Is it more difficult the 2nd time?

Christismylife

If you lost weight and then gained it back, is it harder to lose the weight second time than it was the first time? I understand it can be harder mentally. But is it actually more difficult physically for your body to let go of the weight the second time? Is there any effect on your metabolism or body that would make it more difficult? Or is it exactly the same as the first time but just possibly more difficult mentally?

kommodevaran

It can be harder and easier mentally - harder because you're doing it again, but ir can be easier if you've learnt something from previous attempts. Physically, no difference. It's all in your head. (And that doesn't in itself mean it's easier.)

marieamethyst

It's been much easier for me, both physically and mentally. I think being aware of how the process works, and knowing I will get to goal if I keep at it, helps. I'm back to being within 10 lbs of my goal weight again, and the weight is coming off a little quicker than it did the first time thankfully!

kristen8000

For me it was the same. In 2011 I reached goal after losing 50lbs. In 2013, I lost about 15lbs of regain. Then in 2015, I did the same thing. And in 2017, I did the same thing. Each time it came off like expected. Did the same things each time. For me, it's mental. I need to be in a place to lose it. I need to want it. I need to be in a place where I'm not complacent. And that's hard. Physically, it's totally the same.

I'm hoping it's the last time - but I see the pattern. If I regain, I'm gonna live with the extra 15lbs. It's still in healthy range, I just prefer to be thinner. Totally vanity.

kgirlhart

I've really only lost a significant amount of weight twice. I have had probably 10-15 pounds that I have lost and gained throughout my life, but only twice have I actually really put in an effort and really lost. When I was in my 20's I lost ~40 doing low fat. That was in the 90's and low fat was the thing. It did work for me but it was miserable. Then I got pregnant and stopped eating low fat. After my son was born I lost some of the baby weight but not all and then slowly my weight started started creeping up until 2015. This time I lost ~75 pounds just counting calories. It has been much easier for me this time. I eat any foods I want that fit my goal. I am also more active so now that I am in maintenance I actually feel like I eat quite a bit. It was definitely easier for me the second time because the first time my diet was so restrictive. I often felt deprived and unhappy about dieting. This time I just ate what fit my goals and it really worked. The only thing that might have made it a bit harder the second time was that I needed to lose more weight than I needed to lose the first time so it took longer. But mentally it was much easier. Physically it was probably the same.

leggup

People who crash diet tend to lose a larger percentage of muscle than people who lose weight slowly. People who lose slowly AND lift lose the smallest % of muscle. People who have lost weight in the past have a harder time (physically) losing the same amount of fat a second time.

Let's say you did a crash diet and lost 20 lbs, but of that, because it was so sudden, 50% was fat, 50% was muscle. (I am making these numbers up--- no idea what real %s are like, but it's the idea that's important). You then gain 20 lbs back. Of the weight you gain back, some will be muscle (to haul your larger body around), but probably a small percentage, like 5% muscle, 15% fat.

The second time around for this person would be MUCH HARDER because of the 20 lbs they gained back, 15 lbs are fat, 5 lbs are muscle. Last time the crash diet caused you to lose 10 lbs of muscle. You will probably lose 10 lbs of muscle this time too, so that means 5 lbs of your squishy new fat is going to still be there instead of muscle if you lose 20 lbs. Even if you lose the exact same amount of weight the second time, you'll look bigger because you've traded muscle for fat. Your measurements will be larger as well.

its1230atnight

I've lost 100 pounds, gained 100 pounds, lost 20, gained 20, so on and so forth. This is my second time at losing 100. It's frustrating needing to do it again; it took me a while to get to the point I was ready to put in the effort it took to do it all over again. But, I also know, concretely, what I have to look forward to. I know how much it's worth it. Being fat is for the birds. I look ten years younger and the hip bones are on fleek. As far as my body responding to what I'm doing and it being more difficult in a technical capacity? I think it's actually easier this time around. It's like my body is snapping back to what it felt the best doing, and is relieved to be active. Muscle memory, literally.

stanmann571

Last year, I cut down from 260 to 229, 5ish pounds from my goal number.

I slacked off and got up to 243-245. decided to buckle down again, and it's practically effortless because of the lessons learned from last year. Back to 233 as of this morning. going to power through to 220-223, and try being a bit more diligent in maintenance this go.

shadow2soul

I have had a couple slip ups over the years. Always seem to catch myself at about 20 lbs regained. To me it's always seemed the same difficulty everytime. I've never let myself regain everything that I have lost so maybe that's part of it. I dunno.

I try to learn from my slip ups. My last one I determined me and Trinessa birth control pills don't get along. It messed with my hormones and made me feel hungry all the time (I caved and ate way to much).

Alidecker

I am having a harder time this go around. I lost 130 pounds in 2009-2010, I have gained 50 back and having such a hard time getting back to eating at a deficit. Luckily I never stopped working out or it could be worse I guess. Finding a happy balance in life is what I am struggling for.

cwolfman13

I've been in maintenance more or less for going on 5 years. Pretty much every winter I put on about 10 Lbs...I have zero issues dropping my winter weight in the spring.

I lost a total of about 40 Lbs...I would suspect that if I put back that total 40 again, it would be more difficult, but it would be a mental thing more than physiological.

sgt1372

Wasn't for me.

Lost 40# 5 yrs ago but then suffered a back injury lifting, had a couple of surgeries for different medical issues and just myself go back to bad eating habits.

After those things got sorted out 2 yrs ago, I just dropped the bad eating habits and went back to doing the lifting and exercise that helped me lose the weight b4 and lost 40# quickly again.

Been in maintenance for the past year and don't expect to gain back the weight again.

okohjacinda

I don't really take too much to what they say about metabolism as sound because I did a lot of damage to my body in college and still can lose fast if I really put my mind into it. So like others have said it can be both harder and easier mentally because you know what to do, but when you get close to goal and drop the ball and gain it all back it really hits you for a minute mentally. I had between 50-60lbs left after losing 90lbs and it took so long to get there (because I kept mentally psyching myself out and bingeing). It has been hard trying to lose ever since I think more mentally than physically. Once I get my mind back on track, it usually doesn't take my body long to cooperate, but its the mental struggle of knowing how far I came and how far I let myself get back that plays with my progress more than anything.

The hardest part about losing again is knowing that you can get there and you will but waiting to get there is the problem if you don't have much patience which I don't but I am sucking it up and dealing with it head on instead of backpedaling as usual.

AmandaEdwards1

I just feel like when it's right it's right. I dieted for years before my last successful run at losing weight. In 2011, I went from 224 to 147 after many unsuccessful attempts at losing weight. One day...it just clicked and I was able to stick with it and then push myself harder.

Since then, I have managed to gain back about 50 lbs. I have, again, made several unsuccessful attempts at losing the weight but something feels different about this time as well. I know that I am going to keep pushing myself.

It's completely mental. The only person who has control over your eating habits and exercise routine is you.

beachme14

I don't think it's harder the second time around, but it is taking me longer. That doesn't bother me though because I know the process works. Just need to be patient.

Falklang

There's a cracking video my a bloke named Paul Revelia On YouTube named What's is your diet age? Check it out he goes over about how the number of time you diet can determine your outcome sort of thing.