Anyone ever lost weight and kept it off for a decade?

[Lilyamna]

Just that. I have 2 stone to lose, but everyone I have ever known to lose weight has always gained it back in 1-3 years. Statistically, most weight loss is short term.
If you have lost weight and maintained your new weight for 10 years plus, I would love to know how you did it xx

I think it depends on your "normal weight" iyswim. Say you put the extra 2 stone on you should lose it and keep it off again. But say you've always been 2 stone overweight for most of your life you will find it harder.

How long though until it becomes the new normal?
I was a steady 9 stone ish till age 28. Over the past 5 years it has crept up, mainly due to stress and comfort eating. Now at 33 I’m not sure if I’m stuck here?

No you'll be fine...I was always 9 stone I got to 14 after 3 very close pregnancy's in my 30's, did a few different diets etc and Been back at around 9 for a while now ,and just eating normally not dieting. If you haven't been overweight your whole life it's a lot easier to keep it off. I don't drink as much anymore which helps as well. I would advise to go slow and steady losing the 2 stone though.

Sorry I haven't really answered your question as haven't lost and kept if off for 10 years but I don't honestly think there's a real "answer" other than being sensible. You don't want to spend your whole life on a diet.

Husband lost 15 kg five years ago. He did it by altering eating habits (no snacks after dinner, drinking more water, balanced diet with less carbs) and started running 4-6 times per week for about 5km each time.

He keeps it off by maintaining his 'new' eating habits, and runs 2-3 times per week for 5km at a time.

I lost 12 kg six years ago by starting running 2-4 times per week for 3-5 km and only drinking 1-3 glasses of wine per week, rather than 1-2 per night. I now only run 2 or 3 times per week, no more than 3 km each time.

It can be done. Change eating/drinking habits, exercise to lose the weight then maintain the weight with new eating habits and health/weight maintenance levels of exercise.

My DH lost about 4 stone ( I'd have to check with him exactly how much) about a year before I met him 19 years ago.

He is in his 50s now and is probably about a stone heavier than when I met him but that had been very gradual. He has never been on a diet since I met him. . So he has maintained a 3 stone weight loss for nearly 20 years. Don't ask me how, my weight has moved by +- 2-5 stone several times in in the same 20 years so.i.cant do it

He does no excercise at all. He often skips breakfast or has something like a croissant for breakfast then has half a can of soup and crackers for lunch or skips.it altogether during the week. Eats a big dinner with the occasional dessert . He sometimes.has a snack before bed though only if dinner was on the small side.. He doesn't snack.much at all and I have never known him.to eat enormous quantities in one go.

Yes, lost 2 1/2 stone at 40 just by cutting back on portion sizes and being sensible. Unfortunately at almost 50 my metabolism seems to have taken a nosedive and it's started going back on despite cutting back

Yes, lost probably a stone or even 1.5 stone almost a decade ago now. Currently working on losing a few more pounds as I'm getting into exercise in a big way for the first time in my life and want to be able to see the gains. Have maintained the original weight loss despite 2 pregnancies. Others have already alluded to it, but it's basically about the somewhat boring process of being sensible, everything in moderation, and move your body.

I lost approx 4 stone, roughly 8 years ago - so not quite at the decade mark yet.

I did it through a combination of diet (specifically 5:2), healthy eating on eating days, cutting out nutritionally valueless foods (chocolate, cream cakes etc) reducing alcohol intake (it weakens my resolve - I think I look fabulous when I'm p*ed!) and gentle exercise - I walk every day for approx 45 mins.

Once I got down to a size I am happy with, I didn't move on to 6:1, as recommended by Michael Moseley, because I know my default position is to eat like a horse and drink like a fish.

I've continued with regular fast days and have maintained the weight loss.
I now do alternate days fasting, but, I now eat some things that I had cut out eg cheese.
I continue with low(ish) carbs as these are my weaknesses.
I have alcohol, generally, 1 day per week - couple of G and T's.

This also means that when I go on holiday or out with friends for meals, I eat and drink whatever I want, really enjoy it BUT then get back to the alternate fast days as soon as I get home.

I didn't weigh myself when trying to lose weight, as I knew that having deprived myself all week then finding I'd lost 1 or 2 pounds would be demoralising for me.
Instead, I weigh myself every 3 months, so that was a real boost at the first weigh in, to find I'd lost over 1 stone.
I continue to walk daily.

I think that we're all mainly creatures of habit so it is just a question of recognising and identifying your own habits that have led to weight gain and then swapping some/all of these for habits which will help you lose weight and maintain that weight loss.
That's why a diet or regime that works for one person won't necessarily work for someone else.

Good luck.
It does feel fabulous once achieved and the energy gained is phenomenal.

Until I got pregnant, I had never weighed more than 9st and was usually around 8st 5. After second DC I found it harder to shift, but she is 20 now. In last two decades I have fluctuated between 8st and 10st. Mostly I've been around 9st, currently I'm 8st 13 and trying to lose a little more.

I know what makes me gain and I know that IF helps a lot in losing it. I've been a regular runner for the last 18 years too.

So, while I couldn't say I've lost weight and kept if off, I have weighed within a 1st range the majority of the time.

I listen to a podcast called Half Size Me. The presenter lost over 100lb and has kept it off for 8 years.

I lost nearly 2stone on WW 6 years ago. Kept it off for a couple of years but it has all come back now. I have an underactive thyroid and think doing WW has actually made it worse and hence more difficult to manage my weight.

I gained weight in my 40s when had ds. I started running at 45 and have been a steady 9st 10lb ever since - now 56.
I run 5k twice a week and do a 1 hour martial arts class at the weekend.
I have much more energy now, don’t get colds as badly, and am a lot more supple.