ago.
Everyone controls their own destiny...most just fail at making long term, sustainable life changes.0 -
An excuse not to commit
Don't care what happens to those who don't commit properly ...I've got this
exactly...it's like everything else in life..marriage, your job, paying off your mortgage...
It takes drive and commitment and the desire to keep at it regardless....
Like my profile says...you either want it or you don't....
Yup, if you have the desire, drive and commitment to keep at it FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE you won't gain it back. If you look at eating for weight loss as a temporary measure, of course you will gain it back! I'm in the former category - this is what I have to do for the rest of my life. Otherwise, I'll be right back where I started. I guess that makes me a special snowflake as well...0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »my thoughts are that 95% of people who are overweight and lose weight will regain the weight because they talk a good talk about living a more healthful lifestyle, but really it only ends up being temporary. They never actually adopt a healthier lifestyle...they just go back to same old same old.
I've maintained my weight loss for over two years largely because I've adopted a healthier way of eating than I used to and regular exercise is a huge part of who I am now vs. who I was just three years ago.
Everyone controls their own destiny...most just fail at making long term, sustainable life changes.
I agree, but this thread makes me think: everyone says "it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle." This irks me. I'm not interested in fad diets, by no means. But cutting out 250 (or many more) calories a day is not meant to be a lifestyle. It does indeed have an end point (maintenance). THEN, maintenance is what I would deem a new lifestyle. I think this is part of the problem. Understanding that the deficit portion is actually temporary, and planning for a maintenance transition. I think about it all the time. I envision myself at my goal weight and think about how I will "spend" those extra calories...will I simply eat 250 calories more each day? Exercise less? Continue to eat at a deficit during the week so I can really indulge on the weekends?
It's sort of like people who spend years planning their wedding...without any thought about what it's actually going to be like BEING MARRIED.0 -
NikiChicken wrote: »An excuse not to commit
Don't care what happens to those who don't commit properly ...I've got this
exactly...it's like everything else in life..marriage, your job, paying off your mortgage...
It takes drive and commitment and the desire to keep at it regardless....
Like my profile says...you either want it or you don't....
Yup, if you have the desire, drive and commitment to keep at it FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE you won't gain it back. If you look at eating for weight loss as a temporary measure, of course you will gain it back! I'm in the former category - this is what I have to do for the rest of my life. Otherwise, I'll be right back where I started. I guess that makes me a special snowflake as well...
and its the not going back to where i started is what keeps me going.
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bjankabarazani wrote: »A very interesting article on food addiction in obese and formerly obese people. What are your thoughts on it?
http://www.lift-run-bang.com/2014/05/if-youre-fat-and-lose-weight-youre.html
I think it's true that lots of people are overweight and obese and that most people who lose weight gain it back.
I also think the effort to connect that to addiction and the notion that addiction is necessary to explain something that seems not surprising at all given the environment is pretty silly and wrong and lacks an understanding of what addiction is.0 -
If by "hold it to truth about the future" you mean that I assume I will fail, you're very wrong. I'm really not sure if that's what you meant or not.yopeeps025 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »
They say that people who lose on crash diets have the same success rate for maintaining as those who don't. How you lose the weight is no indication of success when it comes to keeping it off.I think it happens when people do unsustainable things to lose weight and/or don't have a good understanding of how to behave on a permanent basis for maintenance.
It's all very depressing when I think about it, lol.
So you are already thinking of become a statistic?
Everyone is part of the statistics, even hoes who keep it off. Those 2/10 who keep it off are in those stats.
If the stats are right, 8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back will, in fact, gain it back. It only makes sense to consider it.
n=1 will succeed. I don't really care who gives up because I know I won't. Statistics are facts about the past and you keep holding it to truth about the future.
I think it's foolish to not take a good, hard look at those stats and consider the possibility of failure.
Refusing to acknowledge the possibility that it could happen when the odds are that it will happen...that's just not very smart, IMO. Most people say they won't be gaining it back and then they do. I don't want to be one of those people.
8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back are going to gain it back. I wish I knew how to be one of the two who won't.
But there is no way to know who will and who won't. If we knew that, this thread wouldn't have to exist, lol.
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I would rather spend the majority of my life yoyo dieting than being obese and not doing anything about it. This is my 4th time trying to lose weight - every time I try I'm more in control, more educated, and stronger. One day I will succeed because I never completely gave up.0
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i agree only to a slight extent. have a quick think about it and then move on. when i started out if i read that article i might not have bothered. there will be people who think why bother. you fail when you give up.
If by "hold it to truth about the future" you mean that I assume I will fail, you're very wrong. I'm really not sure if that's what you meant or not.yopeeps025 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »
They say that people who lose on crash diets have the same success rate for maintaining as those who don't. How you lose the weight is no indication of success when it comes to keeping it off.I think it happens when people do unsustainable things to lose weight and/or don't have a good understanding of how to behave on a permanent basis for maintenance.
It's all very depressing when I think about it, lol.
So you are already thinking of become a statistic?
Everyone is part of the statistics, even hoes who keep it off. Those 2/10 who keep it off are in those stats.
If the stats are right, 8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back will, in fact, gain it back. It only makes sense to consider it.
n=1 will succeed. I don't really care who gives up because I know I won't. Statistics are facts about the past and you keep holding it to truth about the future.
I think it's foolish to not take a good, hard look at those stats and consider the possibility of failure.
Refusing to acknowledge the possibility that it could happen when the odds are that it will happen...that's just not very smart, IMO. Most people say they won't be gaining it back and then they do. I don't want to be one of those people.
8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back are going to gain it back. I wish I knew how to be one of the two who won't.
But there is no way to know who will and who won't. If we knew that, this thread wouldn't have to exist, lol.0 -
If by "hold it to truth about the future" you mean that I assume I will fail, you're very wrong. I'm really not sure if that's what you meant or not.yopeeps025 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »
They say that people who lose on crash diets have the same success rate for maintaining as those who don't. How you lose the weight is no indication of success when it comes to keeping it off.I think it happens when people do unsustainable things to lose weight and/or don't have a good understanding of how to behave on a permanent basis for maintenance.
It's all very depressing when I think about it, lol.
So you are already thinking of become a statistic?
Everyone is part of the statistics, even hoes who keep it off. Those 2/10 who keep it off are in those stats.
If the stats are right, 8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back will, in fact, gain it back. It only makes sense to consider it.
n=1 will succeed. I don't really care who gives up because I know I won't. Statistics are facts about the past and you keep holding it to truth about the future.
I think it's foolish to not take a good, hard look at those stats and consider the possibility of failure.
Refusing to acknowledge the possibility that it could happen when the odds are that it will happen...that's just not very smart, IMO. Most people say they won't be gaining it back and then they do. I don't want to be one of those people.
8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back are going to gain it back. I wish I knew how to be one of the two who won't.
But there is no way to know who will and who won't. If we knew that, this thread wouldn't have to exist, lol.
That is where your mindset and my mindset are different. I don't care how many people fail at maintenance. There is no need to think about the negative because I won't let that happen.
You don't have a long term plan. I do for sure.
Statistics says this so it must be true. How do you know this anyways? You psychic?8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back are going to gain it back. I wish I knew how to be one of the two who won't.
Also are you not more knowledge to make sure you don't become overweight again? You sound like you are doubting yourselves and I do not know why.0 -
cwolfman13 wrote: »my thoughts are that 95% of people who are overweight and lose weight will regain the weight because they talk a good talk about living a more healthful lifestyle, but really it only ends up being temporary. They never actually adopt a healthier lifestyle...they just go back to same old same old.
I've maintained my weight loss for over two years largely because I've adopted a healthier way of eating than I used to and regular exercise is a huge part of who I am now vs. who I was just three years ago.
Everyone controls their own destiny...most just fail at making long term, sustainable life changes.
I agree, but this thread makes me think: everyone says "it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle." This irks me. I'm not interested in fad diets, by no means. But cutting out 250 (or many more) calories a day is not meant to be a lifestyle. It does indeed have an end point (maintenance). THEN, maintenance is what I would deem a new lifestyle. I think this is part of the problem. Understanding that the deficit portion is actually temporary, and planning for a maintenance transition. I think about it all the time. I envision myself at my goal weight and think about how I will "spend" those extra calories...will I simply eat 250 calories more each day? Exercise less? Continue to eat at a deficit during the week so I can really indulge on the weekends?
It's sort of like people who spend years planning their wedding...without any thought about what it's actually going to be like BEING MARRIED.
the "lifestyle" isn't necessarily the calories you're consuming or counting calories...it's adopting a more healthful diet...adopting regular exercise as a way of life...eating for health and well being, not just for weight management.
I don't count *kitten*...I don't log..haven't for over two years...I maintain very easily because I've adopted a dietary lifestyle that is rich in whole food nutrition...it is not impossible for me to overeat, but it is much more difficult for me to overeat with the way I eat...and like I said, regular exercise is a big part of the new me. Maintaining a healthy weight and being lean and fit is a bi-product of living a healthful life...that's where pretty much everyone goes wrong.
I didn't just cut calories...you're always going to have calorie adjustments because maintenance isn't some fixed number...I adopted a new way of eating...yes, I have some "junk" here and there...I go out for pizza every few weeks with my boys and I have treats here and there...but that kind of stuff is de minimis. I have adopted a new "normal"...that is where people fail.
I've learned to listen to my body...I know the difference between hungry and bored...I know when I need food for recovery from, say a 50 mile ride...and I know what kind of food I need for said recovery. I've become far more in tune with my body since I dumped the diary. Don't get me wrong, it was a great teaching tool...but I think people get so wrapped up in some number...as if their TDEE was exactly that number...it is not.0 -
yopeeps025 wrote: »yopeeps025 wrote: »
They say that people who lose on crash diets have the same success rate for maintaining as those who don't. How you lose the weight is no indication of success when it comes to keeping it off.I think it happens when people do unsustainable things to lose weight and/or don't have a good understanding of how to behave on a permanent basis for maintenance.
It's all very depressing when I think about it, lol.
So you are already thinking of become a statistic?
Everyone is part of the statistics, even hoes who keep it off. Those 2/10 who keep it off are in those stats.
If the stats are right, 8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back will, in fact, gain it back. It only makes sense to consider it.
n=1 will succeed. I don't really care who gives up because I know I won't. Statistics are facts about the past and you keep holding it to truth about the future.
8/10 people in this thread who say they won't gain it back are going to gain it back. I wish I knew how to be one of the two who won't.
This simply isn't true. The vast majority of MFP members that frequent the forums are much more knowledgeable about weight loss than the average joe taking phentramine on their doc's recommendation. That 8/10 number does not apply here.
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I don't think the article was very helpful to those of us here seeking GOOD advice as well as encouragement. I know I DEFINITELY don't need any Negative Nancy's in my ear telling me Im just gonna gain it back eventually anyway. Kind of makes us all feel like why are we trying anyway if the end result is failure??
Not the kind of news feed I'm looking for 
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