Why we struggle to lose weight healthy and maintain

Escapade

Full Member
Ive obviously got far too much time on my hands as Ive been thinking about this for a while now, my story is simple, was ideal weight to chubby all of my child hood, gained weight as a teen, lost it, gained weight early 20s, lost it, gained weight late 20's, got to 16stone, went down to 9stone, back up to 15st7, now back into 14's.

Ive spoken to lots of people, friends, work colleagues, family who have lost large amounts of weight... what surprised me the most is none of them seemed to do it by healthy eating, Ive only lost weight by going on really harsh diets, really restricting myself and hitting the gym hard, two of my cousins went from size 16/18, one went to size 12 and the other went to size 8, the only way she could maintain size 8 was by going to the gym every single day, eating very small amounts, mainly sticking to nothing but fruit and veg, even to maintain a size 10 she seems to really struggle and have to work really hard at it and that was somewhat the story for me to maintain 9 stone size 10.

So why is it we can lose weight but cant maintain it... is it normal to have to push ourselves so hard to maintain weight or are we setting our goals too low?
 
Thanks I'll have a look
 
my personal view is that the Human body is not built to eat processed food and lay on the sofa all day.
 
For me, the people who have lost the weight and regain are those that go on a specific 'diet' without a strong maintence plan for after the weight is gone.

I.e. Food replacement diet, without considering how to gradually introduce food back and how they plan to eat without gaining.

The people who are sucessful in keeping the weight off (without going to extremes like your cousin) are those that either:
a) lose the weight quickly but have a realistic eating plan to up their metabolism again so they can eat somewhat normally
b) lose the weight slowly by making changes that are sustainable i.e. not going on a 'diet'

It's harder to maintain than lose, because you have to be almost as strict as when you're losing the weight with none of the reward!
 
For me, the people who have lost the weight and regain are those that go on a specific 'diet' without a strong maintence plan for after the weight is gone.

I.e. Food replacement diet, without considering how to gradually introduce food back and how they plan to eat without gaining.

The people who are sucessful in keeping the weight off (without going to extremes like your cousin) are those that either:
a) lose the weight quickly but have a realistic eating plan to up their metabolism again so they can eat somewhat normally
b) lose the weight slowly by making changes that are sustainable i.e. not going on a 'diet'

It's harder to maintain than lose, because you have to be almost as strict as when you're losing the weight with none of the reward!
i agree stackhead its got to be a way of life and our heads need to be taught new ways like knowing what good foods we need and stopping when we are full x
 
Try looking at some of ZOe HArcombe books. Why can't we lose weight when all we want to be is slim. This expalins quite succinctly why calorie controlled diets will never work in the long term.
 
I see no reason why you couldn't maintain if you are prepared to change your eating approach & habits. I use a scale that reads your body and gives you a break down of your fat percentage etc and tells you how many calories you need daily to maintain. Currently I'm at 1470 but I still have a stone to loose so would imagine that will be a bit lower once I'm at goal, but with that in mind if I stick to at amount and try to watch my carbs there is no real reason why with some exercise 3 times a week that I can't maintain my weight.

I think a lot of people regain because they loose the weight then return straight to their old habits, not watching what they are eating (not necessarily unhealthy foods but also the wrong combination, ie pasta & potatoes on the same day).
 
I only maintained a low weight by half starving myself. I think some people just cannot be slim and have to be the right weight for them. We are not all designed to be a size 10 and if you have to starve and work out all the time to achieve it is it really worth it?
 
I think we would all agree that option B is ideal. I have been using AdvoCare for daily supplements and Spark for energy following my 24-day challenge and agree with you - it is a learned approach to first losing it, and then maintaining.
 
my personal view is that the Human body is not built to eat processed food and lay on the sofa all day.

That's so true, Max, I've changed my attitude this time, I'm not on a 'diet', I'm choosing fresh food, veg and meat, cooked from scratch and a lot more raw veg, some fruit but not lots because of the sugar, water and green tea to drink - lots of that and a sustainable lifelong exercise programme made up of things I love doing like walking and dancing because this will be for the rest of my life - I'll add in badminton and some martial arts as I get fitter and stronger.

As I get closer to target I'll work out what calories/exercise I need to maintain but one thing is for sure I won't go back to eating 'normally' because it clearly isn't normal if my body has managed to store a whole person bigger than Gary Lineker!

WG x
 
I totally agree. This has to be a way of life not a diet. My intention from today is to eat fresh food s & keep away from the processed food. To do this I need to sit & plan my meals better than I have been doing & make them appealing. Then I'll want to eat them & therefore lose the weight. Simple isn't it? Then the next thing must be to get my brain in gear.

Happy New Year. Good Luck!!

Rita :)

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Totally agree!..

I've lost just over 11 stone since February last year.. And I haven't dieted!

I read the Paul McKenna hypnotic gastric band book.. And followed the instructions to a tee.. And what he says makes sense..

Eating diet foods (if you don't like them) will make you miserable and ultimately make you binge. Then you give the diet up, and go back to your old ways.

I eat healthy normal foods, not processed rubbish, and I exercise too.

I have completely changed how I eat, and what I eat.. I still have cakes and chips etc but in moderation and don't make them a staple.

I think the reason this has worked so well for me, and I'm still losing is I'm not bored of it... Everyday is not about points or syns, no weighing foods or calorie counting.. Just common sense.

I have tried every diet, from fad cabbage ones, to ww, sw and lighter life .. All I lost weight on, (not a lot I hasten to add).. But it all came back with a vengeance. This is why I refuse to call my regime a diet, as it isn't,this is me now, for life. I have a new relationship with food and couldn't be happier or healthier.

X
 
Totally agree!..

I've lost just over 11 stone since February last year.. And I haven't dieted!

I read the Paul McKenna hypnotic gastric band book.. And followed the instructions to a tee.. And what he says makes sense..

Eating diet foods (if you don't like them) will make you miserable and ultimately make you binge. Then you give the diet up, and go back to your old ways.

I eat healthy normal foods, not processed rubbish, and I exercise too.

I have completely changed how I eat, and what I eat.. I still have cakes and chips etc but in moderation and don't make them a staple.

I think the reason this has worked so well for me, and I'm still losing is I'm not bored of it... Everyday is not about points or syns, no weighing foods or calorie counting.. Just common sense.

I have tried every diet, from fad cabbage ones, to ww, sw and lighter life .. All I lost weight on, (not a lot I hasten to add).. But it all came back with a vengeance. This is why I refuse to call my regime a diet, as it isn't,this is me now, for life. I have a new relationship with food and couldn't be happier or healthier.

X

Wow MissMiff! That makes total sense! The daft thing is that I bought Paul McKenna's book last year and it's still not been read - maybe I need to pick it up again although at the moment I'm feeling very comfortable and relaxed eating healthy food cooked from scratch so I may use it as my fall back position if I start to waver.

i can so agree about the not being bored discovering food that you'd either forgotten about or never tried before is a revelation, I sometimes have pink grapefruit for breakfast and it feels like there's a party going on in my mouth, so much more of a treat than the butter laden toast and jam I used to have - and so much more fun to eat!

i would be a fool to go back to that now, I'm only eating food and I enjoy and rather than dragging myself to the gym like its a chore, I'm walking and dancing and planning badminton and martial arts for when I'm stronger so that they are enjoyable and sustainable because they're going to be for life.

Well done you, you're amazing!

WG x
 
very interesting - I've been a yo yo dieter for all my adult life - I'm now 60 - I wish I'd not dieted but rather gone down the healthy eating route - it might have taken longer - but may have been more sustainable in the long run - I think a lot of us are looking for a quick fix and that's why we choose to diet but I'm living proof for people like me at least that diets don't work! I know they do for many people and I take my hat off to them. Good luck to you and everyone looking to lose weight in 2014 - hope we find the route to success!!!
 
Thanks well done on ur loss 2 date and good luck for this year - let's make it a good one!
 
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