How to lose weight the 2nd time around? Is it harder?

Lisa1971
Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
edited November 9 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, so 4 years ago I went from 196lbs to 127lbs in 7 months. I used medifast and of course, gained most of it back. This time around I want to do it smarter, eat real food, and not deprive myself. Anyone lose weight, gain it back, and then lose weight successfully again?

Any advice or suggestions would be great! Thanks so much!

Replies

  • La5Vega5Girl
    La5Vega5Girl Posts: 709 Member
    I lost weight the "old fashioned way" by cutting calories and upping exercise. I lost over 40 lbs. I got pregnant, gained most of it back, and I am now trying to lose it again. wayyyy harder this time around! what I am trying to do is NOT look back. I am trying NOT to think about being at my lowest weight, and concentrating on today and the future. when I think back to my lowest weight, I get depressed and feel like I will never make it there again. onward and upward!
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Thanks so much. I do the same thing. I see myself at a size 4 and want to cry. I just want to get close to that number again and I'd be happy. Best of luck to you!
  • Canwehugnow
    Canwehugnow Posts: 218 Member
    I lost about 80 pounds in 2012... and i gained it all back (and then some) in 2014...

    I'm not sure if this time around is harder, just better? I look at it as I now know what I should and shouldn't do. I am not going to starve myself or work out 4 hours a day. I am going to take it slow, as it should be. 2-3 pounds a week for now, and 1-2 once I get smaller.

    Good luck! :)
  • tulips_and_tea
    tulips_and_tea Posts: 5,741 Member
    I think you'll find that quite a few people have lost, then gained, then lost again. I think the key is to not beat yourself up about it. Have faith in yourself because you have successfully lost weight before, learned from your mistakes and can do it again.

    Looking back at pictures of yourself during another time can be a motivation or it can be depressing. Make yourself think positive thoughts about yourself and don't dwell on the negative. I'm sure others will give you great advice.
  • lemon629
    lemon629 Posts: 501 Member
    Several years ago I lost 65 pounds. I ended up gaining back 36. I started losing again last year. So far I have lost 26 pounds. It's been slow, but I don't know if it's been slower than it was the first time. I plateaued at the same place I did before-- 170-- which I think is sort of interesting. I've taken some "breaks" to enjoy parties, etc., whereas I don't think I did that before. When I've stayed to plan, the rate has been about the same as before.

    Just stick to your plan and be patient with yourself. It took me over a year to lose 65 pounds the first time. And have a plan for maintenance and don't get cocky and slip into old habits like I did!
  • Out_of_Bubblegum
    Out_of_Bubblegum Posts: 2,220 Member
    edited January 2015
    I lost 30 lb a few years ago, gained 20 back, and am back for round 2.

    I think it's a mixed bag.. on one hand, I know more about HOW to lose the weight than I did before, so I'm making fewer mistakes than last time.. and I am making changes that I feel that I can stick with for life, rather than focusing on a goal that I will reach then feel like I can stop... so the ultimate goal for me is not only to lose, but to keep doing these things so it stays gone. That subtle difference in my goal has required a big change in my thinking... and ultimately that has made this a little slower, and in some ways harder, because it requires making real changes, not just temporary ones, and because I'm only changing things that I'm willing to do for life.. I think the weight is coming off a little slower.

  • MscGray
    MscGray Posts: 304 Member
    It may seem harder with not going the medifast route, but hopefully the slow and steady approach will help re-shape your eating habits and have better long term success!
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    Harder? no idea, but from what you post it will be different because you are going to do it in a different way i.e without medifast. Theres also no way of us knowing how commited and focused you were first time round compared to now.

    What you can do is be smarter because you have experience on your side.
    Learn more about how its done and plan.
    Get friends.
    Apply lessons you learned last time about what worked and what didnt.
    Incorporate decent amounts of exercise.
    Work on a strategy that you cnat put into place when you get to target.

    Good luck.
  • laurawiggs74
    laurawiggs74 Posts: 25 Member
    Welcome to the club. ;) I lost 70 lbs at the end of my 20s, kept it off for 10 years, then got pregnant. I didn't gain a crazy amount with my pregnancy, but I actually gained MORE after! I'm working on taking it off now. It is harder for me this time, partially because of the slow down of my metabolism (cuz I'm old :D ), my limited time and energy for real exercise (I have a 2 year old and a full time job), and because in my mind, feel like I've done it before and it'll be easy to make up any failures. NOT a good philosophy.

    However, you HAVE done it before, so you know you have it in you. And I applaud you deciding to do it in a healthy, lifestyle change kinda way. That's the only reason I kept it off all the years I did. I changed my life to make it a healthy one, in a life-long, sustainable way.

    You can do it! MFP is a fantastic accountability tool. Welcome! Add me if you'd like!
  • Velum_cado
    Velum_cado Posts: 1,608 Member
    I went from 400 lbs to about 260ish lbs and then went back up to 370 lbs. I've now gone from that, to 175ish lbs. It's been harder, in that I wasn't really trying the first time around. I was just eating at a deficit without realising, or understanding that fact. This time around, it was a concerted effort to lose the weight, and I paid attention to calories, and what I was eating, and started exercising, none of which I did before.

    I've actually enjoyed it more this time, though, because I feel like I'm working hard and I can be happy and proud of myself for my efforts, instead of the weight just coming off "magically". I also feel like I've gained an understanding of how my body responds to food, and exercise, and what my triggers are in regards to food.

    So although it's been harder, and taken more work, it's been a more enjoyable journey and I feel the rewards are much bigger :)
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    It's always different, because we all have different stuff going on at different times. You just have to figure out how to deal with the stuff and move forward.
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    Thanks so much everyone! Such great advice and motivation for me!
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Lisa1971 wrote: »
    Ok, so 4 years ago I went from 196lbs to 127lbs in 7 months. I used medifast and of course, gained most of it back. This time around I want to do it smarter, eat real food, and not deprive myself. Anyone lose weight, gain it back, and then lose weight successfully again?

    Any advice or suggestions would be great! Thanks so much!

    I've lost and gained several times in my life. In fact, it's pretty much been my lifestyle. Diet it off, slowly gain it back, rinse, repeat. I've never found it hard to lose. It's hard for me to maintain.
  • meltedsno
    meltedsno Posts: 208 Member
    I've lost and gained a ton of weight in my life... and truth is, this last time was actually the easiest. Why? Because I finally realized that *I* am the only one who can lose this weight for me and *I* am the only one who can keep it off. And to do so, it meant having to do a lifestyle change-- not just "diet". The food choices I now make are done with alot of thought, research, and tracking. And I know that I will have to do this the rest of my life. In the past I may have been successful at losing weight but sure was a failure at keeping it off. I think it is all about mental attitude -- Once I decided upon changing my lifestyle, instead of "dieting" everything just fell into place.
  • Sweet_Heresy
    Sweet_Heresy Posts: 411 Member
    Greatest success I've ever had with weight loss was dropping 40 pounds when I was 15. I went from 205-160, didn't count calories, wasn't even trying to lose weight...but ate better and played Dance Dance Revolution every day for an hour or 2, as stupid as that may sound.

    Kept it off for a while then stress and depression got me lazy. I've gained and lost over the years but I think once I get started and stick to something, it's not any harder to lose weight after gaining it back.
  • Lisa1971
    Lisa1971 Posts: 3,069 Member
    meltedsno wrote: »
    I've lost and gained a ton of weight in my life... and truth is, this last time was actually the easiest. Why? Because I finally realized that *I* am the only one who can lose this weight for me and *I* am the only one who can keep it off. And to do so, it meant having to do a lifestyle change-- not just "diet". The food choices I now make are done with alot of thought, research, and tracking. And I know that I will have to do this the rest of my life. In the past I may have been successful at losing weight but sure was a failure at keeping it off. I think it is all about mental attitude -- Once I decided upon changing my lifestyle, instead of "dieting" everything just fell into place.

    You look amazing! Thanks for sharing that! Gives me hope.
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