Non-first timers -- what happened?

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  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Assuming this includes people who aren't just coming back to MFP but have had various diet failures in the past. I was obese for the 1st 20 years of my adult life and did all kinds of yo-yo dieting in that period of time.

    - Did you just quit completely and eat just like before?

    Most of the time I'd slowly get back to bad behaviors. I'd start sneaking in extra things and eventually went back to previous bad eating altogether.

    - Or think you did not need to track anymore because you knew portion controls? (But than, did you also stop weighing yourself?)

    Sure! I fooled myself a few times that because I'd lost 20 or 30 pounds that I'd obviously gotten over whatever my problem was before and didn't have to worry about tracking, etc to lose the rest of my weight. Of course that never worked out... As far as weighing myself, I've been a daily weigher since I was a pre-teen. The only time I stopped was when I was getting to my heaviest and couldn't face it.

    - What were your reasons?

    Deprivation. God bless my relationships with my best friend that allowed her to feel comfortable asking me why I had regained the weight aftering being semi-successful with Atkins years before. At first I blew it off (like, why dwell on the past) but I couldn't get the question out of my mind so I did some thinking over a few weeks and it finally occured to me that the one thing about all my past dieitng attempts that was an issue was trying to cut out foods that I loved! So this time I've made a real effort to eat what I like but in proper portions and/or with healthy alternatives.

    - Any tips on potential pitfalls?

    Track honestly and consistely (weigh and measure everything if you have to, at least at first)

    Don't put emotional baggage behind what the scale says you weigh, in other words, learn about why fluctuations happen (usually water weight). And use other methods - body measurements, progress pics, body fat %, etc.

    Don't just be active to create a calorie deficit for weight loss, be active because it's good for your health. Same with eating better - do it because it's good for you.

    Be sure to set realistic weight loss goals - or avoid setting them altogether and use fitness/nutrtion goals instead.

    Every time you make a change, seriously think about whether or not it's something you can do long term. This is what is meant by lifestyle changes.

    That's all I've got off the top of my head. Best of luck!
  • ScouseNerd
    ScouseNerd Posts: 119 Member
    Burned out on 1200 - came back with 1600 and for the first time feel that I am not really 'dieting'. No starvation, no cravings (well, not as many!) and no sense of depriving myself!

    This!

    I felt like I was wasting my time. I only lost 1lb a week for a few weeks and then nothing, and I was constantly depriving myself! It just felt like a lot of work for nothing. Glad you can just be happy and focus on what your body needs :)

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