Did you gain weight back?

girl_inflames

I've fluxuated between 5 pounds since I stopped dieting, but just recently I gained over 10 pounds
(it's been two years since I've dieted. I'm going back on my calorie counting journey now. (UGH lol).

Did you gain weight back? How long did did it take? Did you find it easy or hard to lose those gained pounds?

w8goal4life

The important thing for me is to avoid the word "diet." To me, it is a 4-letter word. I've never been on a diet, and I eat anything I want although perhaps not in the portions I might like. I have a "nutrition plan" which I refer to should conversation arise. I've been on this journey since 2011. Did I ever gain any weight back? You bet I did, and it started as soon as I stopped tracking...10 pounds over the course of a year. The most important lesson is that continued success is a lifestyle change. It doesn't stop once you've reached that magic weight goal. Maintaining is as difficult as losing, requiring adjustments, as needed, to stay in a healthy weight range. As far as losing the weight, again...it's all CICO. I hope I've learned from the same mistake you made and don't ever put that 10 pounds on, again. I invite you to participate in one of the community challenges, Ultimate Accountability Challenge. A new challenge starts each month, the leader RangerRickL is an attorney who opens each day with an inspiring photo or message. Each day, members account for exercise, calories and logging. It's very simple, no one dictates what you can or cannot eat, what exercise you choose, etc...and no one fails. It is an all-inclusive group. You can check it out here if you like. https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/129035-ultimate-accountability-challenge-november-2018

apullum

There's a big difference between stopping a diet and being in maintenance. What did you do when you stopped dieting? If you went back to the way you used to eat, then you will gain the weight back. You need to establish a maintenance routine in which you consistently stay within your maintenance calorie range. Some people choose to continue logging in maintenance, while others use other methods, such as weighing regularly and cutting calories if their weight goes outside their maintenance range.

DeniseWilson43

Yes an it sucks, it always come back, you just have to be real with your self, an strick with your self. I hate how creeps back up its battle that never ends Denise

zyxst

I gained 15# in the last year. It was easy. My depression spiked and I started stuffing food in my mouth to make myself feel better. I've lost (not regained *yet*) 2# in the past 2 months. I've had to become one of those people who can't have certain foods in the house, which sucks.

I never stopped logging either, so it's not like I hit goal and said "Lol. time to stop keeping a food diary!"

DoNotSpamMe73

Yes. It's a long arduous process and as much is maintaining weight as losing it. I've been up and down 20kg every few years. Seasonal maybe? Idk. But I'm watching it.

sijomial

No my weight didn't come back because I monitor my weight and set an upper limit that reminds me to take action.

When my weight does drift up towards my limit it's not hard to reverse the trend - a minor irritation not a huge PITA. I just make small adjustments to my weekly intake. I don't need to go "on a diet" or stick to a daily goal or deficit or eat boring food.

Maintenance at goal weight is great and it's worth putting in the effort to ensure it continues. A bit of vigilance doesn't take much effort but beware complacency, don't let a minor drift turn into a full blown slide.

Melionfire

In the past I always gained weight back after losing a large amount because I somehow forgot the principal of cico and let my calories slowly creep up over time and activity lever down. But now I feel I have a handle on it. I do weigh myself regularly and have a 5 pound range. If I ever hit the top end I start tracking more and moving more. I also added more lifting this time which has helped immensely. I feel having fitness goals not related to weight loss very motivational. Instead of I have to get this workout in and dreading it and often skipping it I look forward to seeing how much more I can lift each session. It is never ending and there will always be events and situations that throw curveballs at you but just remember cico.

MelanieCN77

No, I've been maintaining in the same 5lb range since March of 2017 because I still track and log.

LivingtheLeanDream

No. I've been maintaining within my 5lb range for over 5 years - its a habit to monitor my weight and if I saw weight creep happening, I'd nip it in the bud by going back to eating at deficit again.

Rocknut53

zyxst wrote: »

I gained 15# in the last year. It was easy. My depression spiked and I started stuffing food in my mouth to make myself feel better. I've lost (not regained *yet*) 2# in the past 2 months. I've had to become one of those people who can't have certain foods in the house, which sucks.

I never stopped logging either, so it's not like I hit goal and said "Lol. time to stop keeping a food diary!"

You took the words right out of my mouth! I'm fluctuating between 15-18# over my low of 129 and finding it really hard to turn that scale around. I know the how's and why's, I just can't seem to get it together. Life has thrown me some crap this year (doesn't it do that to everyone?) and it (the crap) just keeps coming. Even though I exercise to alleviate the stress, I can't seem to stop eating. I told myself when I lost the weight I wasn't going to become one of the those that gained it back (again and again) and here I am. My husband has heart surgery, hopefully soon, after 6 months of testing to figure out what's wrong with him. Maybe then, my mind will be in the right place to kick my depression and I'll be able to concentrate on ME. I've been logging since January 2016 so yeah, it's not like I quit either once I reached goal. Good luck to you, we can and will do this!

gojolida

I lost a lot of weight using MFP a few years ago, but developed a medical condition in the years i was maintaining my weight, and then depression, and then exhaustion. It's so much harder losing weight that you've put back on because with it comes the mentality that it's only a matter of time before you fail again or life trips you up. I read that Betty White doesn't let her scale fluctuate by a single pound, maybe that is part of the key to a long and healthy life. Staying conscious about your health and focused on your health every day of the year, no matter what.

mom23mangos

Yes I did. Slowly over 2-3 years. But I continued pushing myself in the gym consistently and was mindful about what I ate so most of the weight has been muscle (but not all). Instead of having a weight range where I take action, I more so have a "look range" where I try to dial it back a bit if I start to look a little too fluffy or clothes don't fit as well.

apullum

gojolida wrote: »

I lost a lot of weight using MFP a few years ago, but developed a medical condition in the years i was maintaining my weight, and then depression, and then exhaustion. It's so much harder losing weight that you've put back on because with it comes the mentality that it's only a matter of time before you fail again or life trips you up. I read that Betty White doesn't let her scale fluctuate by a single pound, maybe that is part of the key to a long and healthy life. Staying conscious about your health and focused on your health every day of the year, no matter what.

It's almost impossible for the scale to not fluctuate at all, and I don't think that's a healthy goal. It may fluctuate less for someone like an older woman who no longer has a menstrual cycle, but the number on the scale also changes due to things like whether you have had a bowel movement, or whether you ate a bit more sodium the day before, or whether you're a little bit more or less hydrated. No one's weight is precisely the same every single day.

kabrock74

Lost 60 between Dec '16 and Sept '17. Gained back 20 between Sept '17 and Nov '18. Need to start back to lose that 20 again with a goal timeline of May '19 in time for a trip I'm planning.