Anyone Lost Over 30 and kept it off for more than 5 years, who doesn't work in the fitness industry

yes

I am at 4 years. But my mom lost 60 pounds when she was in her 50's. She's almost 90 now and has kept it off.

Yup. Lost 50+ pounds in 2015-16, from just over the line into class 1 obese to a healthy weight, and have been at a healthy weight since, though up and down a few pounds within the healthy BMI range across 2016-now. I'm 66, had been overweight to obese for around 30 years before 2015.

I don't work in any industry, let alone in fitness or one that's appearance-focused. I'm retired (from an IT career, not the most appearance-centric field ever, to say the least, especially in higher ed where I worked). I retired loooong before the weight loss.

Though I don't work in fitness, I'm very active, but I was very active for over 10 years while still obese (yes, really). At one point, I was coaching-certified in my sport (while staying fat, BTW), but out of simple interest for self-improvement, not to work at it as an occupation or avocation.

I'm probably one of the least appearance-centric women you would ever meet, honestly. I try to stay clean and respectable in order to have normal human social connections, but I'm not much interested in my appearance beyond that. I have undyed gray hair (long and rather untidy nowadays), never wear makeup, refuse to wear high heels even for dress-up, had bilateral mastectomies without reconstruction and now go through daily life without protheses so completely flat (even a little concave?) up top, among other things.

I like being thin because I'm objectively healthier (blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.) and feel. so. much. better.

Can't add anything, since I am definitely in the "I always gain it back" camp, but just wanted to say I'm so glad you posted this question! The responses make me feel more determined to keep it off this time. Sometimes it feels impossible, so it's good to be reminded of other people's long-term success stories!

I’m back to add a comment .. because I’m sick in bed and just thinking.

I think this may the the root of your question… how is it some people keep it off and some don’t?

All of this is my own personal opinion. Just some rando on the internet… so grain of salt and all that..

Well, one day, you will get sick of your own bull… ish and that will be the attempt that takes. One day you will get fed up with your own nonsense. One day you will say “enough is enough “ and do exactly what it takes to lose weight and … keep it off. It’s an actual brain change. Weight loss is a mental process.

Until that day, I think a lot of people are just floundering… buying shake weights and ab rollers and eating cabbage soup… (not that I don’t love cabbage soup), trying to find a magical combination of foods that melts away fat. Looking for a magic pill. There must be some secret that some people know and others don’t .

I just wanted to address all the “hoping for a miracle, hoping one day it will stay off “… the actual difference is not magic. It’s stick- to- it- iveness.

It’s getting up every day and making choices that bring you closer to your ideal life, your ideal weight, your ideal fitness.

I’m just some rando, but CICO works. It can and will work for you if you are just honest with yourself and log accurately.

There is a phrase about learning a new skill (and managing your weight is a skill) and that phrase is “embrace the suck”. There is a period of time when learning any new skill that you suck at it. Keep going. Learn from your mistakes, but just keep going.

You can do it. I believe in you. With all loving kindness… you *can* be a success story. Just keep going.

Add one more. Lost 40 pounds in 2004-2005, still gone. Lots more needs to go!
Worked customer service, mostly telephone, now retired.

I will be 76 in November.
Retired engineer.
I lost 39 pounds in 2011.
I've been +/- four pounds since then, almost 11 years, & still log my food every day. Currently, I have a 3,107-day streak going.

I lost over 80 lbs and have kept it off over NINE years and I don't work in the fitness industry. Was 61 when I decided to change many things (slowly with small sustainable changes) and took about 1 1/2 years to lose the weight. I will say that it is easier to maintain now that I'm retired. Still tracking my food after all these years.
It can be done!

I lost 40 pounds about 12 years ago and kept it off. Calorie counting plain and simple. I also exercise regularly, cardio and resistance training. I didn’t follow a complicated diet, just ate plenty fruit and veg, lean protein and limited alcohol. And I continue to eat the same way today as when I was losing. Just in slightly bigger portions.

Yes! I am over 40 and work in community support which is mostly sedentary. I lost over 100 lbs on WW back in 2004 and have fluctuated a lot due to having 2 kids and just life. However, I started logging on here in 2009 and have never been back up to my original weight. I'm about 70lbs less than my highest. I have exercised consistently (Big Peloton Fan now) and I log no matter what I eat for the accountability to myself. It can be done but it takes constant diligence and what some call a 'healthy obsession' with finding lower calorie options, exercising most days, and fighting negative thinking. I also gave up regular soda, juice, and most alcohol. I recommend a book called Brain Powered Weight Loss by Eliza Kingsford. It helped me understand the how and why of keeping weight off. Good luck!

In 2006, when I retired from a high-stress job at the age of 62, I was at an all-time high weight of 235. Today I weigh between 173 and 175, and am hoping to get down to 150. I've been overweight all my life, and as I get older, physical activity becomes increasingly difficult. But no, I don't work in the fitness industry. I watch my intake very, very carefully and usually try to keep it around 1200 calories a day. I belong to a TOPS chapter, which helps with accountability and support. (And, if you're new to weight-reduction and maintenance, lots of good ideas. If, however, you've been fighting this battle for decades, you already know the basics.) Believe me, if there were a Magic Pill or a One-Size-Fits-All diet, program, or book, it would be all over the media and your doctor would know about it. Some things that work for one person won't work for another. Keep searching, and don't wait until 5 pounds regained become 25 pounds regained.

I recommend reading Dr. Phil's 20/20 Diet book. It has changed the way I look at eating and has given me the tools to eat healthy even when I cheat! My weight plateau was 192.1. I thought I would be stuck there forever. I was stuck there for 2 months. Since starting this diet in May I have lost 29 lbs. Only 8 more to go!!!

Me ...
Got rid of roughly 120 lbs (53 kgs) in 2016 and still manage to stay within my goalweight-zone.

There are times when it is harder to achieve, but it works (for me).
And don't get it wrong: Work it is, and probably always will be ... You don't put off a lifetime (in my case: 55 years) of malnutrition in a few months.

The most common is to lose and regain within a few months to a year.

Thousands of very stubborn and bright people lose weight. None of them plan to regain. There is, in my opinion, an over-estimation of the relative effectiveness of willpower vs hormones vs habits vs default (learned) behaviours.

So, IMHO, you have to look for answers beyond willpower.

You mentioned fitness industry. Think what it implies. Not the obvious answer of "exercise like crazy". For most people injuries, available time, aging, work, life will make exercise like crazy" a failed plan. BUT, it does imply both ongoing management and ongoing commitment, ongoing effort and ongoing time investment.

Not always at equal amounts. While maintenance for most of us is not fire and forget, it does get easier with time to the point where I would personally call it easy enough for me at this time.

Layered approach with multiple points of engagement and defense has been my approach to date. Multiple behavior and focus changes but gradually, over a considerable length of time. Gradual changes in preferences and default modes of interaction and reaction. Continued awareness. Continued willingness to adapt.

A definition of my "weight loss project" as a lose weight and maintain for at least five years project to begin with, as opposed to thinking of it as a lose weight project. An initial determination to transition from rapid loss to maintenance over a period of YEARS not months. A willingness to manage and counter changes GRADUALLY without over-reactions.

I am classified as very active (over 15K but under 20K steps a day on average during the past 6 years). By deliberate effort.
Yet, I seldom if ever recognizably exercise other than by walking up and down hills (with dog or to make phone calls or to listen to books or to get groceries)

Since 2016-06-06 between 159lbs and 151lbs in terms of weight trend... most of it around 155. Still in the 155 range in late July 2022