On gaining the weight back and feeling like *kitten*

*unrelated reply klaxon*

Is... is your avatar Bellatrix and Sirius? *heart eyes*

I imagine there's probably more here that can relate to that than can't in all honesty, I certainly can.
I'm back, trying again for the 64,659th time after losing a load of weight a couple of Years ago then gaining most of it back.
I don't know the answers, but I think it's all down to time. As long as you're averaging calories out higher than calories in then you don't have to do anything else at all, just let time do the work for you.
I twigged this a couple of Years ago, but just don't seem to be able to practice it! I think it's human nature to expect instant results and it's quite demoralizing when you're eating as a lean person but living as an overweight one.

My strategy this time is to just follow the trend line on my libra weighing app (as well as accurate logging obviously.) As long as that trend line is continuing down, then I'm happy. And, in theory, that's the only thing I need to do.
I'll report back this time next Year as to how it's worked out!

As far as the self-destruct issue goes, I've spent so many hours self-analysing that and just don't have any answers. The idea this time is to just have realistic targets/goals etc and get used to the concept of a lifestyle change and actually live it rather than just talk about it.
Then, the change will be gradual and my mind can adapt slowly as my body does. That's the plan, anyway...

I think the problem that causes regain is because people forget that after losing weight they need to make maintaining weight their goal, not just go "ok I'm done now!"

I'm sure most of us have been through this before. I know I have.

I also think some people lose weight in what they THINK is a healthy way but in reality is not. I lost about 35 pounds in my late 20s by using a diet that seemed really healthy- it was super clean kind of like that whole 30 diet (no processed foods, no junk food, no sugar, no dairy, no alcohol, no salt, etc), was based on small portions and eating every 3 hours so you never felt deprived, and it worked FAST! I lost the weight in only 2 or 3 months- it was great! But the thing is I have a feeling it was TOO low calorie- probably around 900 to 1100 calories per day- and I probably lost a lot of muscle and not as much fat as I'd like and crashed my metabolism. I also had no idea how to maintain once I'd lost the weight either so over the next couple years I slowly gained it all back.

This time around I know a lot more about the metabolism and different types of weight loss and how to prioritize fat loss and minimize muscle loss and keep the metabolism from slowing down. The key is slow weight loss with a mild deficit, eating enough protein, and doing strength training exercises like lifting weights. I also do hiit cardio. If I start to hit a plateau I know that I can do refeed days or take a diet break to let my metabolism recover. I also know how to maintain this time- I plan to reverse diet up to maintenance calories once I get to my goal and continue to track.

It's working well so far, I'm half way to my goal weight and looking and feeling great!