I'm gaining back everything I'd lost

ecpetrik

Hi,
I had lost 58 pounds on ozempic and then wegovy. I've been off wegovy since March 2024 and I've gained back almost 10 pounds. I've been using this app since November 2024. I like it. The problem is me. I don't have the motivation and dedication that I had before and I can no longer control my appetite. I feel like I should throw out all the chocolate in the house, but I'm afraid I'll just eat too much of something else. I know what I should do. I just can't seem to make myself do it. I used to walk 5 days a week, even more over the summer, but slowly I've been tapering off. I live in the northeast and it's hard for me to go out in the cold. I'll never be able to take a weight loss medication again because I can't manage my eating. I'm letting myself down. Sorry for such a depressing message.

springlering62

@ecpetrik Don’t be depressed. Weight loss is hard. People don’t realize, though, maintenance is much harder. No one tells them that during the process.

There’s a lot of really great threads in the boards. There’s a recent one in the past day or two where members have posted ideas and strategies they use to avoid oversnacking, binging, or going over calories.

If I see it again I’ll post you the link.

For me, it’s needlework. You need clean hands to do it, and I get so immersed, I lose track of time.

If I’m trying to stretch time between meals or snacks, I take the dog for a walk and listen to a great podcast. Outdoors, esp in a sunny day, works wonders, and by the time we get back, munchy thoughts have receded.

Some people mistake dehydration as hunger cues. I’m bad for that, always have been. Try drinking glass of water and waiting ten minutes and see if that helps.

Won’t lie. I was a Grade A Chocoholicn to the tune of a pound or two a day. When I finally reached the end of my tether, I did throw or give away all the sweets in the house. Bags full. Even the hidden stashes.

So if it’s something you want to eat and can’t stop, what else do you like? What about airpopped popcorn? Fruit? I’m not a big fruit eater, but I could eat cherries til my eyes cross. Roasted seasoned beans? Substituting something like this would be a step up from chocolate, and might help you learn to control.

What about increasing protein? Many people find that very satiating.

When I first started, I knew I’d desperately miss chocolate. I came up with a high protein smoothie that tasted like a Wendy’s Frosty. Stupid, but imagining I was eating a Frosty relieved the pressure. It was delicious and nutritious. Sometimes I’d have them twice a day, just because.

Even now, I make chocolate protein pancakes, spread them with homemade low cal “cottage cheese”, roll the dang things up and pretend I’m having Swiss Rolls for breakfast.

Find your mind game that will help you through this. Come back to these boards and talk about it. Sometimes pissing and moaning amongst like minded folks really helps. And when you find that it does, pay it forward by helping out the next person who’s struggling.

springlering62

And one more thing….lost 58, gained 10?

Honey that’s a win. Accept it with gratitude.

You’re still down a net 48, are trying to nip it in the bud instead of sitting back and gaining it all back (with friends). Read the intro boards and you’ll see endless posts by people who’ve done just that.

You pat yourself on the back and tell yourself “good catch, me!”

ecpetrik

Thank you so much for responding to my post. I really was pretty negative. I'm reading your response now and it was so positive. I am grateful. To be honest, last night I ate an entire bag of Christmas chocolates and I don't even know why. Totally mindless eating. BUT! I've had a stomach ache ever since, and it's been 24 hours. I don't think I'll be doing that again any time soon. Now I'm just wondering how long my stomach is going to hurt. Thank you again!

AmunahSki

Take heart, and as @springlering62 said, you may have gained a little but you are still at a net loss: don’t give up on yourself - this shizzle is tough! If it was easy, MFP wouldn’t exist and we wouldn’t all be here.

Maintaining weight loss is about finding ways to navigate between what we WANT and what we NEED… and if it goes a little awry we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down, and get back on track.

I assure you, we all have our personal ‘kryptonite’, that weakens our resolve and threatens to overpower us… mine is a very particular brand of crisps (chips) that is only sold in 150g bags (why God, why?), so you can imagine what happens. I have tried portion control (by weighing them into 30g bags) but when I know they’re in the house I I literally can’t think of anything else until I have eaten them ALL. My only solution has been to stop buying them, and just try to forget they even exist. This Christmas, I bought one as a special treat but I only opened the bag when other people were around so I HAD to share. I’m waiting for my birthday before I buy any more…

A tactic that could work well is to store all chocolate in the freezer. It has to be frozen very tightly wrapped, and then thawed slowly in the refrigerator before bringing to room temperature to eat it… this sounds like an ideal way to ensure you can plan in advance to enjoy some within your calorie ‘budget’, but as it’s impossible to eat frozen it prevents those uncontrollable binges.

I wish it was possible to freeze crisps

springlering62

@AmunahSki i have to laugh at your story.

My fave is Cadbury’s Crispy Eggs. Love the taste, love to bite the shell off, would literally go through two or three pounds a day while they were in season. (Only at Easter)

I promised myself I’d buy the small personal size bag and slowly savor them, because I’ve earned them.

But for the last few years, I pick em up, read the nutritional label and drop em like a hot potato.

I feel like if I gave back in to that particular vice, it would be a slippery slope down.

I can eat other chocolates, and even over-eat them once or twice a month, but they don’t affect me the way I’m sure a bag of those eggs would.

AmunahSki

@ecpetrik, you’re not alone!

Anyone else care to share their Kryptonite, and (more importantly) ways to deal with it?

springlering62

AmunahSki wrote: »

@ecpetrik, you’re not alone!

Anyone else care to share their Kryptonite, and (more importantly) ways to deal with it?

Get it out of the house

If it finds its way into your basket, it needs to find its way out before checkout

Find yummy substitutes. The desire to snack never leaves.

I had 300 calories to use up for two snacks today, but it’s also gonna be a highly active day.

Coconut Dark Chicolate Nugo protein bar: 200 calories

5-grain Italian bread, half an ounce of triple cream Brie type cheese, and half a serving of fig spread: about 200

True, it’s a few calories over my “use up the 300” goal but lots of protein, healthy fats, and some nice carbs to boot.

That would have been four or five tiny chocolate truffles. Maybe some other day I’ll shoot for that.

Calories and foods are like Tetris. What can you move til later and replace for today with a better choice, that fits your goal? Maybe you’ll like today’s choice better after all!

I’ve already “burned off” the extra few, and haven’t even gone to the pool yet. 👍🏻.