Is it more difficult the 2nd time?

It's been much easier for me, both physically and mentally. I think being aware of how the process works, and knowing I will get to goal if I keep at it, helps. I'm back to being within 10 lbs of my goal weight again, and the weight is coming off a little quicker than it did the first time thankfully!

I've really only lost a significant amount of weight twice. I have had probably 10-15 pounds that I have lost and gained throughout my life, but only twice have I actually really put in an effort and really lost. When I was in my 20's I lost ~40 doing low fat. That was in the 90's and low fat was the thing. It did work for me but it was miserable. Then I got pregnant and stopped eating low fat. After my son was born I lost some of the baby weight but not all and then slowly my weight started started creeping up until 2015. This time I lost ~75 pounds just counting calories. It has been much easier for me this time. I eat any foods I want that fit my goal. I am also more active so now that I am in maintenance I actually feel like I eat quite a bit. It was definitely easier for me the second time because the first time my diet was so restrictive. I often felt deprived and unhappy about dieting. This time I just ate what fit my goals and it really worked. The only thing that might have made it a bit harder the second time was that I needed to lose more weight than I needed to lose the first time so it took longer. But mentally it was much easier. Physically it was probably the same.

I've lost 100 pounds, gained 100 pounds, lost 20, gained 20, so on and so forth. This is my second time at losing 100. It's frustrating needing to do it again; it took me a while to get to the point I was ready to put in the effort it took to do it all over again. But, I also know, concretely, what I have to look forward to. I know how much it's worth it. Being fat is for the birds. I look ten years younger and the hip bones are on fleek. As far as my body responding to what I'm doing and it being more difficult in a technical capacity? I think it's actually easier this time around. It's like my body is snapping back to what it felt the best doing, and is relieved to be active. Muscle memory, literally.

I have had a couple slip ups over the years. Always seem to catch myself at about 20 lbs regained. To me it's always seemed the same difficulty everytime. I've never let myself regain everything that I have lost so maybe that's part of it. I dunno.

I try to learn from my slip ups. My last one I determined me and Trinessa birth control pills don't get along. It messed with my hormones and made me feel hungry all the time (I caved and ate way to much).

I've been in maintenance more or less for going on 5 years. Pretty much every winter I put on about 10 Lbs...I have zero issues dropping my winter weight in the spring.

I lost a total of about 40 Lbs...I would suspect that if I put back that total 40 again, it would be more difficult, but it would be a mental thing more than physiological.

I don't really take too much to what they say about metabolism as sound because I did a lot of damage to my body in college and still can lose fast if I really put my mind into it. So like others have said it can be both harder and easier mentally because you know what to do, but when you get close to goal and drop the ball and gain it all back it really hits you for a minute mentally. I had between 50-60lbs left after losing 90lbs and it took so long to get there (because I kept mentally psyching myself out and bingeing). It has been hard trying to lose ever since I think more mentally than physically. Once I get my mind back on track, it usually doesn't take my body long to cooperate, but its the mental struggle of knowing how far I came and how far I let myself get back that plays with my progress more than anything.

The hardest part about losing again is knowing that you can get there and you will but waiting to get there is the problem if you don't have much patience which I don't but I am sucking it up and dealing with it head on instead of backpedaling as usual.

I don't think it's harder the second time around, but it is taking me longer. That doesn't bother me though because I know the process works. Just need to be patient.