What causes failure?

People fail because they give up, pure and simple. A lot of people choose a diet/exercise routine that they can't stick to for the long term. They feel that once they have achieved their goal that they can reward themselves with lots of food and relaxation (which actually is sometimes just what the dr ordered lol). But what many fail to realize is that they need to make lifestyle changes, changes that they can maintain for months and/or years. Also they need to realize that when they achieve a goal, they should reevaluate and set a new goal. Never stop trying to reach further. The human body is capable of some amazing things. And if you stop trying to go further you will never fully reach your potential, you will never become the strongest version of yourself that you can be. And that goes for pretty much all facets of your life, whether it be education, career, relationships, etc.

This is a good question.

I don't think I have the right answer but to make some observations:

- I don't think it's a singular cause such as "not wanting it bad enough".
- I think it's a combination of factors and I think that the collective list of barriers to weight loss success will differ from person to person.


Some things that come to mind:

- Lacking quality information. Part of this lies in the absolutely horrible dieting industry and them pushing scammy products and misinformation.
- Not putting enough emphasis on dietary adherence and/or lacking the knowledge to maximize adherence through various strategies.
- Biological factors that predispose us to resist weight loss or regain weight (hunger signaling/hormonal responses to dieting/AT)
- Not wanting it bad enough. (I believe this is a legitimate element, it's just not the only element).
- Methodological flaws in diet and/or exercise that stem from the information piece above.
- I do believe the food industry is a variable. To be clear, I am not BLAMING obesity on the food industry. Far from it. However I believe the availability and prevalence of high energy density foods with very low satiety and very appealing flavor certainly doesn't help things.

^^This is also a BIG part of it

For me, it's hard to maintain because sometimes it feels like I'm still dieting and it's hard for me to feel like I'm missing out on things. I've lost quite a bit of weight so far, but I've actually been maintaining for about a year after losing the motivation to continue losing. During that time, certain things changed in my life that made even maintaining difficult.

What sucks for me is my life is pretty spontaneous. If I don't think I'm going out at all that night, and then eat all my maintenance calories by, say, 7 PM, only to be invited out to the bars with my friends, I have to choose between keeping a healthy social life or sticking to my calorie count. Most times, I decide to go out drinking and plan on eating less/exercising more the next day.

That doesn't always work, though. Things come up. The weather is bad (I don't have access to a gym). I get sick.

It's a lifelong decision to work on maintaining your health. Some days are going to be "bad," but you're only going to gain weight if you don't take measures to counteract those bad days, or give up altogether. I could gain three pounds one week, but then the following week I'll make the decision to do what I need to do to lose those pounds again, and that's how I've been maintaining.

Another thing that helps me is setting fitness goals. I've signed up for a half marathon and marathon this next year, so that keeps me motivated. I'm also doing a few 30 day challenges at the moment. Oh, yeah, and my fiance bought me some jeans for Christmas that are a size too small, which is great incentive to lose these last few pounds!

Try intermittent fasting so you can still go out and enjoy time with friends. Also if you don't have access to the gym, make a plan B. Think of things you can do at home, write it down, put it away in a drawer. Pull it out when the weather is bad.

I reached my goal weight on Dec. 17. I've also been a lifelong yo-yo and am working to ditch that habit. Here's how:

1. Sustainability.
-- I lost the weight slowly this time, aiming for a half-pound loss per week (and averaging more like three-quarters). This means that the only real change I'm making in maintenance is eating slightly more calories than before. In other words, I have very little adjustment to make. I don't have to enter into a completely new learning process to maintain.
-- I'm eating the same foods as during my weight loss. No special diet, just healthier eating and better eating habits.
-- I've made exercise a habit.
In the past, my failures have come from lack of sustainable practices.

2. Better stress responses. In the past, my failures have come from stress eating. These days I'm helped by meditation responses, and also by stopping and breathing. I have to decide if my hunger is stress-hunger or real hunger. I have to listen to my body, which takes concentration and some time, but I get better with practice.

3. Vigilance. I'm still logging, still weighing myself. It's become a habit. I enjoy number crunching, so I make it fun. I enjoy eating the foods that I do, so no problem there. I just make sure I stay within my goals. In the past, my failures have come from taking my eye off the ball and falling back into bad habits.

One more thing...

7.) Money - supplements and clean foods are expensive.

That's not as big an issue as one might think. According to this article, eating healthier foods (and not counting weight loss, i.e., eating less food) adds up to an extra $1.50 a day on average:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/12/05/249072685/what-separates-a-healthy-and-unhealthy-diet-just-1-50-per-day

On Sept. 1, 2012, I ditched processed, pre-packaged food for the most part and started eating much more fresh produce. Between the first eight months and the last four months of last year I saved 34.7 percent on my average monthly grocery bill: more than a third.

The final numbers aren't in yet because this year isn't over yet, but from my estimates my total food bill for 2013 will come to 7 percent less than my total food bill for 2012. That's counting my four months of better, cheaper eating in 2012. It's also counting the fact that I buy for two and the main dietary changes are just mine.

So there are the hard numbers. Next year I get to see what maintenance does to my grocery bill (that, and inflation). As for the health premium, losing the weight has improved both my blood glucose and my cholesterol levels. You can't put a price on that.

So, there is no such thing as personal accountability, individual circumstances and priorities, metabolic differences, differences in personal satiety and hunger signalling?

As for your first sentence, of course there is. But when idiot pedestrian steps out in front of speeding, drunk driver, the blame usually gets shared between them. Personally, I'd just be happy if they stopped marketing crap to kids and turned the school lunch program into something that is actually healthy.

As for your second part: The attempts by well-meaning people to undermine those of us exploring how best to work with our own differences in satiety and hunger signalling to create a sustainable pattern of eating are unrelenting. I say low carb works for me, invariably someone is going to suggest moderation of sugars and carbs instead, which never has worked for me.

So, there is no such thing as personal accountability, individual circumstances and priorities, metabolic differences, differences in personal satiety and hunger signalling?

As for your first sentence, of course there is. But when idiot pedestrian steps out in front of speeding, drunk driver, the blame usually gets shared between them. Personally, I'd just be happy if they stopped marketing crap to kids and turned the school lunch program into something that is actually healthy.

As for your second part: The attempts by well-meaning people to undermine those of us exploring how best to work with our own differences in satiety and hunger signalling to create a sustainable pattern of eating are unrelenting. I say low carb works for me, invariably someone is going to suggest moderation of sugars and carbs instead, which never has worked for me.

The question was in relation to the post I quoted.

I found there's is less going on to keep you motivated. Lifts stall or weight stops dropping or your measurements remain the same.

Once you're close to goal weight, but still chasing your goal body it's a lot more fine tuning, which can be a frustrating game of experimentation.

I think you then slide little by little and have to find the motivation all over again.

This is a good question.

I don't think I have the right answer but to make some observations:

- I don't think it's a singular cause such as "not wanting it bad enough".
- I think it's a combination of factors and I think that the collective list of barriers to weight loss success will differ from person to person.


Some things that come to mind:

- Lacking quality information. Part of this lies in the absolutely horrible dieting industry and them pushing scammy products and misinformation.
- Not putting enough emphasis on dietary adherence and/or lacking the knowledge to maximize adherence through various strategies.
- Biological factors that predispose us to resist weight loss or regain weight (hunger signaling/hormonal responses to dieting/AT)
- Not wanting it bad enough. (I believe this is a legitimate element, it's just not the only element).
- Methodological flaws in diet and/or exercise that stem from the information piece above.
- I do believe the food industry is a variable. To be clear, I am not BLAMING obesity on the food industry. Far from it. However I believe the availability and prevalence of high energy density foods with very low satiety and very appealing flavor certainly doesn't help things.

Sure you should blame the food industry.

Why wouldn't you?

Of course you should blame the "diet industry."

They make money off selling worthless products that they know will fail long-term.

And don't blame physiology.

Naturally thin people have the EXACT SAME GENETIC SET-UP AND METABOLISM as overweight people.

Let your body re-equilibrate by not assaulting it with lots of food.

Very simple.

But the UNLEARNING process can be uncomfortable, and you have to face certain myths that have become embedded in our society.

"Breakfast is the least important meal of the day" says it all. It is by Hagan and the freebie first couple chapters you can access on Kindle is all you need.

So, there is no such thing as personal accountability, individual circumstances and priorities, metabolic differences, differences in personal satiety and hunger signalling?

There is no such thing as metabolic differences. We are ALL genetically the same.

Personal satiety and and hunger signally are variables that have a HUGE learned component. Naturally thin people have LEARNED to live with having an empty stomach. What people think is "hunger" is actually the stomach signalling that it isn't as packed with food as it is used to. Example: a very obese woman is absolutely famished and is about to eat a big meal she has prepared. Then she hears her daughter crying from across the street. She FORGETS about her hunger and runs out to see what the problem is.

Individual circumstances and priorities can change. i agree that some people SAY they want to lose weight, but don't really want to. No one is in a circumstance, however, where they gain weight against their wishes.

Personal accountability? Well, sure, people have to eat to become obese, but we live in a culture that is media driven. And if you see on TV the message that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day you will believe it. The government should, and will eventually, step in on breakfast food advertising. Even today, the breakfast food companies are backing off. They qualify things with saying that everyone should eat a NUTRITIOUS breakfast, and not coming right out and say everyone should eat breakfast.

Doctors should inform their patients on how the human body works regards weight gain and loss. They don't. Food consumption is equated with pleasure, social and business success.

So sure the obese are to blame in a strict sense for their own condition, but they have been fed false information about food consumption for their entire lives.

First of all, some people do have metabolic differences. Thyroid anyone? They also have different lifestyles that mean that they are more or less active and as such will be able to eat more/loss to keep the same weight.

Secondly, are you being this reductionist on purpose? Not everything is 'learned'. I am pretty sure that the basic premise of - if you eat more than you burn you will gain weight is not a media conspiracy that has been kept under wraps.

Also, what is it? The media is ALL to blame or there is some personal accountability going on?

This is a good question.

I don't think I have the right answer but to make some observations:

- I don't think it's a singular cause such as "not wanting it bad enough".
- I think it's a combination of factors and I think that the collective list of barriers to weight loss success will differ from person to person.


Some things that come to mind:

- Lacking quality information. Part of this lies in the absolutely horrible dieting industry and them pushing scammy products and misinformation.
- Not putting enough emphasis on dietary adherence and/or lacking the knowledge to maximize adherence through various strategies.
- Biological factors that predispose us to resist weight loss or regain weight (hunger signaling/hormonal responses to dieting/AT)
- Not wanting it bad enough. (I believe this is a legitimate element, it's just not the only element).
- Methodological flaws in diet and/or exercise that stem from the information piece above.
- I do believe the food industry is a variable. To be clear, I am not BLAMING obesity on the food industry. Far from it. However I believe the availability and prevalence of high energy density foods with very low satiety and very appealing flavor certainly doesn't help things.

Sure you should blame the food industry.

Why wouldn't you?

Of course you should blame the "diet industry."

They make money off selling worthless products that they know will fail long-term.

And don't blame physiology.

Naturally thin people have the EXACT SAME GENETIC SET-UP AND METABOLISM as overweight people.

Let your body re-equilibrate by not assaulting it with lots of food.

Very simple.

But the UNLEARNING process can be uncomfortable, and you have to face certain myths that have become embedded in our society.

"Breakfast is the least important meal of the day" says it all. It is by Hagan and the freebie first couple chapters you can access on Kindle is all you need.

So, there is no such thing as personal accountability, individual circumstances and priorities, metabolic differences, differences in personal satiety and hunger signalling?

There is no such thing as metabolic differences. We are ALL genetically the same.

Personal satiety and and hunger signally are variables that have a HUGE learned component. Naturally thin people have LEARNED to live with having an empty stomach. What people think is "hunger" is actually the stomach signalling that it isn't as packed with food as it is used to. Example: a very obese woman is absolutely famished and is about to eat a big meal she has prepared. Then she hears her daughter crying from across the street. She FORGETS about her hunger and runs out to see what the problem is.

Individual circumstances and priorities can change. i agree that some people SAY they want to lose weight, but don't really want to. No one is in a circumstance, however, where they gain weight against their wishes.

Personal accountability? Well, sure, people have to eat to become obese, but we live in a culture that is media driven. And if you see on TV the message that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day you will believe it. The government should, and will eventually, step in on breakfast food advertising. Even today, the breakfast food companies are backing off. They qualify things with saying that everyone should eat a NUTRITIOUS breakfast, and not coming right out and say everyone should eat breakfast.

Doctors should inform their patients on how the human body works regards weight gain and loss. They don't. Food consumption is equated with pleasure, social and business success.

So sure the obese are to blame in a strict sense for their own condition, but they have been fed false information about food consumption for their entire lives.

First of all, some people do have metabolic differences. Thyroid anyone? They also have different lifestyles that mean that they are more or less active and as such will be able to eat more/loss to keep the same weight.

Secondly, are you being this reductionist on purpose? Not everything is 'learned'. I am pretty sure that the basic premise of - if you eat more than you burn you will gain weight is not a media conspiracy that has been kept under wraps.

Also, what is it? The media is ALL to blame or there is some personal accountability going on?

We are talking about normal people here.

And thyroid hormone levels are determined by the long-term exposure to temperature. The mechanism is designed to provide heat for the body in cold climates, and reduce heat production in the warm climates.

It is the media, I am not backing down from that, but it is also people who should know better- like doctors and other medical professionals. Ever hear anyone say that they have to eat because they have "morning hypoglycemia?" Sure you have. A totally bogus diagnosis that doctors make in order to pander to their obese patients.

Plus, it is the media and the large breakfast food companies that drive the research into diet and weight loss. And the big companies will actually work with government to design studies they hope will be beneficial to them.

Ever hear of a morning fast double-blinded placebo controlled study put out by ANYONE?

No. usually they will muck around with high carb or high protein diets, or change the calories distribution, but breakfast is never skipped prospectively.

No one makes any money if people DON'T eat something.

But with obesity becoming a real national nightmare, the government will be forced to look at these things.

Eating breakfast starts you- and your stomach- off on the wrong foot in the morning and reinforced maladaptive learned concepts.

I have no idea what you are going on about re thyroid and it's relevance. The point I was making that blanket absolutes are generally wrong - as is yours (the 'there is no such thing as metabolic differences' one - as there are)

I am not disagreeing that there is a horrendous amount of misinformation out there either. However, there are differences in circumstances (including motivation as you already admitted) that make your reductionist stance far too simplistic.

I know in the past my failure has been because of not being patient. Or maybe a lack of self-control, and determination.

I think we fail because we don't know how to handle success. A lot of people don't know how to treat them selves for mini goals and also don't know how to handle people telling them how good they look now they think I'm good I can splurge a little i'll just make it back up.

Because there is no 'goal' in maintenance, nothing to reach, no end point, no reward at the end. If there is no ultimate weight goal to reach, people tend to slack off habits and say.... well, I'll make up for this later. Then, life catches up- and before they know it, they've put weight back on.

Maintenance is hard. I've been doing it since Nov of last year. For me, I have to keep logging, because I don't trust myself to intuitively eat. I failed at intuitively eating for 32 years, I can't expect to be proficient in that skill in one year.

Note to self: Wise words.

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I finally realized why this posting bothers me. A while ago, I learned that by focusing on success and not failure, you will be successful. So, turn the question around.

I've brought this up before and people always want to argue. The reason they want to argue is because it's the way we were taught. From the beginning, if you're bad with something, like math, you work harder to get yourself proficient. It is inherent in our upbringing and counter-intuitive to say, screw that noise. I'm focusing on things I do well. Things I do poorly, I'll manage, but it won't try to get better.

So, again, learning why people fail is irrelevant. Ask how people succeed, and see what they say. Then, model your behavior using a model of success.

Cheers!

this is brilliant baby lets conquer the world together :drinker:

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