For those who lost weight and gained it back

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Replies

  • AlysonG2
    AlysonG2 Posts: 713 Member
    I lost 50 pounds about 5 years ago and kept it off for about 3 years, give or take 10 pounds. Then I got pregnant and used it as an excuse to eat anything and everything and gained it all back plus some. I'm now well below my pre-pregnancy weight, thinking about baby #2, and determined to not make the same mistake twice.
  • Kr1sMar1e
    Kr1sMar1e Posts: 57 Member
    It was a combination of things for me. I think there was extra stress at work this school year. Then I got an overuse injury from rock climbing and had to stop for months. I just started back; we'll see how it goes. I think gaining some weight from these two things just sent me in a downward spiral that's taken a while to stop. I'm feeling determined lately though!
  • 'I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.' --Michael Jordan
  • bcscho
    bcscho Posts: 12
    My 10# loss/gain over the past 10 years is a result of not being able to find the balance of how to eat and exercise in balance as a way of life. I can be really good on my diet/exercise program...then something changes and I let it rip for a bit and the weight comes back. I could list many reasons...but truth be told, I haven't figured out how to get to my weight goal without feeling like I'm compromising the joy in my life. That's what I need to wrap my arms around....
  • shadowfeet33
    shadowfeet33 Posts: 45 Member
    I lost a significant amount of weight a few years back, but not in a healthy way and not with the right motivation (being skinny for a particular reason , vs. being healthy and fit). I have always been able to temporarily hit a goal for an event or for example, I don't eat much when I'm upset. So circumstances have dictated my weight journey, instead of changing my lifestyle for good. That is what I'm working on now, but still struggle with it.
  • FabulousFantasticFifty
    FabulousFantasticFifty Posts: 195,832 Member
    Excited about joining your Group! :) With the thought of turning fifty this year, I kinda went into panic mode and decided to make some changes in my life. I started my Journey back in March and started at 182lbs. I joined a fitness group near my home which offers free workouts 3-4 days per week and they get together for hikes on Sunday. I Love this group who all are very supportive for each other and you can go at your own pace without feeling intimidated. I'm a church goer on Sundays so do miss out on the hikes. :( I suffer from Tachycardia and have issues with very fast heart rate so cannot do extreme cardio without passing out as well as have Hypothyroidism. I have however been very diligent in my workouts three days out of the four and walk almost everyday at least 3mi. I have also changed my eating habits drastically. I was one of those who went for years starving myself fat by eating nothing during the day except for coffee (with lots of sugar) and then ate dinner with my family usually late in the evening. I did this for about twenty years and went from a size six up to a 16. I now eat very sensibly throughout the day including at least one Protein shake in place of one of my main meals and have small healthy snacks mid morning, mid afternoon and late night. In doing this I had gotten down to 159lbs. These past three weeks I have been extremely busy renovating a home in another state away from my group and have been slipping on my meals again (not eating much)! I have gained back 8 lbs. which is very discouraging. I unfortunately am in a very rural area with no vehicle to keep my healthy stock of food around. :( 2-3 more weeks here and then back to my routine and my support system. For the time being I am hoping for some healthy tips and support from this group and look forward to getting back to my positive results. :D:smile:
  • vrvtesh
    vrvtesh Posts: 1
    I lost 25 pounds in 3 months (thanks to a healthy dose of cardio and diet..and my very high triglyceride reading) and then had to head to India for a family occassion..gained more than what I had lost before coming back which is inevitable :)

    My weight is under check but its my huge paunch I am fighting with. I know if I could get rid of it once, I can get rid of it again but its the lack of maintenence which is irritating me.

    I am not measuring my triglycerides till I lose another 10 pounds as I do not want to freak out seeing a very high reading.
  • hearthwood
    hearthwood Posts: 794 Member
    They are finding lack of exercise is the biggest problem we have today. A 100 years ago farming was a top source of income along with manufacturing where the average person burned 700 extra calories a day than we typically do today. Add to that McDonalds, larger portions at restaurants and it spells catastrophe.

    The reason this nation is fat is because we're eating more and moving less than our ancestors did. Back in the 1950's it was hard to find someone that was overweight, much less obese. They didn't workout like we do today, they just didn't eat like we do. Cake and ice cream was for birthday parties, desert was for Sunday dinners, which typically was the biggest meal during the week. Fast food didn't exist, everyone cooked and ate at home, or they didn't eat.

    Today an average 9 year old weighs 10 pounds heavier than an average 9 year old from the 1950's.

    That's the difference between the generations.
  • I lost over 30lbs between September 2012 and February 2013, then I got in a car accident and couldn't do any excercise. I let that become an excuse not to take care of myself and eventually when I was cleared to work out again, I never got back on track. I was determined to make changes when I started my first year of university, and now that it's finally the summer before my second year, I'm actually making those changes. It's certainly been a roller coaster ride to fitness, but that's why they call it a journey anyway.
  • Froody2
    Froody2 Posts: 338 Member
    Bump
  • MindyG150
    MindyG150 Posts: 1,296 Member
    After hitting my goal for my 50th birthday in January of 2013, I gained 10 pounds over the winter...I could count many obstacles but the worst was my own denial. Not logging my calories and not getting out to exercise was my down fall. Sounds simple enough but instead of reaching out I fell into a long cold lonely winter. I am working thru some issues and trying to fight my way back.....150 here I come!
  • rainagain
    rainagain Posts: 2 Member
    For me it was lack of a maintenance plan - every time. I have yoyo-ed the same 14lbs (pre children) and the same 28lbs (after children) for years. I was always in the mindset that once I got to goal I could go back to normal eating - and every time I put all the weight back on.

    This time, having got to my goal weight a couple of weeks ago I have decided to continue to log my calories. I am also carrying on my exercise. Having the app on my phone realy helps too and if it helps me keep the weight in check long term it's worth it.

    I don't want to put the weight back on, I feel miserable every time I do, this time I'm aiming for a permanent change.
  • MrsGilligan12
    MrsGilligan12 Posts: 21 Member
    I lost 40 lbs in 2012 and ended up hurting myself. I really over did it and it made my Multiple Sclerosis flare up. So i had to stop exercising for a while. I only gained back 5 or so pounds then, but in August 2013 I had a miscarriage after trying to have a baby for years with my husband and became so depressed that I ate my way back up over my starting weight. I'm now 20 pounds lighter, but still 25 pounds away from the weight I was in 2012. Now I take it easy to not exacerbate my Multiple Sclerosis. Slow and steady is my game plan now. I'd rather lose it bit by bit, then to hurt myself again.
  • Zenzen2000
    Zenzen2000 Posts: 17
    Lost 65 lbs. a couple of years ago and just lately, I started to put some weight back on. I want to nip it in the bud but it's not happening.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    lost 30 pounds when i was unemployed because i started cooking for myself and logging my calories.

    then i got a job with crazy hours that i was paid by the hour which meant i had a lot of extra cash and fell back into the easy mode of takeout every meal.

    so basically my eating habits changed and i ate more calories
  • hobbeskastiel
    hobbeskastiel Posts: 221 Member
    I lost 80 lbs doing Atkins, In 6 1/2 months. Atkins is incredible restrictive. As ling as I was steadily losing I kept at it. I was also working out. After that time i stopped losing. It was frustrating. I was till working out and eating the Atkins way, but I couldn't break through any more. Well, I stopped doing the Atkins and didn't count calories. I slowly gained it all back. In my opinion, real calorie counting and consistent exercise are the only ling term solutions. I was just slacking to much before to do it right. No excuses, it was my own fault. This time, i'm going to do it right. I have a couple gym buddies and a babysitter, er, friend who I call each day and tell what I eat and if I worked out. Keeps me honest.....lol.
  • Tezah
    Tezah Posts: 6 Member
    I lost about 110 lbs and gained 90 of that back during my pregnancy. I had a horrible pregnancy where I could barely walk. I peed my pants a lot because walking was so painful I couldn't get to the bathroom on time. I had my son last May and so far Im down 73 of those 90lbs. I have always been fat and gaining all that weight back made me feel miserable, I still feel miserable. My goal is to drop another 50lbs minimum and I am working hard to get there.
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    I lost and gained the same 20 lbs over and over for years. I'd lose it by eating a low cal diet, hit a goal weight and the diet 'finished' as I'd reached my goal. Old eating habits returned, as did the weight.

    I now know that permanent dietary and fitness changes are required for long term weight loss and I intend to never diet again.
  • cppeace
    cppeace Posts: 764 Member
    Moving, family issues, stress, life changes-just stopped caring for most of the last year or so.
  • mymodernbabylon
    mymodernbabylon Posts: 1,038 Member
    I originally lost 20 lb using Sparkpeople. And then I started moving less and eating more - I was having fun, being happy, in love, etc. And I gained 15 of it back. I've now lost that 15 plus some. I won't be eating too much more and I love lifting so I won't move less.
  • Lil40
    Lil40 Posts: 9 Member
    Every winter I put on the same 20 pds and then get my act together and lose it before summer hits.

    For me it' s entirely the idea that once the diet is finished life will resume and the weight will just miraculously
    stay off. Maintenance is what I need to get my head around properly this time!
  • rsmithy89
    rsmithy89 Posts: 174 Member
    Went to America for a three month holiday. Ate everything in sight and drank almost daily. Had the time of my life but gained about 15kg (30lbs) in the process... Wouldn't do it any other way though.
  • DR2501
    DR2501 Posts: 661 Member
    I met someone that didn't work out, and we ate out a lot, I stopped exercising, made poor food choices etc. Then we went on holiday all inclusive and I ate loads. Then we went to America and you can't help but eat loads cos the foods so good lol.

    No excuses though, I got lazy and I'm angry with myself for it. Sorting it out now though.

    Re your other question, I found that if I worked out and made good food choices during the week, I could eat and drink what I wanted at weekends and still maintain (and even at one point lose 5 more lbs).
  • Deps
    Deps Posts: 31 Member
    Working night-shifts at a job where we were treated poorly. It wasn't so much the night-shift issue as having dinner while at work (same as having lunch). I was so miserable I would always eat whatever I wanted because 'I deserved it' including chocolate and/or beer when I got home. I was also usually so tired or so busy anticipating going to work that day that I lost my motivation for exercise. Finally kicked myself up the butt a month ago after putting on 2/3rds of the weight I had lost and am working hard to rectify it, though I haven't seen any progress yet which is disheartening.
  • candistyx
    candistyx Posts: 547 Member
    Hunger and complacency.
  • cjames010
    cjames010 Posts: 86 Member
    Lost 60 pounds in 2011, kept it off in 2012.
    2013 I gained 25 pounds and returned to MFP in 2014.

    I can't really pinpoint what happened in 2013 that triggered my weight gain, but I did go through a slump that just made me lazy and not care or be excited about anything. I'd stay up really late and had a hard time sleeping.

    When I started gaining weight, it was all in my stomach area. I didn't really care because all my shirts are loose.
    However, when the weight gain started to show in my hips and thighs, I could no longer fit my jeans AND THAT IRRITATED ME enough to say that's enough!

    Now I'm afraid to get rid of my big jeans because I'm not sure why I regained the weight the last time. I mean, I know I wasn't watching my calories, and I didn't care and THAT is how I gained weight. But why did that happen? I'm not sure, and I can't 100% say it won't happen again.
  • april_recharged
    april_recharged Posts: 16 Member
    For me it was getting discouraged during a plateau... after a couple of weeks with what seemed to be no progress I would fall back into old eating habits. What I appreciate now is knowing that even if I'm not losing, I'm still doing great by maintaining. Last year was the last time I'll gain that same weight back again. Living, learning and improving.....
  • cookiekrunch
    cookiekrunch Posts: 65 Member
    I lost 75 pounds recently. I went into maintenance in March 2014. I have gained 10 pounds since then by not measuring food (I was approximating ounces and grams), not logging what I ate (figured I could do it in my head), which led to me reverting back to some of my old eating habits (going for that 3rd piece of cake and cookies). I am now getting back in track and am attempting to lose another 35 lbs. I now realize what I have done to lose the weight are the same actions I must do once in maintenance again.
  • Meerataila
    Meerataila Posts: 1,885 Member
    Which of the dozen times are we talking, here?

    Never mind, the answer is the same for all of them, though this last one where I hit 245 pounds was extreme: I stopped watching my weight, getting on the scale, worrying about having to buy bigger clothes.

    That's all it took. Although it might have happened more slowly if I hadn't spent most of my life oblivious to nutrition and feeding a ravenous sweet tooth.
  • ThinLizzie0802
    ThinLizzie0802 Posts: 863 Member
    Booze.
    I don't track what I drink, and I never will.
    So when I started going out to the bars again this summer for various reasons, I packed on a solid five lbs from my lowest weight from all the calories I was consuming via booze and not counting it.