Do you know what it feels like to to lose 55lbs and then gain it all back in the span of 2 years?

I did the same thing. This morning I stepped on the scale and I have gained back 30lbs of my 50 lb weight loss. I am so disappointed in myself, which of course makes it worse. But, it is a new day and I find if I get back to weighing myself regularly then it will keep me accountable and I can’t be in as much denial. I knew I was gaining weight, but couldn’t seem to stop myself and would tell myself it wasn’t so bad. I don’t have any magic answer for you, just that I know how you feel and I am starting today to get healthy again and so should you. You can do it.

Have a plan. Write down what you want to do, what you want your life to be like in 1 year and what goals you will have achieved. Keep those things in mind when struggling with whether to stick with the plan.

Also, it's often easier to focus on one thing at a time and then move on to something else. I'd have a plan for a week that was really achievable and then do that, something simple like logging every day, cooking dinner every night, eating vegetables with all meals, adding in 3 days a week of exercise of at least 30 minutes -- but just one at a time, not a huge change from where I was, and then I'd add to it when that was down.

Figure out what the most important changes are. If you are drinking a bottle of wine a night, that might be one to start with.

Structure is, for me, really important. Plan in advance what breakfast will be, make it easy, have everything ready to go (or even make it in advance). Have a plan for lunch and dinner and everything available to make it easy. Start with small changes. Tell yourself why you are doing it and write down what worked and didn't and how you feel at the end of the day.

Just some ideas from what worked for me.

Yep, been there, done that. Statistically, most of us will do the same. You just have to dust yourself off, figure out what derailed you, and get back to it. It's hell thinking, every time you hit a certain mini goal, that you already hit that one two years ago but you'll get over it. Just keep thinking towards progress. I recommend re-setting your starting weight to what it is now, reset your goals, and keep moving forward. You can do it!

I don't have advice for you because I could have written your post without changing one word. Literally! I lost 55 lbs exactly and have gained it all back over the last 3 years. And the bottle of wine a day, yep, that's my culprit too (though I try to keep a"no wine weeknight" policy). But now I just dropped off my oldest in college and my youngest is a jr. in high school, so I think it's time regain control of my life.

goldthistime wrote: »

I restarted by just logging. No expectation of eating at a deficit. No expectations of anything besides just logging. For me, the act of logging helped me make more nutritious choices, and when my nutrition improved I found the strength to start a small deficit and begin exercising.

^ This.
I think it's overwhelming to think about what it will take to get back to where you were. Start small. Every day that you make an effort is worth it. Take each decision one at a time. Make a good one. Tackle the next one when it comes up. And don't be too hard on yourself.

I didn't lose as much (about 30) but gained back 40 and just started working on it again. I keep reminding myself that it is healthier to yoyo than to just stay at the higher weight and every time I start again I'm not starting from scratch. I remember what habits/strategies worked best last time and which to look for new ones.

I feel you.
Two years ago I lost 20 pounds from a 160 to 140. Then, I got a new stressful job and ballooned to 180. Here I am day one again