Keeping it off (doctor, weight loss, exercise, calorie)

[WesternPilgrim]

For those of you who have lost, say, 50 lbs or more and kept it off long term - how did you keep it off? What habits did you change? Is it even possible without becoming obsessed with food?

I really don't want to think about food this much for the rest of my life ...

[Luckyd609]

Exercise is vital. I lost 40 lbs and while I still watch what I eat but I am not obsessed at all. The most important thing I do is exercise.

[stevemorse]

when you hit over 4 lbs up from your goal weight, you jump back on the wagon!!! Dont let it get too far above your maintenance level. My rule of thumb is 4 lbs then back on!

[user_id]

I just eat healthy foods allowing exception only on special occasions and everything else is handled. No portion control, no focus on exercise to remain lean, no obsessing about food, etc. Though, I suppose to some only eating healthy foods is "obsessing", but its second nature and not something I think much about.

Ultimately your body wants to be lean....you just have to stop poisoning it with fatty, sugary, refined and/or processed foods.

[Opsimathia]

Originally Posted by WesternPilgrim

For those of you who have lost, say, 50 lbs or more and kept it off long term - how did you keep it off? What habits did you change? Is it even possible without becoming obsessed with food?

I really don't want to think about food this much for the rest of my life ...

You won't. It will be a lot easier when you go off the VLC diet you are on now and once you keep learning healthy dishes and portions. Its really just switching out the bad for the good at the right amount for your size and activity level.

I went through all the "diets".
Long story short I settled on calorie counting and general nutrition.

I am just aware of the nutritional impact of whatever I eat now and keep my intake adequate for my activity level.

The majority of my weight loss was without exercise.
Started exercise for the last 10 lbs.
Your exercise will be guided by your doctor just to be safe.

I take weight pretty much daily so I know my natural range. Its about 10lbs.
You will gain "water weight" before it becomes fat so if I go over that 10lb mark and I am not trying to gain weight or muscle...I just cut out all the empty cals and the excess lbs of water weight roll off.
I also take easy gains as a sign to increase strength training/lean mass.
(i do that for looks and it makes it easy to eat more when you are leaner bodyfat percentage wise)


I don't eat like I used to when I was fat.
I eat less food as a smaller weight requires less. I eat less junk.
Naturally became more active with exercise and just being smaller.
I don't hesitate to take stairs anymore etc. Its a lot easier to do those things without all the extra weight.

[RickSantos]

Originally Posted by WesternPilgrim

For those of you who have lost, say, 50 lbs or more and kept it off long term - how did you keep it off? What habits did you change? Is it even possible without becoming obsessed with food?

I really don't want to think about food this much for the rest of my life ...

These people are in the 1% of the population. BIOLOGY is the reason people REGAIN.




LINDA BACON

DR. FRIEDMAN

[stepka]

Originally Posted by RickSantos

These people are in the 1% of the population. BIOLOGY is the reason people REGAIN.


LINDA BACON

DR. FRIEDMAN

Well what's the point of even trying then? We may as well give in to it and forget about trying to get it off. My doc will love that one. Besides, what about when I was a kid and hardly anyone was fat? How do you explain that? I have lots of genetic history for getting colon cancer but I intend to not get it.

I have a couple of questions for the OP: Did you lose all of the weight that you intended to? How long have you had it off?