What caused you to regain your weight after a successful diet?

[erebus]

...If you don't mind me asking!

Of course, many on here will be on their first and only weight loss regime, but what we have to say could be of 'use', I hope, to all fellow strugglers, helping us to recognise the pitfalls and what we would have done differently if we knew then what we know now!

For me,it was simply complacency, I think. That and (and this is a 'biggie') I now think I recognise that I was on a very restrictive diet; I knew the calorific value of everything and I recorded everything I ate; my diet, though quite healthy, was quite limited. I wouldn't dare ate an 'unknown' food, calorifically..... but also I think I was dieting for public approval not for me, primarily.

This time around I went from considering Idiot Proof to thinking that whilst Idiot undoubtedly successfully attacks the 'hows', it doesn't go far into the 'whys'. Also I quaked at the idea of putting double cream into sauces!

I want to be more Paul McKenna and Gillian Whatshername, more mindful of what I eat and how, not banning anything just pondering on the physical and emotional consequences of each food decision I make.

I want to make it clear I'm not angling for any gory details of family stuff or private stuff, here, just maybe that a stressful situation occurred and you weren't prepared for it? Or you reached your goal weight and went straight back to the diet that caused the weight gain- that sort of thing.

Thanks!

Food and wine.

Ah, yes. Wine.

depression, pregnancy, sedentary job, back problems, age

Yes, pregnancy had a bearing on mine, that's for sure. I put on heaps too much with DS2 and never really lost it. Back problems does discourage my already meagre attempts at exercise, too.. And yes, it's harder to lose weight approaching and post menopause. Oh, and yes, the job! I used to be 'shop floor' where I work (hospital), on my feet all day, pushing trolleys, man-handling heavy, inert patients... but now I've climbed the ladder a bit, I sit behind a console for most of each examination....

darleneoconnor sorry to hear about the depression. Hope you have had some help with that.

erebus I think you sound like you do a lot of exercise; I would not imagine it has to be the same thing every day or even every day. Government guidelines recommend that the average healthy individual does 30 minutes of moderate cardio vascular exercise 3-5 times per week. I am not saying the government is an expert in anything much but they must have taken expert advice. So taking the minimum that is really pretty do-able! I think. And I am majorly unfit!

Here is something helpful I found at

"Exercise is also known as physical activity. In simple terms exercise is any movement that works your body at a greater intensity than your usual level of daily activity. Exercise raises your heart rate and works your muscles and is most commonly undertaken to achieve the aim of physical fitness.

What would be suitable exercise for one person may be too much or too little for another. For example, if the most energetic part of your average day is walking to pick up your children from school, then walking at a quicker pace would be a good form of exercise for your body. However, a 10 mile run would be too much of a challenge too soon."

Then it lists some interesting examples:

"Examples of exercise include:

gardening
walking
jogging
swimming
dancing
tennis
yoga
skipping
resistance exercise
squash
boxing
workout DVDs

But remember, if it isn?t challenging it isn?t exercise!"

I started walking a dog for a friend, who has now got breast cancer and needs my help more. That means about three or four times a week we go out (sometimes as a family and sometimes I alone or with a friend) and walk the dog for half an hour, an hour or even two hours on the weekend. Having the dog and living in the countryside definitely make it nicer so I know it is not for everyone. I think it is true to say that up until a year ago I RARELY did any regular exercise at all. I now walk about 10 extra miles a week, I enjoy it, and the female friends I walk with have become much closer friends because instead of concentrating on eating cake, drinking coffee and supervising the kids when we are together - we get to talk. Again, this does require a hubby or partner to babysit or supervise kid/s while I am walking so again it is not always easy for everyone.

All the best.

Sorry just realised this is probably not the place for this so ignore if not helpful.