Has anyone lost and regained?

Last Halloween I was 20 poounds from goal and by New Year's I had gained 20 more. i blamed it on the holidays but the truth of the matter was I was sabbotaging myself. Emotional eating is horrible and I let it rob me of my victory. Lol! Just embrace the new you even if it is not the you that you thought you'd be and move forward with healthy eating and fitness.

Aimee you are not alone. The self esteem problem does indeed come from regaining the weight. I have struggled for the last 14 years and felt the same way you do. I would loose 20 then gain 30. I too was a comfort food eater. What I did was I found something else other than calories that gave me comfort and when I wanted to reach for that reses cup I went for my substitute: fresh ginger, lemon and hot water. To me I found it to bring me comfort and after about a month I had done it. I no longer stress eat. When I feel the urge I go for the ginger lemon water. Try it....... you want to do this I can hear it.... So just take a deep breath and put one step in front of the other. What also worked for me.... I didn't look at the huge end result. I took it 5 pounds at a time. you can do this.......... I would love to be your friend on here and we can support each other. WE have very similar issues. Hang in there.......

So not alone! I lost my freshman 50 from culinary school only to gain 80 back after I got married! Then I lost 40, and gained it back - then 20 and gained it back. The 20 pounds came and went only 3 months ago. It really sucks but I know I can do this permanently. And so can you!

Hi Aimee,
I think 99% of us go through the same problem with maintaining a weight loss. I personally lost 52.5 lbs and then a couple of years later regained 20 or so. I have kept off 35 lbs for 5 years, but never been able to shed the last 15 or so. i yoyo around between 170 and 180.
Try to focus on the positive fact that you are not all the way back where you started. I know what you mean about feeling depressed though. It sucks to not be able to find the same motivation that was once there. I ask myself why isn't the motivation there any more? Maybe it is because during our first attempt at loss, it felt all new and exciting and we were relishing the accomplishment. And now, we just feel like failures.

I am trying (as of a couple of days), to think about my future self. How would my future self feel if I just do what feels good right now, like scarfing down a few cookies, or caving in to some other food craving, or playing on the computer instead of doing my workout, or if I continue avoiding whatever else I am avoiding like work work. Are we just procrastinating on the weight loss, like we procrastinate on other things? Lately I am trying to remember a line that Homer Simpson said:

Marge: You know, some day these kids will be out of the house and you'll regret not spending more time with them.
Homer: That's a problem for Future Dad. Man, I don't envy that guy.

Lol. So think about trying to make your FUTURE self happy by making good choices today. You don't want your future self to be even more unhappy than your present self, do you?

Sure have. In 2011 I went from about 175 pounds down to about 155 pounds (see my main profile pic for me at 155). After accomplishing that I mentally checked off "get fit" from my to-do list and moved on to my next line item "succeed at career" I then spent 3 years fully focused on my career during which I was promoted and did a lot of good work, yet, became so focused that I forgot about my body and my health. During that time I put on 35 pounds to go up to 190. I literally didn't notice.

I don't feel like I have "crash dieting" to blame either for the regain. I lost that weight in a pretty healthy manner while eating probably on average 2400 calories a day. I just lost sight of my health and focused on something else instead.

My problem is I tend to get focused like a hawk on a single goal, I am a horrible multitasker. Now I am back at losing that weight and I am down to 180 on my way back to ~155. This time I hope to add in that extra oh so important goal of transitioning to maintenance and a workout routinue that emphisizes strength and muscle building over cardio endurance.

I don't know if this makes me strange but weight loss comes easy for me, its the maintenance that I need to learn how to do.

I went from a size 20 to a size 10. Then thanks to stress binging on crisps and chocolate and to be fair enjoying things like kebabs and pizza, I'm back into a size 16. When I lost the weight I deliberately got rid of everything greater than size 14 as I knew I'd slide into whatever size clothes I keep. Determined not to go shopping for clothes and get back down again.

The weakness for me so saying "oh it's only a few lb that's easy to lose if I put my mind to it". Turned out to be a disastrous attitude
It started me on a dangerous slide

Have a great holiday

I lost 110 pounds, gained 15-19 back. I've since lost about 5 of that. I had been part of a massive layoff from work and that's part of what 'did it' - depression in addition to everything else in my life (dragging on yucky divorce, stress being the only income provider, single mom, finances, etc.). I didn't update my ticker for the longest time, but who was I kidding? no one but MYSELF! remember that this is a lifestyle change - it's not a sprint. don't get discouraged. just dust yourself off and keep on going! :flowerforyou:

Twice 30 the first time..50ish the 2nd time

I lost around 35lbs on my first visit to MFP, and I was going to the gym 3-4 times a week. I had a really bad bout of sciatica in my legs for around 4 months, so I couldn't get to the gym. Because I was eating my burned calories back, I carried on eating the same, but without the cardio and gained back 20lbs. I've lost it again this time thankfully, but like others have said, regaining happens. It's getting back into the swing of things that is probably the hardest thing of all.

So glad that I found this thread. I am in the same boat. For some reason I thought that I am the only one who lost and gained the same 20lbs perhaps about 10 times during the last 6 years. For me it is all about sustainability of whatever new, healthier lifestyle I choose.

I get a bit smarter as I get older (I am 35). I noticed that I get bored with the same easily trackable (calorie-wise) food after couple of months, I lack creativity in cooking, I struggle to estimate those leftovers from the children’s supper.. so I stick with a boring piece of ham and cucumber.. .none of it worked long term.

I could probably put my effort into getting my *kitten* out to exercise, but I always wonder about those former “fatties” who all of a sudden aim for marathon’s or weight liftings. Will they sustain that lifestyle once they finished losing? Maybe! But I would not. So I am not even starting.

This time I am taking it easy. I need to live life today and not when I am slim (thanks for pointing this out!). God, I don’t even know what is to be slim. I have never been. My current calorie count is 1700 a day. I aim to eliminate caffeine, sodas, white carbs, sugars. I aim to have max 1200 before dinner. Then I eat children’s sized portion of whatever I am cooking for them; in that way I feel included and I don’t bother with counting calories. If the weight comes off then I am doing it right. If not, then I will adjust.
I don’t think that I will ever become very sporty or join the gym, but I love cycling in a local park so I try to do it more often. I started taking my kids with me, again it gives me double pleasure. As long as it is sustainable I should be OK.

I do love MFP and amazing support here but in the past, if I stop logging (if I am away or the food is non measurable) then I would just fall off the wagon.

Also at the age of 35 I have started to be more conscious health-wise.

I believe that with the right mindset I will succeed. Slowly but without stopping to live my life.