What Happens When You Don't Work at Maintenance

Pashta · 07-09-2009, 08:15 AM

I gained weight from my 3 pregnancies, 2 in a row. I went on Medifast (a low-cal, moderate carb diet) and lost 30 pounds in about 3-4 months. I ran out of money for the diet so I just stopped and it all came back, slowly. Every time I got my period I gained 2-3 pounds and it never dropped.

I am depressed about this, I spent hundreds of dollars on that diet and so much work measuring and weighing and all that...

Don't be like me. You MUST work at maintaining or it WILL come back.

Now I am trying again to take it off and KEEP it off. I'm back at what I was right after I gave birth to my last child. I honestly thought I would not gain it back since my weight is all just from pregnancy and not overeating.

Apparently our bodies are funny like that, they want us to stay around a constant weight and my "quick" weight loss was a shock to it. I must take it slow going off a diet and still watch what I eat for a long time, and so should you.

Thanks for reading.

fischdeb1 · 07-09-2009, 06:50 PM

I am living proof of what you're saying! It doesn't matter what weight program I'm on, if I don't work hard to maintain, I gain it all back! I have lost and gained weight so many times. Even on Weight Watchers I lost a lot of weight slowly and sure enough just as slowly I gained a lot back. I think I've finally matured at 52! I realized that you need to pick an eating plan that you can stick with for life. There is never going off a diet! For the first time in my life I am keeping the weight off. It's been 1 year now! I know that it might not seem like a long time for some people, but believe me, it's the longest for me! I weigh myself 3 times per week, down from every single day. I eat the foods that are on The Scarsdale Diet, adding a little here and there. I usually eat very clean on Thurs. in anticipation for the Fri. weigh-in. It also allows me to have a little more on the weekend.

I find this site to be very helpful. The Fri. weigh-in keeps me accountable to all the wonderful people on the site and to myself. I have gotten a lot of good advice on this site.

Anyway good luck to you and don't get discouraged. Remember weight loss and maintenance is a journey that you will be on the rest of your life.

Deb

Keptewe · 07-11-2009, 09:29 PM

Amen to "you have to pick a plan that you can stick with for the rest of your life" and "there's no going off a diet". I think that is the only way to maintain weight loss. Having that mentality definately helps me to stay on track and although I haven't been maintaining very long, I realize that I can never eat like I used to again and that, apart from the very occasional "planned treat", I must limit my carbs and calories forever. I enjoy being this weight so much that I am just not tempted to eat "off plan".

jenna... · 07-12-2009, 09:53 AM

Thanks for this tread. I'm not far from goal and have been mulling over my maintenance plan. I don't want to have to 'take it off' again. Did that too many times.

Jean@125 · 07-12-2009, 10:07 AM

Thanks for this thought provoking post. I have heard we aren't really going to eat more than a couple hundred more calories than we did to lose the weight and that exercise helps us to maintain. Although exercise will not negate overeating.

Jenna Love your quote!

CookinsForMe · 07-12-2009, 07:50 PM

Pashta, thanks for this! I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes in 2000 and controlled it with diet and exercise for almost 5 years. I also lost about 40 lbs but then I got lazy and here I am at my all time high, shooting large amounts of insulin and starting over...for the umpteenth time. Well, I *was* but since June 24th I've lost about 6 lbs and am already injecting substantially less insulin.

You're so right that we must work to maintain it. That's going to be the hardest part for me, I fear but I'll get there! Your reminder about this is great.

BellaHMB · 07-17-2009, 10:48 AM

It takes ALOT of focus to keep weight off. Case in point what often happens to me is that I reach a good weight for myself which is about 145, and then relax and it stays there for weeks, then one pound at a time (or too many low carb foods like almonds!)
it creeps back up. I never eat off plan! I just eat too much....my calories go up and so does the scale.

Bella

07-09-2009, 08:15 AM	#1
Pashta Junior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 5 Gallery: Pashta Stats: 248/245/199 WOE: WW/Moderate Carbs Start Date: July 8, 2009	What Happens When You Don't Work at Maintenance I gained weight from my 3 pregnancies, 2 in a row. I went on Medifast (a low-cal, moderate carb diet) and lost 30 pounds in about 3-4 months. I ran out of money for the diet so I just stopped and it all came back, slowly. Every time I got my period I gained 2-3 pounds and it never dropped. I am depressed about this, I spent hundreds of dollars on that diet and so much work measuring and weighing and all that... Don't be like me. You MUST work at maintaining or it WILL come back. Now I am trying again to take it off and KEEP it off. I'm back at what I was right after I gave birth to my last child. I honestly thought I would not gain it back since my weight is all just from pregnancy and not overeating. Apparently our bodies are funny like that, they want us to stay around a constant weight and my "quick" weight loss was a shock to it. I must take it slow going off a diet and still watch what I eat for a long time, and so should you. Thanks for reading. __________________ Gotta lose this pregnancy weight, the babies are 13, 3 and 2!

07-11-2009, 09:29 PM	#3
Keptewe Senior LCF Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Arkansas Posts: 388 Blog Entries: 69 Gallery: Keptewe Stats: 172/139/145 WOE: Low carb Start Date: February 2009	Amen to "you have to pick a plan that you can stick with for the rest of your life" and "there's no going off a diet". I think that is the only way to maintain weight loss. Having that mentality definately helps me to stay on track and although I haven't been maintaining very long, I realize that I can never eat like I used to again and that, apart from the very occasional "planned treat", I must limit my carbs and calories forever. I enjoy being this weight so much that I am just not tempted to eat "off plan". __________________ LC

07-12-2009, 10:07 AM	#5
Jean@125 Guest Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MD Posts: 1,998 Gallery: Jean@125 Stats: 166/150.8/ ? 5'2 WOE: hanging on for dear life	Thanks for this thought provoking post. I have heard we aren't really going to eat more than a couple hundred more calories than we did to lose the weight and that exercise helps us to maintain. Although exercise will not negate overeating. Jenna Love your quote! Last edited by Jean@125; 07-12-2009 at 10:09 AM..

07-12-2009, 07:50 PM	#6
CookinsForMe Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Northeast Texas Posts: 819 Blog Entries: 1 Gallery: CookinsForMe Stats: 188.8/171.2/140 WOE: Lower carb, moderate fat, & workouts 6 days a week Start Date: 6/24/09 for the umpteenth time.	Pashta, thanks for this! I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes in 2000 and controlled it with diet and exercise for almost 5 years. I also lost about 40 lbs but then I got lazy and here I am at my all time high, shooting large amounts of insulin and starting over...for the umpteenth time. Well, I was but since June 24th I've lost about 6 lbs and am already injecting substantially less insulin. You're so right that we must work to maintain it. That's going to be the hardest part for me, I fear but I'll get there! Your reminder about this is great. Last edited by CookinsForMe; 07-12-2009 at 07:53 PM..

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07-09-2009, 06:50 PM	#2
fischdeb1 Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 170 Gallery: fischdeb1	I am living proof of what you're saying! It doesn't matter what weight program I'm on, if I don't work hard to maintain, I gain it all back! I have lost and gained weight so many times. Even on Weight Watchers I lost a lot of weight slowly and sure enough just as slowly I gained a lot back. I think I've finally matured at 52! I realized that you need to pick an eating plan that you can stick with for life. There is never going off a diet! For the first time in my life I am keeping the weight off. It's been 1 year now! I know that it might not seem like a long time for some people, but believe me, it's the longest for me! I weigh myself 3 times per week, down from every single day. I eat the foods that are on The Scarsdale Diet, adding a little here and there. I usually eat very clean on Thurs. in anticipation for the Fri. weigh-in. It also allows me to have a little more on the weekend. I find this site to be very helpful. The Fri. weigh-in keeps me accountable to all the wonderful people on the site and to myself. I have gotten a lot of good advice on this site. Anyway good luck to you and don't get discouraged. Remember weight loss and maintenance is a journey that you will be on the rest of your life. Deb

07-12-2009, 09:53 AM	#4
jenna... MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sunny SoCal Posts: 1,886 Gallery: jenna... Stats: 248/151(155-145)/148 5'7.5" 54yrs 20/6/6 jeans WOE: Maintenance on my mind... Start Date: New Start 01/05/09 @235lbs GOAL on 09/23/09 148lbs	Thanks for this tread. I'm not far from goal and have been mulling over my maintenance plan. I don't want to have to 'take it off' again. Did that too many times.

07-17-2009, 10:48 AM	#7
BellaHMB Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern California Coast Posts: 3,565 Gallery: BellaHMB Stats: 210/145/original goal of 150 met 5.27.07 WOE: Maintenance Atkins Start Date: 1-16-07	It takes ALOT of focus to keep weight off. Case in point what often happens to me is that I reach a good weight for myself which is about 145, and then relax and it stays there for weeks, then one pound at a time (or too many low carb foods like almonds!) it creeps back up. I never eat off plan! I just eat too much....my calories go up and so does the scale. Bella