who has kept weight off for 2 years

In 2011 I lost over 60 pounds. I was close to my goal weight, by about 5 pounds. Now I have gained back about 20 pounds and I have to concentrate on losing again. 2011 was the first time I went on a diet in my life, so I think knowing that I can do it is motivation. I sure don't want to go back to the place I was at in 2010! Plus I threw out all my old clothes! :-)

so when you say kept the weight off, I guess I kept most of it off?

I'm in the same boat. Dropped off 43, then picked up 10 right now...hurts my feelings, but I can't be mad, I just have to focus. Like you, this was my first real attempt and success at losing weight, and I did it. I know what to do. I'm back focused again. I won't go back to the beginning from Sept 2012. But I have to focus or I will. It can happen to anyone...

I have, sort of. I lost 179 lb in 2009 and kept it off for about 3 years (+/- about 3 lb), then slowly regained about 30 lb. Lost about half my regain weight and working on the rest. I know WHY I regained (formerly a single mom who met and married an amazing man, less time running around like a chicken with my head cut off doing it all myself and more time having fun/sharing the work plus eating out= regain weight). I feel better prepared to keep this regain off now. I am still proud I kept off almost 150 lbs, though.

I have kept 170 pounds off for over 3 years now. Still trying to lose the elusive last 10.

for those who are keeping the weight off share with us the strategies you are using.

2 words: portion control

I didn't reach my goal and then slack off. I kept up with my eating reduced portions (compared to what I used to eat) and kept up with exercise. That's it, nothing magic. You can't be on a "diet" which implies that you will go back to your old ways. Change the way you eat and stick with it forever...that is the magic formula.

I think in order to keep the weight off, permanent changes need to take place. The unhealthy old way of life needs to be replaced which many of the above posters are doing.

And that is what worked for me. I just passed the 2 year mark and I've managed to keep the weight off just fine. I don't eat the same s*** I used to eat as a kid period. These studies and researchers are full of crap imo.

I have kept mine off for about 3 years now, because I never went back to my old eating habits. Also exercise pretty much every day .

I have been in maintenance mode since January of 2009. Soo coming up on 5 years here soon.

The thing is I met my goal weight the same week I found out I was pregnant with my second son. Then I went through a nasty divorce, separating from my husband when I was 6 months pregnant. Talk about a test of willpower!! But I was successful. And because I had lost the 135 pounds the right way....slow, healthy and educated...I was called one of the healthiest pregnant women people had seen.

Now maintenance for me has been a bit of trial and error. I met my goal and then ended up getting too thin for awhile there after I had my son. Stress. Unreal how it used to make me eat and now I can't eat. Something in my brain changed. So I have actually worked to put some meat ON as I had lost every curve I had. And as my work schedule changes, I need to adjust my workouts, etc. But I do believe that weight-loss and maintenance is 70% food and 30% exercise. Exercise is very important and I love cardio but it isn't an excuse to eat whatever you want. There is a balance there even in maintenance. And all of our bodies are different and we need to figure out what balance works for us.

I think the goal should be finding a "happy weight" and where you feel good in your skin and confident and healthy and have energy. And work to maintain THAT.

It CAN be done though. And I am convinced the diet industry is designed to keep us fat. They don't want us succeeding for long because then they wouldn't get their money. So doing the anti-diet. Doing it the right way. No quick fixes. Just get back to basics, old school..and eat healthy, eat LESS, move your body, learn to love the feeling of a good sweat and allow yourself some treats. Make the norm healthier and the "here and there" the fun stuff.

Fantastic work for everyone who has managed to keep it off!!!

AMAZING!!

Lost over 65 lbs in 2009. Been at 118 lbs ever since

You're my hero!

:blushing:

I have. I lost approx. 90 lbs and have kept it off now for about 3 yrs. You teach yourself new and healthy habits and you stick with them. Determined NOT to ever go back to the way I was before and so I kept my weight maintained.

I lost 45 or so in 2011. I logged everything on MFP every SINGLE day for over 2 years. Then, I pulled back. Now, I don't log anything. After 2 years, I learned what to eat and how much, when I can have a little extra or a treat or a beer. I balance dining out with exercise. And I exercise. A lot. Like Mon, Wed., Thurs., Fri., Sat. and Sun. I do strength and cardio. And I love it. Also, I weigh myself everyday and use a WiFi scale to keep track of trends and averages. When the trend moves up, I tighten up on the eating a bit for a few days. I have some variation, but I am steady between 174 and 178. 180 is a real upper limit.

So . . . . use MFP to establish good habits. When you are ready to walk the tightrope without a net, you can do it.

I would just like to correct something said in the article quoted by the OP.
It mentions the National Weight Control Registry and contends that even the NWCR says that almost everyone who loses puts the weight back on after two years.
That sounds so pessimistic and it is not exactly accurate.
The National Weight Control Registry enrolls people who have lost weight and kept it off for two years, at least. It was started because everyone knows that many people who diet successfully and lose weight end up putting it back on six months later, nine months later, a year and a half later. The Registry was started to find out what made the people who did not put the weight back on successful. They chose two years maintenance as a cutoff, somewhat arbitrarily.
Their research certainly does not say that everyone who loses weight, and keeps it off for two years, is destined to fail and put it back on eventually! On the contrary, I believe they have identified a number of practices that are associated with long term success. I think those include adopting a regular program of exercise and weighing oneself periodically.
That research program is about what makes people successful, because many certainly are -- despite how hard it can be.

I've never been overweight, and while my weight has climbed to the low 100s from the low 90s over the years I've managed to keep it in check by making hard choices about what I eat. Decades ago, I started to drink my coffee with skim and no sugar. I'm aware of the calorie content of foods and I weigh myself a few times a week.

I know a woman in her sixties who was overweight as a teenager but I've only known her as a thin woman. She said she internalized all the lessons she learned from dieting.

I sometimes eat badly, but in general I don't feel an entitlement to gorge myself. I feel entitled to work with what I have and stay trim and healthy.

I have been in maintenance mode since January of 2009. Soo coming up on 5 years here soon.

The thing is I met my goal weight the same week I found out I was pregnant with my second son. Then I went through a nasty divorce, separating from my husband when I was 6 months pregnant. Talk about a test of willpower!! But I was successful. And because I had lost the 135 pounds the right way....slow, healthy and educated...I was called one of the healthiest pregnant women people had seen.

Now maintenance for me has been a bit of trial and error. I met my goal and then ended up getting too thin for awhile there after I had my son. Stress. Unreal how it used to make me eat and now I can't eat. Something in my brain changed. So I have actually worked to put some meat ON as I had lost every curve I had. And as my work schedule changes, I need to adjust my workouts, etc. But I do believe that weight-loss and maintenance is 70% food and 30% exercise. Exercise is very important and I love cardio but it isn't an excuse to eat whatever you want. There is a balance there even in maintenance. And all of our bodies are different and we need to figure out what balance works for us.

I think the goal should be finding a "happy weight" and where you feel good in your skin and confident and healthy and have energy. And work to maintain THAT.

It CAN be done though. And I am convinced the diet industry is designed to keep us fat. They don't want us succeeding for long because then they wouldn't get their money. So doing the anti-diet. Doing it the right way. No quick fixes. Just get back to basics, old school..and eat healthy, eat LESS, move your body, learn to love the feeling of a good sweat and allow yourself some treats. Make the norm healthier and the "here and there" the fun stuff.

So glad you dropped by! You were one of the first posters I started following when I joined almost four years ago. Your sensible approach and advice was a big help to me when I was an MFP youngster. It helped to confirm that I was on the right path at last. I'm glad to see that you're still visiting MFP!

For those of you who are relatively new, here is one of MFP's most successful members. Her advice is gold.

Thanks,
Jeanne

I lost my first 30 lbs over the course of about 2 years, then maintained for over a year. Trying to lose those last 20 lbs. Not sure about this hormone stuff, because I don't feel any hungrier at this weight than I did when I was 30 lbs heavier. Maybe how the weight is lost plays a factor in this? And also how quickly it's lost?