Understanding Why it's So Difficult to Maintain Weight

foodiscomplicated
foodiscomplicated Posts: 85 Member
in Goal: Maintaining Weight
This episode from the HBO documentary series, (The Weight Of A Nation) gives the skinny on the situation many of us struggle with.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i_cmltmQ6A
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Replies

  • lporter229
    lporter229 Posts: 4,907 Member
    Interesting. Did not have time to watch the whole thing. Bumping to finish later. Thanks for posting.
  • KisaraKaiba
    KisaraKaiba Posts: 59 Member
    Bumping so I can watch when I get home. Thanks for posting!
  • IanBee93
    IanBee93 Posts: 237 Member
    That's why it's a lifestyle change. Not just something you do for 6 months and then when you're thin, you stay thin and do what you want. It really sucks that the body reacts in a negative way after weight loss, because it thinks we're dying/starving. When really we're just trying to make it healthy, by getting rid of fat :\
  • retiree2006
    retiree2006 Posts: 951 Member
    Interesting and a bit of a "downer" to realize, if all this is true, it's no wonder maintenace becomes a constant battle. But it's also better to be aware and have this information to help in maintenance. Thanks for posting.
  • iechick
    iechick Posts: 352 Member
    Bump to watch later!
  • FatHuMan1
    FatHuMan1 Posts: 1,028 Member
    Very informative. Thanks!
  • iechick
    iechick Posts: 352 Member
    Just watched it-yikes lol. So, what does that mean for us trying to maintain? Right now things are going good over here, but it's only been a few months :tongue: Should we be lowering our calories like the woman in the study was told to do, to compensate for what may be happening in our bodies? Would eating just a few less calories every day (in her case 300 a day), mean our chances of success would go from just 5% to ??? So if my 'maintenance' calories are say 1,900 would 1,600 calories instead make all the difference between maintaining successfully and being part of the 95% failure rate? Lots to think about...
  • mpf1
    mpf1 Posts: 1,437 Member
    bump
  • EdwardNortonFan43
    EdwardNortonFan43 Posts: 150 Member
    bump
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    Just watched it-yikes lol. So, what does that mean for us trying to maintain? Right now things are going good over here, but it's only been a few months :tongue: Should we be lowering our calories like the woman in the study was told to do, to compensate for what may be happening in our bodies? Would eating just a few less calories every day (in her case 300 a day), mean our chances of success would go from just 5% to ??? So if my 'maintenance' calories are say 1,900 would 1,600 calories instead make all the difference between maintaining successfully and being part of the 95% failure rate? Lots to think about...

    I think everyone needs to tweak the numbers to figure out their own maintenance, whether they have lost a lot of weight or not, but it's worth noting that if you have lost a lot of weight the TDEE calculators are not as accurate. For me what hit home was the idea that it will be a constant struggle and that we really can't "trust our body" as many people advise.
  • gregpack
    gregpack Posts: 426 Member
    I'm 22 months post weight loss. It's nice to hear that the struggles we face are typical physiological changes due to weigh loss. I do admit that maintenance is harder than I hoped it would be. I was hoping to eventually let my guard down, but I have had to stay vigilant to keep the weight off. If I "free ranged" I'd probably gain 30lbs back in a matter of months. It does however, seem to be getting slightly easier lately. I'll likely continue to step on the scale every morning and have a weekly "diet day" just to keep the pounds from creeping back up. Good Luck Guys..
  • fangmouse
    fangmouse Posts: 119
    Bump!
  • jmadams111
    jmadams111 Posts: 145 Member
    bump
  • maryrx59
    maryrx59 Posts: 55 Member
    bump for later :wink:
  • geekyjock76
    geekyjock76 Posts: 2,720 Member
    The important information begins at the 5:30 mark: "Individuals losing weight are not metabolically the same as they were before they lost weight...."

    Regarding TDEE calculators, you have to also realize those estimates reflect the intake of people who are eating the maximum amount of calories to maintain a certain natural weight - ie: their TDEE was not altered by previous diet interventions.

    The doctor covers this important distinction in the aforementioned segment about the noted difference in TDEE by two hypothetical women who weigh the same, though one achieved that weight through weight loss whereas the other has always been that weight.
  • lismcm
    lismcm Posts: 5 Member
    Saving for later....thanks for posting :)
  • rlinaresv
    rlinaresv Posts: 108
    Saving for later. I'm about to star maintenance
  • IsMollyReallyHungry
    IsMollyReallyHungry Posts: 15,385 Member
    Bump! Thanks!
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    As I suspected, you will likely have to accept eating less than you think you should be able to if you want to maintain weight loss, permanently.
  • kathiehughes
    kathiehughes Posts: 192 Member
    bump
  • wild_wild_life
    wild_wild_life Posts: 1,334 Member
    The important information begins at the 5:30 mark: "Individuals losing weight are not metabolically the same as they were before they lost weight...."

    Regarding TDEE calculators, you have to also realize those estimates reflect the intake of people who are eating the maximum amount of calories to maintain a certain natural weight - ie: their TDEE was not altered by previous diet interventions.

    The doctor covers this important distinction in the aforementioned segment about the noted difference in TDEE by two hypothetical women who weigh the same, though one achieved that weight through weight loss whereas the other has always been that weight.

    Even more importantly than TDEE being different is that their experience of food, drive to eat, even sense of smell is different. Interesting stuff.
  • pelleld
    pelleld Posts: 363 Member
    saving for later
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
    I didn't watch the video. I personally think it's easier to maintain than it is to lose. I've been maintaining for over two years now and it's really simple. I've got my good habits in place, it only takes a few minutes a day to track my exercise and calories and I'm good to go. My weight just stays the same, almost like magic except that it's not - it's just MFP and habit. (It might go up or down by 1-2 pounds during a certain time of the month, or if I'm sick, but otherwise, it's pretty much been a constant.) :flowerforyou:

    ETA: Ok, saw the video. It makes sense that metabolism could be permanently altered, but the rules are still the same - you still need to keep the calories you bring in equal to the calories you burn. I don't worry about whether I'm eating the same amount of calories as someone else my size. I just eat to accommodate my own personal needs as they are today. As long as you find the point at which you maintain (whether or not it's 20% less or more food than your buddy) and then continue to track and keep it at that level (making adjustments as needed) maintenance shouldn't be a problem. At least it hasn't been for me.
  • iechick
    iechick Posts: 352 Member
    I didn't watch the video. I personally think it's easier to maintain than it is to lose. I've been maintaining for over two years now and it's really simple. I've got my good habits in place, it only takes a few minutes a day to track my exercise and calories and I'm good to go. My weight just stays the same, almost like magic except that it's not - it's just MFP and habit. (It might go up or down by 1-2 pounds during a certain time of the month, or if I'm sick, but otherwise, it's pretty much been a constant.) :flowerforyou:

    do you still track calories every day then? That's just mind boggling to me-I got burned out from tracking just during the few months of weight loss and stopped when I started transitioning into maintenance :tongue: I wonder if I'm setting myself up for failure by not tracking them?
  • fultimers
    fultimers Posts: 153 Member
    I've pretty much made up my mind that I will have to log what I eat into my diary and exercise frequently for the rest of my life--even after I have reached my goal weight.

    I've reached my goal weight a few times in my lifetime and gained all the weight back (and some) each time. I'm convinced I gained it back because I didn't want to keep track any more.
  • SapiensPisces
    SapiensPisces Posts: 992 Member
    This is a good series and well worth a watch for those interested.

    Does anyone know if TDEE readjusts back up in time? For example, if, after I complete my weight loss, my TDEE is 15% lower than expected, will it go back up after months or years at maintenance?
  • smilingalltheway
    smilingalltheway Posts: 216 Member
    bump
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    Bump
  • lithezebra
    lithezebra Posts: 3,670 Member
    I didn't watch the video. I personally think it's easier to maintain than it is to lose. I've been maintaining for over two years now and it's really simple. I've got my good habits in place, it only takes a few minutes a day to track my exercise and calories and I'm good to go. My weight just stays the same, almost like magic except that it's not - it's just MFP and habit. (It might go up or down by 1-2 pounds during a certain time of the month, or if I'm sick, but otherwise, it's pretty much been a constant.) :flowerforyou:

    do you still track calories every day then? That's just mind boggling to me-I got burned out from tracking just during the few months of weight loss and stopped when I started transitioning into maintenance :tongue: I wonder if I'm setting myself up for failure by not tracking them?

    I'm planning to track calories for the rest of my life. I haven't found it difficult to maintain my weight loss, and I'm sure it's because I rely on tracking to determine how much to eat, not on instinct.
  • iechick
    iechick Posts: 352 Member
    I didn't watch the video. I personally think it's easier to maintain than it is to lose. I've been maintaining for over two years now and it's really simple. I've got my good habits in place, it only takes a few minutes a day to track my exercise and calories and I'm good to go. My weight just stays the same, almost like magic except that it's not - it's just MFP and habit. (It might go up or down by 1-2 pounds during a certain time of the month, or if I'm sick, but otherwise, it's pretty much been a constant.) :flowerforyou:

    do you still track calories every day then? That's just mind boggling to me-I got burned out from tracking just during the few months of weight loss and stopped when I started transitioning into maintenance :tongue: I wonder if I'm setting myself up for failure by not tracking them?

    I'm planning to track calories for the rest of my life. I haven't found it difficult to maintain my weight loss, and I'm sure it's because I rely on tracking to determine how much to eat, not on instinct.

    thanks for the input, you've given me something to think about :)

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