Lost tons of weight then gained it all back I feel terrible

johnnyr24

It's been a hard couple of months for me. I had lost all this weight. When I was a teenager I used to weigh 140 lbs and I was happy with this but the usual stress and other factors growing up led to weight gain and before I knew it I was pushing close to 200 lbs. I currently weigh in at 210 and I am 25 years old. I worked out and lost a ton of weight doing some of those Jillian Micheals 30 day shred videos and I was happy. But idk where I went wrong. Lost close to 40 lbs and was feeling great and now I feel like a letdown because I gained it all back and then some.

I tried doing something so simple like jumproping for 30 minutes and I found myself winded and tired out of breath with my back hurting. It also doesn't help that I have 0 motivation. It feels like I have to drag myself into doing a workout and completing it and I feel like a terrible person. I have no clue what to even do anymore. Has anyone here ever lost a ton of weight and then gained it all back and then some? What was your experience like? How did you gain the motivation to get back on your feet and workout again? I just need advice. I appreciate it.

XX_Miss_RoseMary_XX

Yes.

Last year I lost 30 lbs. I wanted to look hot in my wedding dress and have a healthy pregnancy.

I got pregnant sooner than we anticipated ( like on our honey moon!) And gained every lb back.

Now here I am losing the same weight all over. I was no where near "healthy BMI" then eitherso I still have a ways to go.

We will get there!

JTick

It happens.

At one point, I had lost over 50 lbs. I then gained 70....putting me higher than I had ever been.

Why do you think you gained it back? Were you mentally not ready for the change? Was your deficit too aggressive? Do you not handle stress well...are you an emotional eater?

Those are all things to think about. Every time I gained weight back, it was because I wasn't ready to really change. Now that I am ready to lose the weight for good, I've not had a problem gaining anything back. There have been long periods of maintaining, but I've not actually gained anything back. It's just my life now.

SLHysell

It sounds like you were dieting/exercising with only one goal in mind. That goal was to lose weight. Once you met that goal, I'm guessing you were kind of thinking, "alright. Did it. Don't have to worry about it anymore." That is the real danger of any diet/weight loss program. They END. To make sure you don't make the same mistake again, you need to think in terms of FOREVER. It isn't cliche to say that what you really want/need is a lifestyle change. Quick fixes (like crazy workout videos) work well and fast, but they are short term solutions. Think long term. What changes can you make that you will still be doing in 20 years? Those are the changes that will allow you to keep the weight off. I believe that good health is all about a mindset....and a change deep inside. If you aren't committed to forever, then it will inevitably be temporary.

You can lose the weight again. You CAN keep it off. All it takes is that one little change in your thinking.

sjdowhower

I am in the same boat. I lost 30lbs the beginning of the year and I have gained 20 of it back because life got in the way and I have 3 kids and I stress it. I'm restarting today and hoping to stay on track and not give up after 1 bad weekend. That's all you can do

Lizzy622

Yes. I have been on diets lost weight gone off the diet and gained it back several times. I needed to get off the diet mentality. I now have adopted a new lifestyle. As stated above there is no END and this is FOREVER. Even when I reach my loss goal I can always do more to improve myself. I am a work in progress with NO END.

independant2406

I think this happens to almost everyone who has lost a lot of weight. Life happens. Especially in that time span from teenager to 25-ish. So many major life changes to work through!

The #1 tip I can give you is not to be too hard on yourself. The negative feelings you put towards yourself will only hold you back. Instead try to constantly be your own motivational coach... telling yourself you can do it and giving yourself positive feedback when you make good choices. Surround yourself with people and things that inspire you and make you feel motivated to make healthy choices. This can be a kind of painful process as it might involve shifting your focus away from activities/people who are holding you back and trying new things that are sometimes uncomfortable...but in the end you'll know your making the right choices and that in itself is motivational

Making a shift in my thinking and never letting that negative attitude linger very long has been a great help in getting my diet back into gear. I've lost almost 20lbs now and so excited to be nearly under 200lbs again (Just 1.8lbs to go!). It doesn't take that long to see results and its really nice to watch the scale going the other way and to feel my clothes fitting better.

Another thing that is super helpful is to clean out your entire house of foods that you know will make you cheat. (For me this was cookies, easy-mac and booze). I made a big donation to my local food pantry, threw other things in the trash and went shopping for the kind of foods I needed to stay full and keep my calories and other goals in check.

Adding people as friends on MFP helps and is a great way to surround yourself with others who have similar goals.

Good luck. You can do it!

johnnyr24

Well when I work out I want to work out because I want to be healthy. There was a point when I went to my Dr. and he stated that I was overweight for a person my age and that a diet would be recommended. Diabetes runs in my family as does cancer so I always have to watch out as I am pre diabetic but the thing is when I work out (even back when I lost all this weight) I was dragging myself through the workouts it feels like a chore and I was exhausted with back and muscle pain all over my body only to work out the next time and feel the pain all over again. People say you are supposed to feel good after a workout but often times I feel like someone beat me to a pulp from how worn out I feel. Stress is a big problem for me it always has been I get stressed so I eat to calm and help with the stress which in return does not help me.

JTick

What kind of workouts do you do? Find something you enjoy. That might mean not going to a gym...maybe go to a park, run a little, swing from the monkey bars, etc. Don't limit yourself to a gym.

csandbergfl

Break your goals down into manageable steps. Choose one thing to do a week, like go to the gym and walk for 15 mins. on the treadmill. Then add another step the following week.
I think the mistake we make (I know I have) is trying to start too many things at one time. I've even gone as far as NOT starting on Monday.
A little at a time & you'll be fine.

independant2406

Well when I work out I want to work out because I want to be healthy. There was a point when I went to my Dr. and he stated that I was overweight for a person my age and that a diet would be recommended. Diabetes runs in my family as does cancer so I always have to watch out as I am pre diabetic but the thing is when I work out (even back when I lost all this weight) I was dragging myself through the workouts it feels like a chore and I was exhausted with back and muscle pain all over my body only to work out the next time and feel the pain all over again. People say you are supposed to feel good after a workout but often times I feel like someone beat me to a pulp from how worn out I feel. Stress is a big problem for me it always has been I get stressed so I eat to calm and help with the stress which in return does not help me.

Have you been to the doctor for a checkup recently? Sometimes feeling super tired for no real reason can be a symptom of hypoglycemia (pretty commonly associated with pre-diabetes) and/or thyroid problems. Can't hurt to get some blood work done just to rule out those things that might be holding you back.

I haven't exercised at all and I've still lost 16+ lbs. So if you don't feel like working out just know that its not necessary for weight loss. You can definitely still lose weight by controlling the foods you eat and the portion sizes.

k8161819

I feel your pain. I lost a bunch of weight and then got depressed and less motivated and then gained it all back. Starting over again is so hard. Especially when you remember how hard you had to work the last time to get the weight off. Motivation can also be hard to find. For me, just wanting to get over feeling gross and big is a pretty big motivator, but most days getting the energy or the effort to work out is hard. I too just started the 30 day shred and it is hard! Especially when you are winded 10 minutes in. I always had pretty good stamina and now I was sedentary for so long that I lost it and have to build it back. If you ever need any encouragement or a little help with motivation you can add me as a friend, I am on here a lot.

Just one thing that works for me is getting a really good playlist of upbeat music that makes me want to move. Just a suggestion. Sometimes if it has a fast beat I feel like it makes me move faster.

millions47

yes, all of my life I have lost and gained it all back. my heaviest was 345 and that was just a couple of years ago. i am 50 now and I weigh 293. You can do anything that you put your mind to it. I have been working out sine the last of May of this year and everyday I have to push and drag myself to exercise. You can do it just start doing somehting. Something is better than nothing. We are here for you.

AquaticQuests

It's been a hard couple of months for me. I had lost all this weight. When I was a teenager I used to weigh 140 lbs and I was happy with this but the usual stress and other factors growing up led to weight gain and before I knew it I was pushing close to 200 lbs. I currently weigh in at 210 and I am 25 years old. I worked out and lost a ton of weight doing some of those Jillian Micheals 30 day shred videos and I was happy. But idk where I went wrong. Lost close to 40 lbs and was feeling great and now I feel like a letdown because I gained it all back and then some.

I tried doing something so simple like jumproping for 30 minutes and I found myself winded and tired out of breath with my back hurting. It also doesn't help that I have 0 motivation. It feels like I have to drag myself into doing a workout and completing it and I feel like a terrible person. I have no clue what to even do anymore. Has anyone here ever lost a ton of weight and then gained it all back and then some? What was your experience like? How did you gain the motivation to get back on your feet and workout again? I just need advice. I appreciate it.

Sounds like you rely solely on hard exercise as your weight loss strategy!
Not advisable as life happens - work hours, injury, illness! And as many will tell you, exercise is only 20-35% of the work! Even Olympians with their insane exercise regimens, have to watch their food!

I exercise hard, and in the past, I would rely solely on that to try to manage the weight - it didn't work very well!

So use many tools at the same time - calorie deficit, strength exercise, cardio exercise, water consumption.
At different points in your life, different elements will take on increased prominence (depending on schedules, work, personal circumstances) but they should all be tools you regularly use in different proportions depending on personal preference!

Being a one trick pony is a sure way to fail!

JoseCastaneda

It happens. I've been there... 26yo->255lb, then, 27yo->185lb. Lots of changes between 27 and 34, and I was up to 270lb. Then I started this new stage in my life, "for real this time". I'm now at 217 lbs, and my plan is to reach 175 lbs.

So, what's different now? my motivation. It's not my looks only, but my health. To be in my best condition for my kids, for my wife, and for myself. I want to be a present and active dad, not an obese guy with diabetes and unable to be with them. I want to ride a roller coaster with them, be able to play, jump, and be there with them.

OP, look for a long term motivation, and work out hard to reach that goal. It's a long road, it's a change of life style. Be patient, but be firm. Do not feel demotivated if you see little changes at first, but in time, you will see more changes, and you will be happy.

All the best for you.

soopaang

I think you are in the same boat with a lot of us. It's always discouraging but if you want to do better you have to keep working at it everyday. All these cleanses, detox, insanity shreds, etc are just fads. Yes they work to lose weight but it's rare for a person to use it as a jumping off point. Instead we use it to help see results then get disappointed when we can't maintain.

Keep in mind that your health, good or bad, will be with you the rest of your life so the "win" of losing 40 lbs is just part of that journey. If you lose those 40 lbs doing things you can adopt for life then you will be much more satisfied.

lyrical_melody

I am dealing with this right now! I lost 20 pounds a year ago and then had a lot of really hard times happen in my life...got into a total loss car accident, lost my my mother...lost my great-aunt. Its been hard, but after looking in the mirror and gaining all of it back and 20 pounds more, I decided I hated what I saw and couldnt do it anymore. For me, I hate going to the gym because I get bored so easily so I created a schedule that centers around something that I absolutely love to do: DANCE. Here is where I searched for zumba classes that fit around my schedule...made a weekly calender and attend every class that I have on the schedule. This works for me. I hope you can find something that motivates you and can help you reach your goals.

I know it sucks. I am so disappointed in myself that I gained it all back and even more, but I want to feel again what I felt when I lost those 20 pounds...and even when Im not motivated, I attend the classes....classes always make it easier to work out because you have to be there at a specific time.

I wish you the best and I hope you find something that motivates you.

deansdad101

Well when I work out I want to work out because I want to be healthy.

There was a point when I went to my Dr. and he stated that I was overweight for a person my age and that a diet would be recommended. Diabetes runs in my family as does cancer so I always have to watch out as I am pre diabetic but the thing is when I work out (even back when I lost all this weight)

I was dragging myself through the workouts it feels like a chore and I was exhausted with back and muscle pain all over my body only to work out the next time and feel the pain all over again.

People say you are supposed to feel good after a workout but often times I feel like someone beat me to a pulp from how worn out I feel. Stress is a big problem for me it always has been I get stressed so I eat to calm and help with the stress which in return does not help me.

Johnny;

Your first sentence says it all....now you just need to convince yourself that (despite what is repeated ad nauseam on many of these forums) that diet and exercise are two DIFFERENT things.

Yes, of course, they work together and there are positive benefits of engaging in both but that doesn't mean it's "all or nothing". As you have seen even in this thread, MANY people lose weight doing virtually NO exercise at all (beyond normal daily activities).

Many of the "gym rats" might refuse to accept the research but the good thing about "science" is (as someone once said) is that "a fact doesn't stop being a fact just because you don't believe it" (or something that effect).

Ample research exists that cadio exercise (even taken to extremes) has virtually NO impact (all else being equal) on one's weight loss progress.

While I'm not personally a devotee of resistance training (weight lifting, etc) there IS evidence that, done in moderation, it does have a positive effect however - so if it's a choice between the two.....

Not what many want to hear so they choose to don their denial masks which is their right.

Given your recognition of the possibility of T2D (and related maladies) in your future I would urge you as strongly as I possibly can to LEARN what you can do to minimize (or possibly eliminate) that outcome.

As your doc advised the very first step is to get rid of those excess pounds - it's NOT a vanity or "I wanna look sexy" thing - it's your FUTURE!

Even something as simple as a 5 or 10% reduction will markedly decrease the chances of your progression to T2D but it's not that simple.

It's just as much about WHAT you eat as it is about how MUCH you eat (CICO simpletons, notwithstanding).

Start here for more info:
http://tinyurl.com/pvf6x3a

Then take at look at how (and why) to get started:
http://tinyurl.com/pufxr3m

MisterZ33

gaining weight back is my biggest fear.

i gained a couple of pounds a few weeks ago and i was really disappointed. then i thought, whatever, thats life. sometimes i will want to indulge. so do it. indulge in your intake, but also, what is important is stepping up the exercise.

I keep telling myself that i have to earn my induldensces. earn what you eat. that is really helping me....then i eat without regret.

things will balance out if you take the steps necessary for them to.

DawnieB1977

Yes.

Last year I lost 30 lbs. I wanted to look hot in my wedding dress and have a healthy pregnancy.

I got pregnant sooner than we anticipated ( like on our honey moon!) And gained every lb back.

Now here I am losing the same weight all over. I was no where near "healthy BMI" then eitherso I still have a ways to go.

We will get there!

Snap. I recently had my third baby and gained most of the weight back that I'd lost after my second. I was within a healthy BMI then. I started off my third pregnancy smaller than I started my first.

dexlyn813

Two years ago I lost 60pounds. Two years later I gained back the same 60 pounds. I got back the motivation to join back MFP in August 2014 (one month now) . My mindset is to get back in the swing of things and to lose the weight again and this time to not gain it back. You can do it trust me. All you need to do is start. Good luck on your journey.

JulieGirl58

For me it is mental. If I'm not on board mentally, I will always gain it all back and then some. I had to get my mindset to the point where I wanted to be healthy more than I wanted sugary snacks, my weakness. I still struggle, but now I only gain two or three pounds before I give myself a strong talking to, not 20 or 30 pounds before I put the skids on.

jyatzy1234

dude i did the same thing but i lost 120 lbs than gained 40 back it is depressing if u wanna talk or need any help with diet or just need someone to talk to hit me up

MKEgal

You gained weight because you're eating more calories than your body needs.
It's really that simple.

"Most weight loss occurs because of decreased caloric intake.
However, evidence shows the only way to maintain weight loss is to be engaged in regular physical activity."
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/physical_activity/index.html

So get control over your intake first. Figure out your healthy goal weight (BMI chart included in my blog post, below), eat 10x that weight in calories, and be active at least 30 minutes a day.


Some of my blog posts you might find helpful:

Motivation & encouragement:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-07-24-motivation-encouragement-680938

Info on setting goals, including healthy weight, calories, and macros:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-08-setting-goals-667045

The basics about exercise:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-06-08-exercise-667080


Overall helpful MPF threads:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/872212-you-re-probably-eating-more-than-you-think

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/833026-important-posts-to-read


BTW, weightlifting will tone your body & make you look good once you lose fat, but cardio is the most effective way to burn calories. Adding muscle does not appreciably raise your resting metabolic rate either. Here are a couple studies & articles talking about that:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/MKEgal/view/2014-08-05-does-building-muscle-actually-increase-rmr-684479

amy8400

I am not really in a position to tell others how to lose and keep off weight since I've only done it once. But I'll share what has worked for me.

1. I'm not here to lose weight. I'm here to change my lifestyle and be healthy, attractive and fit.

2. I'm not doing this alone. I have a wonderful husband who is supportive of being more active and eating better foods and watching portions. We live 500 miles apart so even though we're not together except may be 5 days a month, we encourage and support each other. I also have a core group of MFP friends who are my daily inspiration and keep me focused. Couldn't do it without my support network.

3. I need tools. Friends or family to walk with. A cheap gym membership at Planet Fitness. A few home weights and a mat to work out on. Good Spotify playlists for my earphones. MFP food diary--a must for staying focused and accountable.

I discovered that if I connect with people who are successful at keeping off the weight, I learn by their good habits and tips and tricks. They make lifestyle changes and never look back. You can do the same. Find a purpose to what you're doing and make it your new way of living. The weight will come off and stay off :flowerforyou:

tayleigh4

It sounds like you were dieting/exercising with only one goal in mind. That goal was to lose weight. Once you met that goal, I'm guessing you were kind of thinking, "alright. Did it. Don't have to worry about it anymore." That is the real danger of any diet/weight loss program. They END. To make sure you don't make the same mistake again, you need to think in terms of FOREVER. It isn't cliche to say that what you really want/need is a lifestyle change. Quick fixes (like crazy workout videos) work well and fast, but they are short term solutions. Think long term. What changes can you make that you will still be doing in 20 years? Those are the changes that will allow you to keep the weight off. I believe that good health is all about a mindset....and a change deep inside. If you aren't committed to forever, then it will inevitably be temporary.

You can lose the weight again. You CAN keep it off. All it takes is that one little change in your thinking.

Great post.

X0LX0

I'm in the exact same boat as you. Gained fifty lbs back. It's uncomfortable and depressing . I need help

johnnyr24

Thank you all for taking the time to reply back to me. I appreciate the resources and links some of you provided and the stories and motivation others have shared here. Well for those that asked about the doctor my yearly checkup is in literally 2 days so I will see what he says then. It feels bad because if the doctor is telling you that you need to lose weight for the sake of your health then I know I have to do it but feel like a bad person because the doctor had to tell me this instead of having me go in and him say I am as healthy as can be. For workouts I do the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred videos as I stated in my post before. But my school has a gym that I signed up for that offers Zumba and Cycling classes and I take both classes when I can.

Todays workout was not so bad but it's mostly because I jumped rope for about an hour but I know I could have done more then jump rope. The issue I have is food. I could work out as hard as anyone and put all my effort into it but then I completely destroy any working out I do by what I eat. It's hard. Sometimes I go to the store and get an individual slice of cheesecake or cake from the bakery and then after i eat it I feel so guilty because I had literally just worked out a few hours before eating it. I'm trying to cook and eat healthier but sometimes that can be hard. I think saying no to certain foods when my mind is programed to say yes is really hard so I am trying to eat foods I love but in moderation and even in then that can be hard at times.

But I appreciate the responses. I will go through them all again and write down helpful things mentioned in the posts thanks everyone.

Shereewhitney88

I understand exactly how you feel. Last year i'd lost 40 pounds, I felt great until I got a few dozen comments about me being too thin, or looking sick which really hurt my feelings because I had went from 177 pounds to 136 pounds I was far from sick. But the comments came from those I love most, I quit counting. Holidays came and I gained 10 pounds, new friends who loved to go to dinners and drink came, and on came another 10 pounds then my husband was layed off and we had to find a new place to live, 15 more pounds came on. Now I am back, tracking and exercising my way to 135 pounds hopefully. Feel free to add me peeps!

Graelwyn75

Thank you all for taking the time to reply back to me. I appreciate the resources and links some of you provided and the stories and motivation others have shared here. Well for those that asked about the doctor my yearly checkup is in literally 2 days so I will see what he says then. It feels bad because if the doctor is telling you that you need to lose weight for the sake of your health then I know I have to do it but feel like a bad person because the doctor had to tell me this instead of having me go in and him say I am as healthy as can be. For workouts I do the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred videos as I stated in my post before. But my school has a gym that I signed up for that offers Zumba and Cycling classes and I take both classes when I can.

Todays workout was not so bad but it's mostly because I jumped rope for about an hour but I know I could have done more then jump rope. The issue I have is food. I could work out as hard as anyone and put all my effort into it but then I completely destroy any working out I do by what I eat. It's hard. Sometimes I go to the store and get an individual slice of cheesecake or cake from the bakery and then after i eat it I feel so guilty because I had literally just worked out a few hours before eating it. I'm trying to cook and eat healthier but sometimes that can be hard. I think saying no to certain foods when my mind is programed to say yes is really hard so I am trying to eat foods I love but in moderation and even in then that can be hard at times.

But I appreciate the responses. I will go through them all again and write down helpful things mentioned in the posts thanks everyone.

Several trainers told me that if you are going to have something like cake etc, the best time is before or after your workout, within an hour or so. Nothing wrong with having a piece of cake or serving of something 'naughty' if you workout hard and make the rest of your day nutrient dense and healthy. If it keeps you on track, calorie goal wise, well...it is better than falling off the wagon or having a massive binge.

deansdad101

Thank you all for taking the time to reply back to me.
<snipped>
The issue I have is food. I could work out as hard as anyone and put all my effort into it but then I completely destroy any working out I do by what I eat. It's hard. Sometimes I go to the store and get an individual slice of cheesecake or cake from the bakery and then after i eat it I feel so guilty because I had literally just worked out a few hours before eating it. I'm trying to cook and eat healthier but sometimes that can be hard. I think saying no to certain foods when my mind is programed to say yes is really hard so I am trying to eat foods I love but in moderation and even in then that can be hard at times.

But I appreciate the responses. I will go through them all again and write down helpful things mentioned in the posts thanks everyone.

Several trainers told me that if you are going to have something like cake etc, the best time is before or after your workout, within an hour or so. [b/Nothing wrong with having a piece of cake or serving of something 'naughty' if you workout hard [/b] and make the rest of your day nutrient dense and healthy. If it keeps you on track, calorie goal wise, well...it is better than falling off the wagon or having a massive binge.

Johnny;

Herein lies the dilemma (bolded comments above)

Many folks embrace the position Grael puts forth and for them it "works". Logically it makes perfect sense, the argument that "..if it keeps you on track..." is one that most can relate to, and for those that adhere strictly to an ideology of CICO, as long as the calories "burned" exceed the calories consumed, all is well. Clearly for these folks it's time tested, it "works", case closed.

I would argue, however, that what "works" for some (or even "most") isn't necessarily what's "best" for everyone (not saying she is saying that or that it makes it any less effective for those that it does work for).

I am saying that, perhaps (and maybe unfortunately) you're just not one of them. Granted it's my "opinion" only and based on only the limited info I've gleaned from your comments but T2D (even if, or especially when, "pre") puts you in a whole different category.

Aside from drugs, weight and carb reduction are the only clinically proven methods of dealing with T2D so your choices pretty much come down to 3 options - cut carbs, drugs (pills first then shots), or take your chances (not a good bet).

Despite what many say, low carb diets are not a "fad" or "magic bullet" infomercial miracle weight loss program. One need not buy any special supplements, cookies, shakes, or CD's. No meetings, clubs, electronic calorie counters or special scales required - only "normal" foods (available at your local market) and a desire to "beat" T2D.

Carbs are not "required" nutritionally and do not enhance athletic performance. They DO, however, have a number of negative impacts on the body - especially as it relates to fat formation and insulin resistance. They also produce "cravings" which many compare to addictions. You've not only experienced those but described them very well above.

The decisions are yours and yours alone to make of course but please at least consider learning all you can about the effects your diet may (will?) have on your future.

The single most important thing you can do short term is weight reduction so you are right to focus on that and whatever works for you is fine but in the long term it's much more about WHAT you eat than it is about how much or how you exercise.

The "good news" is that with proper diet MANY T2D's have been able to halt or even completely reverse the progress of the disease even to the point of no longer requiring insulin injections. As a "pre" it's entirely possible that you will be able to totally avoid full blown T2D completely.

The other "good news" is that while overcoming the "carb cravings" you probably now think is an impossible task it's really not that bad - after a week or two you'll look back and say "that wasn't all that bad". No it's not "easy" but countless people have done it before you and you will too.