For those who lost weight and gained it back

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!

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....

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.

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.

Bump

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.