Lost nearly 100 pounds - gained 30 back so far...

Wow!!! First of all...congrats on such an amazing achievement!!! That is no joke! Losing that much weight takes so much dedication and hard work. Way to go!

The good news is that you are keeping up the exercise. That's definitely half the battle. It sounds like it's just time to get back to some more discipline with your eating. No biggie! You have done this once before, and you can certainly do it again! My advice would be not to try to fully revert over night. Make better choices at breakfast and dinner, and enjoy a somewhat indulgent lunch. But even with lunch, don't over eat. Eat a burger and fries, but don't over do it with double burgers and extra large fries. Keep the portions under control. If you don't feel like those smaller portions will fill you, add a side salad to your order. Then begin to reduce those meals from there. At lunch time eat a small burger and a larger salad. No fries. Then reduce it back to one indulgent meal a week, and continue from there. I don't think removing the things you love COMPLETELY at any point is good....because what happens is get to the point where you turn back to overindulging in those things and you never want to turn back. Allow yourself to eat the things you love in sensible portions and not as frequently as you might be tempted to. Let those things be special occasions. Little treats from time to time. And stay on top of that exercise as well.

You've done this before. You can do it again. Step on that scale. Don't be scared. See where you're at, and let that motivate you to make the changes you need to make for yourself.

 

A few years ago, I was at over 300 pounds. I dieted and went down to about 250. It's been my wish to lose about another 50 pounds or so. I keep doing the yo-yo thing. It's a long hard road to lose a lot of weight like that. And, I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I deserve a break....but then I feel guilty after eating something. People say it's best if you can lose the weight slowly. But for me, I have to remain focused, in the zone, or I'll end up eating things I shouldn't and eventually putting the weight back on. I've put a few pounds back on but I feel like I'm constantly trying to maintain, when I really need to lose more weight.
So, I have no good advice. LOL Except to offer that I can appreciate what you have gone through and hey, maybe we can start a weight loss focus group or something. Give each other encouragement. There used to be a thread on LP, years ago, like that. Anyway, good luck to you.

 

Is there a particular reason why you have been letting your diet slip. Emotional eating because there is a stress somewhere, convenience due to a busy schedule, etc? If there is a reason, focusing on fixing that, or at least coming up with a healthier plan of attack during those moments, might help.

I'm really the last person to ask about weight loss, since I could stand to lose a good 80-90 lbs. But I am 9 days into re-giving up soda. Headaches are finally subsiding, ugh. I had basically given it up, but then my Mom got cancer and I needed the caffeine to make it through the day, especially at the end when we were at the hospital 12 hours a day. How I got through that year, and the year after with only gaining 5 lbs, I have no idea, I was eating like crap. Other than, I figured out that in addition to stress, my psoriasis was triggered by Dairy and wheat. So I tried to limit the amount of those two particular components when I could.

 

For me weekends are the hardest to keep on track and eat good. It's a lot easier to keep on a schedule at work all day. Would eating good during the week, and letting your slip more on the weekends work for you? That way you can look forward to some cheating and yummy foods, but let yourself know it will be on weekends only. This might only work for maintenance and not be a good idea if you're trying to loose more though.

 

There has been an annual weight loss thread since 2006 I believe. Those were probably the main reason I only have 15 pounds to lose instead of 50! I finally gave up last year when I was the only one posting.

I would love to see a Weightloss 2016 thread! With the new life breathed into LP we could get the support going again. I have some clothes that I really want to be able to wear this summer. And now we can post pictures to show off!!!! Having accountability and support really helps me.

 

I totally understand your frustration @Mr. X !! A few years ago I dropped 30 pounds, and have slowly inched my way back to gaining every little bit of it back. Maintenance is truly a pain...especially when you're watching friends, family, and co-workers eating all of the stuff that you want to eat. I've recently started a more regimented exercise plan of at least 3-4 workouts of 30 minutes a week. I'm still battling with the urges to eat the stuff I want to eat over the stuff I should eat. It's hard to get back on the wagon, but it sounds like there are a few of us here that would appreciate the support of others that are trying to lose and maintain a healthy weight.

 

I took part in some of those threads a long time ago. It really helped me. It took awhile, but it was worth it. I remember talking to Tinkeroon and a few others several times on there.

 

That's a good point....watching everyone else eating all the goodies. I have three teens in the house! They've always got chips, cookies, candy, pizza.... I seriously believe that if I could live on my own for several months, I could lose weight. I would keep nothing in the house but fish and lettuce, stuff like that. Then, either you eat because your hungry or you don't care.

 

That's the mindset that I tend to fall into also. I think that I'm doing awesome and deserve a treat...or two or three (to be honest..hehe ) Then the guilt comes in to play. Focus is key, but it doesn't stop that fact from sucking when all you want is a decent dinner out with family or friends when you're attempting to stay in the zone. Don't beat yourself up about the treats. Most diet plans say to plan a "cheat" meal once a week because cravings do play a part in weight loss. Your body is craving that particular thing for a reason...listen to your body and give it a little bit instead of a lot.

 

I was at 330 five years ago. No diet had ever worked in a permanent way, so I tried something different. I didn't cut anything out of my diet except quantity. I walked at least every other day working my way from 1/4 mile to 2+ miles. I felt that slow weight loss might stand a chance of being more successful. As of last November I had gotten down to 255 and, like yourself, stalled right there. Just as I was about to up the walking, I started having a few health problems, the latest was a kidney stone, that 4 weeks later is still in place along with a stint that was inserted. I feel no pain, but, any exercise causes my urine to be pretty red. (looks a little like Hawaiian Punch) They till me it's OK, but, I hesitate exercising because, well, frankly, I don't like to pee red. It's a little disconcerting. So I don't really want to weigh in at this time, but, previous to that I was going back and forth between 255 and 260. One week up and the next week down. I am going to attempt to up the ante as soon as I get this kidney thing cleared up because I think I hit one of those so called shelves and I still have a long way to go. Doing it the way I have, I do not crave anything or deprive myself of things I like, I just consume less of it.

 

I'm not sure how helpful this is, but there is increasingly good evidence that after significant weight loss our bodies fight for years to put weight back on. Our metabolisms literally change to the point where, an average man of your height, age, and weight, might need to eat around 1700 calories to maintain his current weight. But for you it might be 1500 because of your weight loss and subsequent shift in metabolism. This article on Biggest Loser contestants who almost all gained their weight back (and in some cases, more) explains it: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/health/biggest-loser-weight-loss.html?_r=0

Which sounds depressing but to me it's not. I like to know what I'm facing and it helps knowing this w/ my own weight loss. I think you have to find a balance between healthy living and making good choices while also accepting that a major weight loss is going to be difficult to maintain. If you're exercising, making healthy choices, eating right, not drinking too much alcohol, and all those recommended things, at some point you may have to accept that you're going to be 10-20 lbs heavier than you might want because of potential changes in your metabolism. And as others have said, take it slow. Watch what you eat, count calories, and watch a half a pound a week creep off and within a year you'll be where you want. But I think that might be as fast as you can reasonably expect it to come off w/o starving yourself.

 

I wonder if, eventually, you're bodies metabolism would readjust to the new "norm" and not try to gain weight back?

 

The only thing that clicked for me is using "My Fitness Pal". I have a 51-day streak going. I spend .5 hour walking and .5 hour on stationary bike. I've lost 11 pounds. My goal is one pound a week. I have 30 pounds to go. So mid-January 2017.

My husband started sooner than I did and he is down 51 pounds as of today. He has 10 to go.

We will never go back. We just know/understand too much about what we eat now and how we have "celebrated" and justified ourselves into obesity for years.

The trick is to exercise (it adds to the calories you can eat for that day) AND never lie to it. Being honest with myself has been key. When I'm tempted to eat emotionally now, I don't. I recognize it, acknowledge it and then know I have the knowledge to fight it.

Good luck to you, Mr. X.

 

I mean, you would think so, but so far the longest studies of four or five years say no. That's what makes it hard—people who lose a lot of weight and try and keep it off report being hungry for years after. But part of that is diet. If you're eating a lot of fruit and vegetables, there's little reason to be hungry. But I went through that after my first big weight drop. It was still two years later and I'd just be craving a hamburger! It seems better now, but then, who knows if it'll kick back up again.