Anybody who has lost weight and gained it back?

I was always big as a teenager, but lost loads of weight at university and then at age 24/25 I was my thinnest. I started to put on weight when I did my teacher training, but never got as big as I had been, then I lost loads for my wedding in 2008. I got pregnant straight after and put on maybe 40lbs, lost it all in a year then got pregnant again, and put on even more! Now my youngest is 20 months and I'm nearly as thin as I was 10 years ago. When I reach my goal (another 13lbs to go) I will be the thinnest I have ever been!

This time I have done it right. I have always exercised, but I had the 1200 calories a day mentality. Now I eat 1500 and I strength train. My personal trainer says that as I have lost it slowly and built muscle it is more likely to stay off, even if I get pregnant again.

Yes I lost 25 lbs counting calories and exercising, then spent a summer eating and drinking and not doing much exercise, so I gained it all back and then some. This time I am looking at it as lifelong commitment that I am ready to make. I also do WW which I really like because I don't feel deprived, but I like tracking actual calories and nutrients too. I do have to say that my knowledge about nutrition, health and exercise has evolved over the last 2 years or so that I think I can make this a lasting change

Many many times over the years... I tried many things from Atkins to simple calorie counting and CONSISTENT calorie counting has been the most effective for me.

The last time, I lost over 100 lbs logging everything I ate and kept it off for many years just logging my intake on my Palmpilot and later my smartphone. My father passed away and I stopped logging. At first I got sick and lost a lot of weight. After a couple days in the hospital, I gained all of the weight I lost before and more (of course)

Tomorrow will be 1 year on MFP logging my intake and I'm on the the right track. This is the track I plan to stay on for the rest of my life. I will log everything - good or bad. Over time, I should get my weight where it should be and keep it there.

Yes!! I lost nearly 70lbs in 2011. Then in 2012 I gained back (so now I'm 32lbs under my heaviest). The first time I lost 60lbs in 8mths. This time has been brutal. I'm losing so slowly. But I think a little bit bc I'm so focused on how much I have to lose to get back to where I was. I'm not really losing slower. I'm just more impatient? Maybe self sabatoging! You are definitively NOT alone!

Me. I lost 106 pounds in 2011. Something clicked and it wasn't hard and I was loving my new body. Then I stalled due to some major life drama. I managed to stay within 20pounds of my lowest weight the first half of the year. Then the last half I just went off course majorly. I became that emotional eater I fought back against so hard. I'm fighting her back again and doing okay. I'm struggling with going to the gym and being much more out if shape then I was. I hate that I can't burn 1000 calories or run as much anymore. It messes with my head. I've been in a slight denial about how much I regained (nearly half). But seriously. We KNOW how to do it.... Weve done it! Start taking those baby steps again. It'll happen again.

This topic is blasphemy...the body is never in flux.... :laugh:


Seriously, your body is always changing. It's up to the choices you make on the food and beverages you drink. Awareness, moderation, are keys

I have gained 80+ pounds thrice. This time though, is the last time. I have finally figured out how to exist in a healthy and mindful way, so that when I get to my healthy size, I will be able to stay there.

Yup, 7 years ago I dropped to 115 after I had my first child. Before I got pregnant I was at 150. It was basically all diet, too. Well, and breastfeeding, lol. He had massive food allergies and I adjusted my diet accordingly. I was down to fruits, veggies, meats and rice.
Then I got pregnant again (was back up to about 120-125 then), lost most of the weight again, but was around 130 or so. Now I'm at 140, and that's after dropping 4 pounds. Its frustrating, but I know its because I stopped moving so much. When I was working it seemed like I was always up and moving around, now I stay home with the kids and I just don't do as much!

Yeah, I've definitely been through this too!

Three years ago I was very serious about losing weight, and by eating right and working out like crazy (Twice a day!) I lost 35lbs in 2 months! I got tonnes of compliments, felt so good in my skin and was so happy by the fast progress and how quickly my hard work paid off.

Eventually, I gained it all back (and a little bit more) because I always had the mindset that it was a temporary change. That once I got "skinny" I could just eat whatever I want and not care. And also because I had set up an unsustainable routine that was not possible to sustain long term. Now, three years later, and after some annoying hurdles along the way, I am back at it as of Jan 7th- and this time it s going EXCRUCIATINGLY SLOW! It's been almost a month, and I have lost 7 pounds...only 2 in the past 3 weeks...and this is very discouraging and frustrating to me, since the last time I did it, I had lost 25lbs in the first month.

However, this time I am trying to think of it as a lifestyle change. Knowingly eating the way that I want to eat for the rest of my life. Learning more about my body along the way. Calculating my TDEE and my BMR. Doing it the slow and steady way so that this time around, I can actually achieve my goals.

It's hard to see a 0.2lb loss after 2 weeks of hard work, but knowing that you are doing it in a healthy way, and knowing that you are making the best decisions for your body...and seeing that it is not all about the number on the scale is definitely new to me- and definitely worth it!

You can do it, again! You definitely can!
Feel free to add me, and we can motivate each other! :flowerforyou:

I lost 20, gained 40, and now have lost 22, still hangin' in there. Keep after it!

Yes, I have gained and lost 40-70 pounds every 2-5 years since I was 18 and I am 40 now. It gets harder every time, but I get older too. I used to be able to drop 40 pounds in 3 months. Now I can lose about 50-60 pounds per year.

I think this is a big reason why I'm not subscribing to the "you have to work out HARD or go home" stuff like I did before. I was really intense and would get burned out. My biggest goal is just to stay active and make healthier choices. It's not all or none, and I have to stop looking at it that way.

Oh, my! It's like everyone is telling my story!
Losing doesn't seem to be the problem, it's maintenance.
Even though I don't subscribe to the whole low-carb Dukhan thing, I did read his book (I have an addiction to anything self-help) and he has a great point about after one gets to 'ideal weight'. He talks about consolidating the weight you've just fantastically lost over time, because this new body you have isn't really yours yet. You have to inhabit it for a while and learn how to manage it. Pretty interesting concept.