? about maintaining weight

kristineh86

Someone told me today that they heard that if you maintain your weight for a certain amount of time, it is harder to gain it all back. I hear stories all the time about people who lose weight and then gain it all back. I am petrified of this! I have maintained my weight for roughly 6 months now. Does that mean its harder to gain it back? This seems like wishful thinking but let me know! Thanks

kristineh86

Someone told me today that they heard that if you maintain your weight for a certain amount of time, it is harder to gain it all back. I hear stories all the time about people who lose weight and then gain it all back. I am petrified of this! I have maintained my weight for roughly 6 months now. Does that mean its harder to gain it back? This seems like wishful thinking but let me know! Thanks

Renae_Nae

It depends on the person and your mind set...are you still in the "diet" mindset or has this become a complete lifestyle change? Do you have to "work" to keep maintain or are you just "living life and sticking to new habits"?

kristineh86

hmm. I am still in the diet mindset in that I do feel like it has an impact on my social life. I eat a lot of low calorie/fat free processed foods. I know that's not good....but I am okay with it. I like what I eat and I don't want to change it! haha....but at the same time I don't eat like the "norm"

kristineh86

hmm. I am still in the diet mindset in that I do feel like it has an impact on my social life. I eat a lot of low calorie/fat free processed foods. I know that's not good....but I am okay with it. I like what I eat and I don't want to change it! haha....but at the same time I don't eat like the "norm"

ChubbyBunny

I agree with Ranae, it depends on the person and the mindset.
If you WANT to keep the weight off you will have to maintain somehow....
Where it's eating the whole diet/low cal/etc foods or eating regular foods, just less of them.

People can stay trim/lose weight by eating normal food. It's what you are willing to give up.
You get a lot more food one way then the other.....but it's a trade off usually.

The reason it's easier to keep weight off if you have maintained for a while is because your habits change, hopefully while you are losing weight. If you go right back to what you were doing before you lost weight, of course the weight is gonna pile back on.

Remember, MFP is a lifestyle change, not a temporary diet/change.

kerrilucko

I don't think it matters how long it's been. Weight can come back anytime, but only if you let it. Keep an eye on your calories, and continue excercising. If you're doing that I don't see any reason why you'd need to worry.

cmriverside

Mainentance is lovely. I can eat so much! It does help to switch from the processed to the whole foods. They are so much tastier and you need many less calories when you are eating the right combo of nutrients.