Who has kept the weight off for good? How did you do it?

[Poppledopple]

I am at the easy bit - ie now past the years and years of preoccupation and procrastination of which diet to choose and when to start - I am now in the zone - loosing lots of weight - but more concerned about maintenance after. I really cant undo all of the hard work (as I have in the past).

[SharingMichelle]

I need to know this too.

[RunnerOnTheRun]

Here's some great information as to why it is VERY hard to keep off fat loss.

www.metaboliceffect.com/how-to-maintain-weight-loss/

[SoleBizzz]

I have kept off five stones since 2010. Keeping busy and active prevents me eating from sheer boredom. I have lost a further stone this year. Drinking water keeps me full and keeping my vitamins and minerals topped up via good healthy food and walking at least one mile per day.

[StealthPolarBear]

I lost 5ish stone sine 2011. Have gone up a little from my lightest but never been near 13 again (was 16+)
At what point am I allowed to call it successful?

[pollyblack]

Yes.. i yoyo dieted for 15 years. The I had a big health scare, sorted my diet for that- not even thinking about weight loss- lost the two stone i needed too and it has been off for 5 years. Guess health in the end was more important than weight.

[Thebigredcar]

My dsis has. As far as I know she has done it by watching her portion sizes, keeping an eye that over the course of the week overall her in take is not too much, for example, if she's out to eat over the weekend having a light day on Monday. Also she eats a fairly Mediterranean diet, lowish carbs, limited processed foods and red meat and good fats.

[Moanranger]

If you do it right, your weight loss phase should train you for a new normal.Obviously, you cannot just loose the weight & then go back to eating how you were before. Excercise, monitor portion sizes, eliminate certain foods.
The DM had an article highlighting a bunch of women who "effortlessly" stayed slim. Well, no. They put a lot of effort into keeping portions small, preparing for large meals by cutting back before & after, & exercising.
There has been a lot of press about big losers reduced metabolism, but the science on that is not consistent. But anyone losing weight who wants to maintain the loss will have to eat (probably a lot) less than before.

[Thebigredcar]

I totally agree with you Moan

[Toowittoowoo]

I have kept it off for a year now and I feel like I finally have it pretty sorted. In fact i feel a bit stupid for not having worked it out years earlier as it all seems so simply now. As one of the previous posters mentioned a good diet should change your way of eating so you just carry on. As you lose weight then the number of calories you need to maintain weight reduces. Therefore eating what I ate now I lost weight when I weighed 70kg but now I am 50kg I am simply maintaining the same weight. Really advice is the same as everyone has said above:

Very little processed foods
Limit refined carbs
Very little snacking (if I do it is fruit, nuts etc.)
Salad or soup for lunch on work days
No sugary or diet drinks (only milk, water or v. Occasional diluted juice)
I've taken up running (or rather a slow shuffle around the streets!) to relax a couple of evenings a week so I don't reach for the wine!
If I do have meals out then I try to make up for it the following day.

That sounds more strict that I really am. I'm not too evangelical about it they are just the principles that I try to remember. I honestly can't imagine buying a sugary drink and a big bar of chocolate from a petrol station/railway station anymore, but before I would have done it without thinking and then moaned about being overweight and unable to understand why!

[paap1975]

20+ kilograms off for 3 years. Lost the weight with Weight Watchers and just continued applying the principles. I know I'll have to stick with it for life though. All the best!

[ppeatfruit]

Yes I lost the nearly 3 stone of weight that had crept on even with healthy eating. I have Paul Mckenna to thank for the maintaining of my lower weight. for 3 years now it'll be for life. He speaks such common sense.

So with no cal, counting or weighing or 'diet foods' at all. But I do stop eating a 7.30 p.m and have breakfast at between 8 nd 9ish a,m. Oh and hardly any caffeine or fizzy drinks.

[Fallstar]

I lost two stone and have kept it off by keeping processed carbs to a minimum and generally eating only 'real' foods. I also never have any kind of sweet drinks, which includes sugar-free and fresh juice.

I'm not mega-strict, and do have the odd cake or whatever but I try to eat within an eight-hour window most days, usually between midday and 8pm (16:8 fasting).

I've just been on holiday and this has gone out of the window somewhat but I came home a pound lighter due to lots of walking and not fretting about when I was going to have my next meal/snack as I used to do.

I'm no longer scared by the prospect of hunger pangs so am happy to wait for food, whereas I used to graze a lot. I think this is the biggest bonus of fasting and has made the most long-term difference for me.

[Poppledopple]

Wow I am really impressed with you all - as that really is the hard part. But what I can see is that you are all very conscious of your WOE now - you have new many habits etc .... you didnt just loose it and then revert to eating "normally" again ie eating as before - which is far from "normal" as you end up over weight.

Interested to see that you picked up this thread - are you always still lurking on weight loss threads to keep motivated and on track?

Interesting that PP has said that this is how it has to be for life....as there was some commentary a few weeks back that obesity was an addiction like alcoholism and that it needed to be managed for life.

[ppeatfruit]

Popple I tend to sometimes look at the weight loss threads because so many people seem to need help and as I study health and weight loss and finding a good way of eating I lost weight successfully, I like to help If anyone's interested.

One of the many good things about P.M. is that if you 'forget' it for a weekend or a day you can just go straight back at the next meal . He also helps with exercises for cravings.

[Smittenkitten2015]

Hello! I was looking at the Paul McKenna books yesterday but didn't know which one was best. Is it the gastric band one or the I Can Make You Thin one that I should get? Well done with your weight losses everyone, very inspiring.

[MNetter15]

Almost 2 years for me and I've maintained. I'm about 3 pounds heavier than I'd like, but my bmi is in the healthy range. (I've lost 4 stone)

I lost weight a few years ago and piled most of it back on after 6 months or so.

This time, I pretty much eat the exact same thing, at the exact same time, every day of the week. I enjoy my food, and I'm not hungry. I just think before I eat. I exercise too, which I enjoy, and wasn't fit enough to do before. MFP taught me a lot. I was probably eating twice the amount of what I eat now. I would feel so, so uncomfortable if I were to eat like that now. I just physically can't.

I hope it clicks for others too. It's not easy.

[SilvaCaledonia]

Great thread, was just wondering about this myself.

I've recently lost weight, am happy with new size and just wondering how to maintain,

[ppeatfruit]

Smitten It's up to you really. I lost the weight and am maintaining with 'The I Can Make You Thin'. I was on a support thread with others doing it and a few did ok with the gastric band one but more of us were fine with the first .

[ppeatfruit]

MNetter The result of your diet sounds the same as the P.M one (I literally get full up quickly and can't carry on eating, this does make eating out difficult but I just jump back on it at the next meal) but with the support of the books dvd etc. it makes it much easier!

[AmberNectarine]

8y ago I found I had crept up to a size 18. I lost 4st through sensible eating and exercise. Took about 8m. I then lost a further stone after the DCs so I am now a 6-8.

In all honesty, I watch my weight very, very closely. I weigh myself every day and if I put on more than 3lbs I immediately snap into action and cut back. I exercise regularly and generally try and eat sensibly. About 4 days a week I won't really eat dinner and just have something like like toast or salad instead.

[ppeatfruit]

Yes Amber I don't eat after 7ish pm and have breakfast when I feel hungry at round 8 or 9am. most days (I have a herbal tea if I get hungry but it's funny how quickly your body gets used to it).

But interestingly I don't weigh, I look in the mirror and use how tight my jeans are as a sign of increasing weight. !

[ppeatfruit]

I'm not as slim as you I'm a lose vanity size 10 which suits me

[AmberNectarine]

ppeat I'm only 5'5 and very small framed (24' waist) so at size 10 I look quite chunky, sadly.

I am used to it now - weighing myself is just part of my day. I usually eat a reasonably large breakfast (toast, fruit, yoghurt) and then my meals decrease in size as the day goes on.

[FiveShelties]

I lost around 4 stones many years ago and have stayed around 10 stone since. I swing between 10 5 and 9 10 and am 9 12 now. I weigh everyday and have stopped trying to be perfect. I just try to make better choices, not the best choice but not the worst. I drink wine, probably far too much, love carbs and my exercise consists of walking my Sheltie daily.

I spent ages eating like mad over the week-end because the (next) diet was starting on Monday - I was either full on dieting or full on eating. I just wish I had realised that I did not have to be the perfect dieter around 30 years ago ---- I am obviously a very slow learner.

[Jemmima]

I maintained my weight for years using mindful eating. Then last year i decided to go paleo and lost another 2 stones. So now that is my default eating. Real food, no dairy, fruit and veg, meat, fish, nuts and seeds and no wheat. I also naturally fast. Like PP i stop eating at about 8 and have my next meal at between 10 am and 1 pm.