Anyone lose 50+ lbs and gain it back?

jennybaby89

So, it sucks to admit it but I gained most, if not all, of the weight I lost. I worked hard and lost over 60 pounds. But here I am today, back at the beginning. I know I can do it again, but I get down on myself often for letting it creep back up. It'd be nice to have some support from people in the same shoes as me! Feel free to add me. I am off to grocery shop and work on a school paper.

amann1976

how did you lose the weight????

jennybaby89

how did you lose the weight????

I used SparkPeople. I counted calories, worked out 5-7 days a week and allowed myself "cheat" days. It was a lifestyle thing. I ran, I used cross trainers, I took bootcamp classes, I had support from coworkers (I worked at the YMCA at the time) and I got creative in making goals for myself. I blogged and admitted my "failures." I just did it. Eat healthier and move more. (I hate the term "eat less," I ate more when I was loosing weight!)

scottbrown78

I think more importantly how did you gain it back??? IMO this is not a weight loss diet plan where I get to lose the weight and then go back to the way I was. It is a way of LIFE! I will most likely be counting calories for a long long time.

gillbush123

Hi, this is the third time I have lost a lot of weight then put it back on.
I lost 4 stone to get married last year, then found out I was pregnant, it was like a free pass to eat every thing I had previously to losing weight.
It took 9 months to put 5 stone back on, and another stone since having the baby. The only difference is I now don't have time time or money to go the gym 5 times a week or go skating. I am going on walks with my baby in the pram now to try and get some exercise.
This time I have reason to lose it and keep it off, I want to be a healthy, fun energetic mum for my little girl. She is the most important thing in my life and she deserves a healthy mum. Xxx

jennybaby89

I think more importantly how did you gain it back??? IMO this is not a weight loss diet plan where I get to lose the weight and then go back to the way I was. It is a way of LIFE! I will most likely be counting calories for a long long time.

I know it's not a diet plan. It's a lifestyle thing. It was a lifestyle for me for almost 2 years, but life got in the way and I just stopped caring. I can't really say why because I don't know. I started working 50+ hours a week and I was in grad school full time. I felt like I had no time to count calories and workout. Now I am only working 40 hours a week, but I'm still in school. It's hard but I am committed to the lifestyle again.

KristalDawnO

It certainly happens. I'm in the boat again myself. Today was my day of realization. I've been on the treadmill today and I'm counting calories. I'm not looking back.

MaryJane_8810002

Yes I have, twice. It sucks.

n_rockey

Yes. I lost over 75lbs about 10 years ago before I was married. I was able to keep it off for a while, but then I hurt my back and could barely get out of bed without help for well over a month. That gave me an excuse not to exercise, that I willingly took, and it was the start of my downward spiral. Then came my daughter, and a few more lbs. Before I started this round of weight loss I was at my all time highest weight- more than 50lbs higher than I was when I lost all the weight before. I have committed myself to the idea that this is the LAST time that I'm going to do this, and that even if something happens and I end up hurt again I will not give up and let myself go again.

melaniejo527

I lost 50 pounds and then after I quit WW I slowly started to gain it back... 7 years later here I am... I've lost 23 of it again, but I would like to lose more.. I need to realize that I am always going to have to be a calorie counter. Plus I allowed excuses (work, kids, church) to keep me from going to the gym.

ripemango

i did. lost 75 lbs only to gain it back. it crept up and then when i got pregnant.....well you know how this story goes.

i look back now and realize i was just exercising to hit a certain weight. maintenance or lifelong anything wasn't apart of the mindset at the time.

slowly n surely i know i will reach a healthy weight again.

ripemango

ditto + exercise. I am constantly bombarded with the health benefits of exercise and not just for weight loss/maintenance.

I need to realize that I am always going to have to be a calorie counter.

Feisty_Red

I lost and gained the same 60-80 pounds 4 times in my life..this is the last time!:drinker: :drinker: :drinker:

What is the big difference this time? at least I hope..

Is my addiction to exercise...It comes as natural as brushing my teeth 3 times a day...I have to do it...its part of me now

It's vital to keeping it off...for good...I always ate well..but was less active...you need both to keep it off!

Ejourneys

First time was in the 1970s, when I lost 55 lbs through anorexia.
(Insert several yo-yo episodes ranging up to 30 lbs in either direction, followed by a further climb up the scale.)

Second time (not quite 50 lbs but close) was in 1994-5, involving a good nutritional balance but an unsustainable amount of exercise. When my exercise dropped off I continued to eat as I had been, leading to weight gain.

Third time (60 lbs) was in 2001-2002 with the Carb Addict's Diet and running. That's where my avatar photo comes from.

I am now on #4 -- after a mini yo-yo of 55 lbs back up, then 20+ lbs down and then back up.

Lessons learned:
1. Whatever I do now must be sustainable, i.e., lifestyle change rather than diet. However, that's what I thought I was doing the last two rounds.
2. Even more important: I am working on dealing with stress in ways that are healthier than emotional eating. My most recent weight gain corresponds to the stress of caregiving, which has meant major lifestyle changes all around.
3. More so than in the past, I am making weight loss and fitness as easy for myself as possible. I make sure that I can just grab a healthy food when I'm hungry. I exercise on a mini-bike at home, right next to my work desk, and make sure that everything I need (music, weights, towel, water) is within arm's reach. I have also packed a small cooler for myself for trips to specialists, since my caree always needs to stop at a restaurant whenever she has an appointment.
4. As with caregiving, I treat weight loss and fitness one day at a time. I'll get to my goal when I get there. I just do what needs to be done and keep the faith.

LosingVegan

I am SO happy that I found this thread. I thought I was all alone. Last year (academic year for those who think 2011... being a student means my years revolve around school, haha) I lost roughly 50lbs. I've re-gained like 35 of those pounds and am so crushed.

What happened was over the summer, I lost my grip on things I guess. I was relaxing and started having trouble with bingeing and stuff because prior to the relaxation of summer, I got to the point where I was so OCD about calories that I developed ED-like tendencies. It sucked but I feel like I'd rather be back at that and happy and confident than with total loss of control...I only say that because I never did develop an ED in which case I'd never wish to be back at that.

If anyone has any words of wisdom to share with me, please inbox me.

I think the worst part about this whole thing is finding the motivation to go back to the gym now that my confidence is down the drain.

pufff

Oh yes! List 6 stone and felt like a million dollars. Life beat me around the head and guess what happened! Yep! Right back to square one!