Successful weight loss from yoyo dieters? What did it for you?
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hiyomi
Posts: 906 Member
So I've been on the yo-yo diet train for over 5 years now. I've lost weight and gained it over and over again through the years. I've been bouncing up and down between 250-290 lbs. I see a lot of success stories from people, but I wanted to also find success stories for people with the same problem as me. I also want to know what finally made you all your weight and how you kept it off. I know some people will say its just willpower etc, but anyone coming from a yo-yo diet past will know its not always that easy. So what did it for you that helped you finally lose and keep off your weight after years of yoyo dieting?
I know my issues, I know what I do wrong, I know how to stop it, but I continually go back to unhealthy eating and gaining weight over and over again, how can I stop it?..
Its hard to tell myself that I will count calories and exercise and keep my weight off after knowing that I have failed so many times in the past.
I know my issues, I know what I do wrong, I know how to stop it, but I continually go back to unhealthy eating and gaining weight over and over again, how can I stop it?..
Its hard to tell myself that I will count calories and exercise and keep my weight off after knowing that I have failed so many times in the past.
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Replies
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Understanding the mechanics of why I was losing weight on fad diets (CICO). I didn't KNOW what was behind my weight loss when I followed someone's plan or program. Now that I know it's impossible to screw up lol8
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Understanding the mechanics of why I was losing weight on fad diets (CICO). I didn't KNOW what was behind my weight loss when I followed someone's plan or program. Now that I know it's impossible to screw up lol
That's one thing I don't do though, I do not follow any fad diets, I simply count calories and eat what I like as long as its within in my calorie range. Until I stop...and then gain weight again.. I know my problems/issues, its stopping them that I can't seem to do.0 -
@fascha wrote what I was going to say. Once I figured out what to focus on (a calorie deficit), it became much easier.
No need for a plan, no need for a program (although if you find one you like, you can use one). Just consistently meet your calorie goal, pay attention to what types of foods and meal timings help you consistently meet that goal, and enjoy your life.0 -
it's not willpower, it's finding what works for you...for me it's LCHF which keeps cravings away and makes me feel satisfied on fewer calories.4
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I never was a real yoyo'er, but I have lost and regained a couple of times, and generally struggled with weight. I've maintained a healthy weight for 29 months now. This is what I have done:
I stopped relying on willpower. I work with my instincts and wants, not against them. I'm not eating food I don't like, just because it's supposed to be "healthy".
I stopped demonizing food. Now I eat whatever I want, but in moderate amounts.
I experimented with meal patterns. A lot of different setups have worked. 3 meals per day is the easiest.
I plan my meals and only buy what I need for those meals.10 -
This is what helped me...
It's not willpower, it's new skills.
When I was young I never really learned about the relationship between food, activity and weight (what we call CICO around here). I was so active in my youth I never had to worry about it. My (wonderful) parents and the education system told me to watch what I ate (in terms of the pyramid) but not "why". Once I realized that this (balancing cals, activities, macros, energy) is just a new tool set it was easier for me to a.) troubleshoot/keep learning, b.) forgive myself when I fail because new skills take time and practice and aren't one-size fits all.5 -
These might not pertain to you but, just in case, I will mention them. My mother has been a yo-yoer for the last 40 years but she has maintained for almost two years now and this is what she did differently this time -
She lost much slower. She actually set her daily calorie goal to what it would be at her desired maintenance weight and lost quite slowly - but she has had a much easier time keeping it off.
She never added extra exercise to meet a goal. In the past she would meet her weekly goals by working out until she hit them (she was v. inspired by the Biggest Loser style weight loss). This last time around she only did what exercise she thought she could maintain on a regular basis.
And third- and I think this was the biggest one - she took diet breaks. She would maintain at the level she was at for a few weeks to a couple of months at a time. It took her almost 3 years to lose 70 pounds (1 year to lose the last 10) - but she has maintained for two years now.23 -
I've gone back and forth a bit and the thing that helped me is to realize that whatever I'm doing to lose right now, I will have to do for the rest of my life. There's no "taking a break" or going back to the habits that had me gain weight. So I've been slowly trying to integrate better habits (eating less, exercising more, choosing better), but every time I integrate a new habit, I ask myself, "is this something I can do for the rest of my life? If the answer is Yes, then I do it. If it's No, then I pass on it and try and find something or some level that I can keep up.10
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You really have to change your mindset. It's tough but doable. Food is fuel. Eat to fuel your body not just for pleasure or boredom or entertainment or self medicating stress, anxiety or depression. Don't deprive yourself. Food deprivation is like a slingshot. The more you over restrict and pull back the harder you will rebound when the tension gets too high. Most people who yo-yo try ridiculously excessive methods of restriction and it's not sustainable so they regain. If you feel like your missing out or uncomfortable you will eventually go back to what was comfortable in the past (i.e. weight gain). The trick to maintaining your losses is to find a sustainable method that you can live with every day for the rest of your life. You also have to accept that you can't eat the amounts like you used to. You can still eat the same exact foods including doughnuts or pizza, but you can't have a dozen or a whole large. Moderation is key to maintenance.5
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Once I realized I could truly eat whatever I wanted as long as I stayed within my calories, something clicked. I was such a horrendous yoyo dieter all my life. But I feel more control over my eating than ever before. It's just simple math. I don't have to eat low carb or be hungry all the time, and I don't have to not eat after 7 pm. I can eat candy every day. All those rules I thought I had to follow.
Also understanding the concept of maintenance helped a lot. In the past I could lose weight but once I did, I just stopped and went right back to gaining again.7 -
I'm not yet a success, but am on my longest streak since I got on this yo-yo train three years ago. Six months as of yesterday! The thing that is different this time is location. I moved from a food culture in Las Vegas to an outdoors culture in the suburbs of Reno. Changing my environment made it suddenly easy. I know moving to the mountains is not a practical solution for most people, but looking at what in your life is throwing up barriers to your weight loss could help. For me it was the delicious food everywhere and always an excuse to celebrate anything or to skip cooking dinner. Just because I was surrounded by great food didn't mean I needed to eat out more than once a week or couldn't choose wisely when I did. For me it took moving across the state to realize what my problem was. I hope you can gain some introspection without any major life changes.4
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I yoyo dieted for 20 years. I can't remember a time when I couldn't tell you how many calories were in everything. I tracked my food and then caved because I couldn't deal with the hunger anymore, and then stopped tracking until I'd gained back everything I lost and then some. I would have done this 500 times, easily. Every time I hated myself a bit more. I could not stop eating, I would be good all day and then go back and forth to the fridge from dinner to bed time. I'm a smart educated woman, I know all of the theory behind losing weight, the ways to deal with binging, all of it. But I could not put it into practice.
Low carb honestly changed my life. That feeling after a few day where that gnawing hunger goes away and you finally have control of your appetite is the most liberating thing I've ever felt. 4 years ago I decided to drop my carbs to 20g a day or less, and eat a diet consisting of meat, dairy, and green veg. I've never looked back. And I'm 80lbs lighter.3 -
I dropped the term I'm going on a diet. Instead, I thought of it more as I am going to set up a healthy eating plan in order to lose weight. Once I lost every lost pound, I added 300-400 calories to my plan to maintain my healthy weight. Whenever I gain a few pounds, I revert to the deficit in my healthy eating plan and I am soon on my way back to where I want to be. I never say, I am on a diet. To me, this is like setting myself up for failure. I tell myself instead that I am eating correctly in order to lose weight and afterwards, to maintain it.1
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StarBrightStarBright wrote: »These might not pertain to you but, just in case, I will mention them. My mother has been a yo-yoer for the last 40 years but she has maintained for almost two years now and this is what she did differently this time -
She lost much slower. She actually set her daily calorie goal to what it would be at her desired maintenance weight and lost quite slowly - but she has had a much easier time keeping it off.
She never added extra exercise to meet a goal. In the past she would meet her weekly goals by working out until she hit them (she was v. inspired by the Biggest Loser style weight loss). This last time around she only did what exercise she thought she could maintain on a regular basis.
And third- and I think this was the biggest one - she took diet breaks. She would maintain at the level she was at for a few weeks to a couple of months at a time. It took her almost 3 years to lose 70 pounds (1 year to lose the last 10) - but she has maintained for two years now.
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Yo yo dieting taught me that it's tiring, ineffective, time consuming, depressing, expensive in some cases, not sustainable and it doesn't work. Mfp has sincerely been the ONLY weight loss journey im dedicated to and excited about. These forums help me tremendously, thanks to everyone that posts2
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proper research that made me drop all the woo and broscience and fluff and realize ALL i had to do is eat less, Not different foods...not a 100% drastic change....not workout for hours a day...And most importantly for me, Not ditch carbs and i can still eat late night.
90 pounds in 10.5 months down once i took the time to learn9 -
I quit the cycle of 35+ years of yo yo-ing when I realized at 62 that time was running out to get healthy and lose the weight. Years of gaining and losing and being complacent were taking its toll on my body and my mind. I haven't been happy with myself for so many years. At some point you will face this, I hope you can do it before you reach my age, now 63. Learning how this process of CICO can work for almost anyone has been key to my success. I am finally at the weight I've been striving for all these years, the lowest since 1982. Because of my success I am going to cross a couple items off my bucket list: a trip to Maui in May and climbing the Grand Teton in Wyoming in August with my 45 year old son. I agree with @JaydedMiss, it's that simple!5
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I yo-yo'd for more than 30 years. I have done them all... crash diet, all the fad diets, all the commercial plans -- I wish I had back all the $$$$ I spent over the years on books, plans, and foods. It truly is a mindset - not a; I will only eat 1 lettuce leaf until I reach my goal weight - then I will Know how to keep it off. Not so! Changing my brain is what has kept the weight off now going on 4 years. Yes, I still must be vigilant - that depressed me for a while and I fell off - no, jumped off the rails. Now I know my health is what is important. My change of brain came after being so incredibly tired of being sick and tired. Now, life is GREAT! I eat high calorie buttery fatty sugary things now and then - before it was all the time - constant. However, if I thought I could never ever ever have tortilla chips/salsa or Oreos again -- forget about it! My brain change was what can I ADD to my diet to optimize my health - not what do I need to give up. Adding loads of veggies, fruits, whole grains, lean protein is so much easier on the brain and body than "giving up" everything and so much more filling.1
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I learned that:
a) being too restrictive works for a while, helps you lose weight, but causes a bigger backlash (weight gain) when you inevitably "fall off the wagon"
b) we will all make mistakes and one mistake doesn't mean you should throw your hands up and say "forget it" and eat all the food in preparation for restricting again.
I have (this time) lost the weight over a period of 3 years. I gained a little here and there (I've had two significant deaths in the family during this time), but I didn't go crazy - I just ate a little more, forgave myself, and got back on track as soon as possible.
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kommodevaran wrote: »I never was a real yoyo'er, but I have lost and regained a couple of times, and generally struggled with weight. I've maintained a healthy weight for 29 months now. This is what I have done:
I stopped relying on willpower. I work with my instincts and wants, not against them. I'm not eating food I don't like, just because it's supposed to be "healthy".
I stopped demonizing food. Now I eat whatever I want, but in moderate amounts.
I experimented with meal patterns. A lot of different setups have worked. 3 meals per day is the easiest
I plan my meals and only buy what I need for those meals.
Agreed. I found strategies that make it easier for me to burn more calories and stay below my calorie limit. So there is less need for willpower.
- Three meals a day, no snacks
- More protein, less carbs (not because this is necessary, just because it keeps me full)
- Finding exercise that I genuinely liked doing (cycling/lifting/walking) and incorporating it into my daily life.1
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