I Have Noticed Many People Returning, Having Regained Their Weight ...
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After losing 80pounds I stupidly got weirded out by the loose stomach skin and went on maintenance which very quickly lead to old habits and i gained back 30 pounds. I had stopped tracking on MFP and thought, its only 10 pounds a year, that's okay.
Now a few serious medical conditions later i'm refocused and down a total of 105 pounds, 55 in the last four months.12 -
tabletop_joe wrote: »I am braced to catch a beating for this: Almost all people who lose weight put it back on eventually.
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302773
There are those who don't re-gain, of course, and I would speculate the odds are higher here because MFP members are actively engaged in long term-weight loss strategy, rather than other more passive/transitory strategies ("I'll just eat less and get to the gym more" or "I'll do this grapefruit diet for a month")--but the hard truth is that we're mostly all just prepping for our next go-around.
Statistics show around 20% of people who lose weight maintain at least 10% of that weight loss. I wouldn't say that's almost all people.
But I'm not a big statistics person when it comes to using a small subset of the population in order to make generalizations about the whole population.
And yes, studies have shown people who log their food and weigh themselves regularly are more likely to continue to maintain their weight loss than those who don't.
At the end of the day, I believe anyone is capable of losing weight and maintaining that weight loss (outside of health issues, pregnancy, etc.).10 -
Lost 28lbs. in 2013-2014, initially. I was lifting, running, doing OCRs and was generally more active than I'd ever been in life. Then I got a new job that took me across the country (2015). Getting ready for that move and the move itself...well, I gave up on training and giving a crap about my diet. I gained 18-20 lbs. back. I maintained that for about 18 months because I was still working out, but not really paying attention to my diet. Then, I herniated a disc in my lower back and my training came to a screeching halt. I spun my wheels for a year, trying to figure out what hurt and what didn't, but didn't really get anywhere. Lifting was out. Running wasn't much better, but it caused less pain than lifting, so I stuck with that. Around Thanksgiving 2016, I was fed up with myself and got back on a consistent deficit. I lost about 14 lbs. of that 18-20 that I gained, but a lot of that was muscle and I was very squishy
. I had surgery on that disc in April, so I'm just getting back into working out regularly and my diet is on track, for the most part (I always eat and drink a little more in the summer).
I was/am really pissed at myself for how much I let myself backslide. I dwelled on it for a long time, but I couldn't go back and undo it, so my only choice was to basically start over.5 -
tabletop_joe wrote: »I am braced to catch a beating for this: Almost all people who lose weight put it back on eventually.
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302773
There are those who don't re-gain, of course, and I would speculate the odds are higher here because MFP members are actively engaged in long term-weight loss strategy, rather than other more passive/transitory strategies ("I'll just eat less and get to the gym more" or "I'll do this grapefruit diet for a month")--but the hard truth is that we're mostly all just prepping for our next go-around.
Statistics show around 20% of people who lose weight maintain at least 10% of that weight loss. I wouldn't say that's almost all people.
But I'm not a big statistics person when it comes to using a small subset of the population in order to make generalizations about the whole population.
And yes, studies have shown people who log their food and weigh themselves regularly are more likely to continue to maintain their weight loss than those who don't.
At the end of the day, I believe anyone is capable of losing weight and maintaining that weight loss (outside of health issues, pregnancy, etc.).
I've always been annoyed by the idea that maintaining 10% of your loss is "success." Who would actually be happy with that? If you went from 280 to 160, but then ended up maintaining at 260, you wouldn't feel very successful at all.
Or at least I don't.27 -
Lost 70 lbs then I lost my job, struggled with depression and anxiety, got a new job and lost that one shortly after getting pregnant. I maintained my weight through it all until halfway through my pregnancy. After baby was born I had only gained 20 lbs but went on to gain another 30 lbs while breastfeeding. Anytime I tried cutting calories I'd lose milk production.
Baby weened in March and here I am. I've lost 34 lbs since returning and need to lose 16 lbs more to hit my pre-pregnancy weight. After that I will have 60 - 70 lbs to lose to reach my goal. I can't wait to start hitting new lows and exercise has been better for my depression than any medication (not to say meds aren't needed for some but I suddenly had suicidal thoughts on them so gave them up).
I totally agree on the medication issue. I made the mistake of quitting mfp, the gym, my cycling and going out even when I was put on a drug called Cybalta. I ended up border overweight for the first time in my life. I had always remained around 140-145 Ibs until that point, regardless of what I did. I should have, with hindsight, ridden through the situation that led me to stop the gym and never have gone onto medications. I had managed to get by without for so long.
I took myself off them once I managed to think through the 'I don't care about anything' fog and am weaning myself off another medication I went on to control my tendency to get agitated in the evenings. Exercise has done more for me these last few weeks than either of those medications ever did.
Good luck getting to your goal and living a healthy lifestyle.
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For me, I came back because I was on some medication that put weight on me again, so I had to buckle down with exercise and my eating again to get the weight off. Staying on MFP makes me remember that this is a lifestyle, and not just temporary. I tell my one friend that I am "awake" now and that was in a coma for the past year or so while on this medication struggling with depression/anxiety.
I have been on MFP since February 1 this year and staying awake this time.6 -
Graelwyn75 wrote: »So, I want to hear your personal stories as to why you regained the weight, and what you would do differently with hindsight.
Would you have stayed on mfp longer, tracking, until you had been in maintenance for a year?
Would you have lost weight less aggressively so that it was easier to adjust to maintenance?
Was your entire focus on the weight loss rather than on changing your entire lifestyle?
Did something health related come up that caused you to 'fall off the proverbial wagon' ?
I, personally, made the mistake of leaving both mfp and the gym and of training at an intensity that was not sustainable in the long term. Leaving this site and that lifestyle lost me a large amount of the fitness and self esteem I had worked so hard to obtain. I was not overweight, but was using mfp to refocus an unhealthy obsession with weight and convert it into a goal of being as fit, lean and strong as I could. So, tell me your stories ...
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I went from 198 to the low 130's in about 6 months. Obsessively tracking and exercising, honestly probably headed towards an ED the way I was going.
Shortly after I went from the 130's to the 180's, also in just a few months time. In a new relationship, started eating whatever I wanted and exercising less. As I gained weight exercise got more challenging, so I quit all together. I was upset about my weight gain and got into a habit of binge eating. Over the next year I gained another 30+ lbs and hit a new high of 215 lbs. (At 5'1'') It really got in my head, I felt like a failure.
I've managed to stay around the 180's for a while, with slightly improved body composition because I started lifting. But it's been a lot of ups and downs, and I'm still a good 40 lbs heavier than I'd like. I keep doing the old "lose 10 in a few months, gain 10 in a few weeks" thing.
I keep telling myself 'if I can just get down to a healthy weight I'll work really hard to maintain it this time', because "I know what to do now", but I've yet to really get my weight down again.
I haven't totally given up hope, but I can't keep losing and regaining like this.9 -
need2belean wrote: »I was doing great, losing weight, working with a trainer, and definitely getting in better shape. Then, my daughter had medical issues that put her in the hospital for a week. I was still okay, but slowed down a little. Two months later, my wife was diagnosed with cancer. Then, my son-in-law was killed in a car crash. Lastly, my other daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer. During it all, I gained all the weight back. I've been back at it for 40 days. I'll get there again.
Wow!! Congrats on coming back after that roller coaster you went through. My regards for every single thing that you have had to go through. I hope this puts other peoples hardships in perspective.
Thanks, but truth be told I fell apart. I know others who have had a lot worse happen and seem to hold up better than I did. But, God is good and He picked me back up. I'll lose the weight again.15 -
Was here before too. I regained the weight when I started eating back my favorite foods. Used stress and "because I want to" as an excuse, gained weight. now back losing it. what is keeping me - motivation to want to do it for good this time, and found a way to eat the way I want to eat the rest of my life. watching out what triggers me into overeating. and choosing to eat the foods that will make me lose weight. I'm on a roll and don't want to stop nor desire to stop. I set small goals. the one I have right now is when I lose 20 more pounds, I will be at the weight I wanted to lose at Weight Watchers, but was not successful because I went back to my fattening old habits. so it will be exciting when I get to that point, it feels like I'm in a marathon and I am not quitting while I'm still running the race. the last time I was at this weight was in 2003. So it is not worth it to give all that up.3
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In Dec 2012 I got down to a little under 190. I was starting to get some decent exercise habits and using MFP to log. I gained it all back - about 35 pounds. I can tell you exactly what happened. My company decided that we needed to dump our ERP and install a new one. The final product was selected in Nov and we started meeting with the vendor in January. We went live October 1.
This consumed my life. I am so angry at myself for letting that happen. No job is worth the stress that I went thru, but my focus area is payroll and I was not going to let that be messed up for 6,000 employees. After our first run we had less than 10 corrections to make. I am proud of that.
The next several years were comprised of getting the financial systems up to speed and dealing with staff turnover - including replacing myself which I have done two times. This second one seems to have stuck. I think I am going to look for opportunities after our fiscal year end close because I am ready for a change. This 13 year job was only supposed to be for 7-8 years.
My goal is to reach 175 then evaluate where I want to end up.4 -
I've been maintaining a 90lb loss for about 2 years now. (5'1" female, 48 yrs, SW 225 CW 138 GW 135).
But I have gained and lost and regained many times prior to that. I would hit my goal weight and I swear to god would start gaining it back the next day! And would add a few more pounds each time I regained.
This is the longest I have ever maintained a loss and I'm working hard to continue. Here are some of the traps I fell into in the past and am trying to avoid this time. YMMV.
"I'm on a diet to lose weight and once I hit goal weight I can go back to eating like I was before".
Wrong! I got very fat eating the way I did before. Since I log my calories in, calories out on MFP I now know I only get 200-300 extra calories per day in maintenance.
"I can offset that huge calorie meal or snack by just exercising a little more".
Wrong! There are not enough hours in the day to work off all the extra calories I can consume in a few indulgent meals - LOL. Logging everything in MFP gives me the data to understand that this my reality.
"Life is unfair - Everyone else gets to eat more / exercise less than me and they're still thin! Why shouldn't I get to do the same? I deserve delicious treats too!"
Wrong! I mean, sure I deserve nice things, but I don't know what these other people eat when I'm not around. And frankly, it doesn't *kitten* matter if they can eat more than me. My reality needs to revolve around MY body's calorie needs and it's a waste of time and energy to get pissed off about it.
"I was bad this week so I'm not getting on the scale today, because I'm scared to see the number".
Wrong again! It is FAR FAR easier to recover from a 5-10 lb regain than a 20-30+ lb regain. I now weigh myself almost daily and log it into MFP. Especially when I know I've been off plan.
Daily logging in MFP helped drive the knowledge and awareness that were critical to my weight loss. Knowledge and awareness are just as important in maintenance. I plan on logging for the foreseeable future. Its a small price to pay for a lifetime of improved health and cuteness. ;-)32 -
Between October and June I regained 40lbs. The first 10 I expected due to being more sedentary in the winter, but the next 30 happened between March and June, and stress binging was the culprit. I got to a point where I simply stopped caring.2
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Like anything it takes consistency. I lost and started feeling a bit too good in my own skin! Plain and simple then came the food passes and next thing I know the scale said, STOP TRIPPING, BOO! I see and feel you at a 27.5 weight gain. Then I just AGAIN start giving myself more passes. Not cool! So, I'm back. I liked the way I felt and want that back.2
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Hmm. My heaviest was 12-14 at 155. I started restricting incredibly. Eating lettuce only and Diet Coke for weeks. Then began adding a piece of chicken. I dropped to 118 quickly and felt so proud of myself. My teachers were worried, my parents didn’t think much of it- they were happy I was thin...until I fainted at school one day. It was SO embarrassing and my parents thought I was on my way to death, so my mom literally made got a stick of butter and made me eat a couple bites- which was SO gross. She really thought that was replenishing me.
Anyway, I got back up to 145 in just two months at 15 after my family monitored my eating and I started counting calories then (I joined MFP “illegally”
). I lose weight, dropped to 130. Didn’t really count again until I was 18, came back on MFP but was so inconsistent that I went up and down with it. I joined again at 20 at a weight of 146 and dropped to 135 and was happy. Now, I’m back- I hover between 140 and 150, and want to make my range 140-130. I’m doing it healthily and eating 1,740 (maintenance for my goal weight). I’m finally also developing a healthy relationship with food- I know longer punish myself for eating “badly” or going over my calories. I no longer demonize food. I’m in a much better place now thanks to Mfp 13 -
I lost 30 of my 50+ lb goal. Was going through a lot of family stress, was out of town and having a harder time exercising. I hit a plateau and got discouraged and depressed on top of everything else. I quit logging thinking I would maintain what I was doing for awhile and start again when I got back home. By the time I got home I was out of the habit and never did get back to it until now 2 years later. Weight didn't drop but didn't come back for some time so I thought I was OK. Over the next two years I watched 5 lbs at a time add itself to the scale, but couldn't get motivated to log on and start over. Finally one day it happened (nearly hit the big 200 mark) and here I am. Unfortunately now I have all 30 lbs plus a few to lose again, not to mention the 20 or so I never got to.
-Yes, this time I will stay on for at least a year on maintenance. Its easy to think you know what to eat, but without accountability it is too easy to slip in an extra snack or two over and over again.
-No, I don't think I was too aggressive. I started at a 2 lb/week loss for 2 months, then dropped to 1 lb, then probably was at 0.5 when I got discouraged and quit. I'm doing the same this time.
-I didn't change my lifestyle too much except to add exercise, which I quit afterwards. I have eaten a healthy diet for years, don't eat out often, little to no fast food, little sugar, avoid processed foods. My problem was and is over-snacking (boredom/cravings) which I will probably always fight. I don't want exercise figured into the equation, because I do not want to have to count on it as a maintenance factor, but rather a bonus if I keep it up.
-Yes, mental health....extreme stress due to a problem with family member.
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I lost 72 lbs, then, when I gained back 16 lbs in 3 months (a long vacation followed by a lot of travel and work stress), I thought I could get back on the wagon without using calorie logging, just weighing in. It was too easy to then stop weighing in. I put on 5+7 more lbs.. got half back on track. In the end I went up a total of 30 lbs of the 72. I'm down 10 of them, going to go down 20 more. When I was at the "up 20 lbs" point, I became SO DEMOTIVATED and sad. If I could do it again, I would not punish myself so hard, mentally.
I wish I had continued weighing myself, good or bad. I wish I had realized that, when I have a gain, I have to go back to calorie counting. I can maintain pretty well daily but big trips can throw me for a loop (at all you can eat/drink resorts for 1-2 weeks.. yeah).
This all said.. I maintained my exact weight for 6 months with limited calorie counting and weighed within 1-2 lbs of my end weight for over a year.4 -
I never left MFP. It's been four years, but I DID gain all my weight back. I realized that the calories in calories out theory didn't work for me. I kept dropping my calories and dropping my calories until I was eating max of 1200 calories per day PLUS burning another 400-500 from exercise. I couldn't maintain it. AFter a while, I just started gaining the weight back even though I was doing everything right. Turns out my calories were way to low. SHould have listened to all of those yelling at me about TDEE and destroying my metabolism. Now I know better and I don't restrict calories much any more. I just eat better, clean, healthy foods. So far lost 30 pounds in 56 days.21
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The other problem I just remember is that I started drinking wine again, which I had given up (and have given up again). 2-3 glasses a night adds about a quarter of my daily calories. Because I'm over 60 and sedentary I have a very low NEAT burn and didn't think about how low it would be even in maintenance. It's hard for those of us who once lived off of 2000-3000 calories a day to realize 1500-1600 will be it for life.9
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In 2010, I lost about 80 pounds. I counted every calorie and started running a lot. I began doing marathons and other, shorter races. Then, I got into the mindset of "Hey, I just ran 20 miles, I can eat whatever I want today." That became, "I'm running 20 miles tomorrow (or yesterday or in 3 days), I need to eat more to fuel up or refuel". I stopped the whole CICO thing and put weight back on. Slowly at first, but then a knee injury took me out of running and other exercising and put my fat *kitten* back on the couch and eventually putting all but 9 of those 80 pounds back on.
Now, I'm back down almost 44 pounds since mid-August and starting to run again (hopefully my knee will hold up). I've learned that I'm going to have to permanently change my eating habits. CICO is what works for me more than anything else and I need to remember that.3
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