food for thought for us maintainers

I am browsing around and reading the new stuff the NWCR has out there and this is a quote from one of the studies.

"Although successful weight losers continued to maintain a large percentage of their weight losses over the years, recovery from even minor weight regain was uncommon. Considering these findings, clinicians may need to shift their focus from ways to reverse small weight gains to ways to prevent any weight gain."

Well, that's a rather sobering observation. What do you think about
it? Agree? Disagree?

On Thu, 20 May 2004 15:54:13 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

I am browsing around and reading the new stuff the NWCR has out there and this is a quote from one of the studies.

"Although successful weight losers continued to maintain a large percentage of their weight losses over the years, recovery from even minor weight regain was uncommon. Considering these findings, clinicians may need to shift their focus from ways to reverse small weight gains to ways to prevent any weight gain."

Well, my personal experience is that it ain't over until it is over,
considering the ups and downs I had through the years. Still. I plan on
being vigilant and not Ever having to pay the $10. Right now I am taking
off a pesky 2 pounds Again.


"Prairie Roots" wrote in message
...
Well, that's a rather sobering observation. What do you think about
it? Agree? Disagree?

On Thu, 20 May 2004 15:54:13 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

I am browsing around and reading the new stuff the NWCR has out there and
this is a quote from one of the studies.

"Although successful weight losers continued to maintain a large
percentage of their weight losses over the years, recovery from even minor
weight regain was uncommon. Considering these findings, clinicians may need
to shift their focus from ways to reverse small weight gains to ways to
prevent any weight gain."

Maybe many people find that they were overweight for some "reason" besides
the food, and the new body was not "worth" giving up the extra whatever they
got from the extra food? I know this past week, I have been on the edge of
eating too much and really struggling hard. It is helping to have time to
come here and actually read, even though I don't have time to read it all.

"Fred" wrote in message
...
Wonder why that is?

Hard to go back to some level of "deprivation?"

Can't find the elusive SWITCH to reverse the gain?

Is it almost inevitable that the "once overweight" cannot be "normal"
weight?

Those damn fat cells don't sleep and we have to? (g)

On Thu, 20 May 2004 15:54:13 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

I am browsing around and reading the new stuff the NWCR has out there and
this is a quote from one of the studies.

"Although successful weight losers continued to maintain a large
percentage of their weight losses over the years, recovery from even minor
weight regain was uncommon. Considering these findings, clinicians may need
to shift their focus from ways to reverse small weight gains to ways to
prevent any weight gain."

Being able to come here and dedicate time and thought to the issue
keeps the message foremost in my mind for the rest of the day. I think
that's one factor that led to my eating episode last week. My contact
with the group was next to nil.

On Fri, 21 May 2004 12:32:15 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

Maybe many people find that they were overweight for some "reason" besides
the food, and the new body was not "worth" giving up the extra whatever they
got from the extra food? I know this past week, I have been on the edge of
eating too much and really struggling hard. It is helping to have time to
come here and actually read, even though I don't have time to read it all.

"Fred" wrote in message
.. .
Wonder why that is?

Hard to go back to some level of "deprivation?"

Can't find the elusive SWITCH to reverse the gain?

Is it almost inevitable that the "once overweight" cannot be "normal"
weight?

Those damn fat cells don't sleep and we have to? (g)

On Thu, 20 May 2004 15:54:13 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

I am browsing around and reading the new stuff the NWCR has out there and
this is a quote from one of the studies.

"Although successful weight losers continued to maintain a large
percentage of their weight losses over the years, recovery from even minor
weight regain was uncommon. Considering these findings, clinicians may need
to shift their focus from ways to reverse small weight gains to ways to
prevent any weight gain."

On Thu, 20 May 2004 19:58:57 -0500, Prairie Roots
wrote:

Well, that's a rather sobering observation. What do you think about
it? Agree? Disagree?

It sounds reasonable. I know I used to rachet up my weight. I'd be
fine most of the time, but put on a few pounds at christmas/holidays.
Then I found it never came back off. Losing weight is far harder than
putting it on.
I guess that once you get to maintenance it may be reasonably easy to
stay at a preset weight, until you come to a holiday etc. Then losing
the few pounds you've put on again may be much more difficult even
than losing it in the first place.
In fact it SHOULD be easy, 'cos you've proved to yourself that you
know how to lose weight. But the problem may be more psychological.
Feelings of defeat, and having to spend the next months/years in
calorie deficit doesn't appeal.
My guess is that people still see losing weight as a journey that ends
when the goal weight is reached. In reality reaching goal is a
cross-roads. The right way is to carry on with slightly different
emphasis, the way some people are doing on here. The wrong way is to
celebrate with chocolate and cheesecake and start putting the fat back
on.
It will be quite a shock for me to change this regime after 2 years,
and I doubt I'd want to go through this twice.

Ray
--
rmnsuk
273/193/182

I don't agree. Of course, that would depend heavily on what their
definitions of "recovery" and "minor" are.

Many maintainers recognize that minor (less than 5 pounds or so) gains
are part of life.

The idea that one can't recover from minor gains is not only sobering,
it's self-defeating. I mean, if you can't recover, why bother trying?
Such a mentality of perfectionism has to ultimately fail if human
beings are trying to maintain it.

Best, Diane
--
182.6/171/165 mini/150 LT



On Thu, 20 May 2004 19:58:57 -0500, Prairie Roots
wrote:

Well, that's a rather sobering observation. What do you think about
it? Agree? Disagree?

On Thu, 20 May 2004 15:54:13 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

I am browsing around and reading the new stuff the NWCR has out there and this is a quote from one of the studies.

"Although successful weight losers continued to maintain a large percentage of their weight losses over the years, recovery from even minor weight regain was uncommon. Considering these findings, clinicians may need to shift their focus from ways to reverse small weight gains to ways to prevent any weight gain."

"Ain't over till it's over"
That's the truth!

When asked if he lead a happy life, the philosopher responded, "Not
yet." He believed that one must look over one's entire life before
determining whether or not it was a happy life.

So, "Have you kept the weight off for good?" -- Not yet!

Best, Diane
--
182.6/171/165 mini/150 LT




On Fri, 21 May 2004 01:07:30 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

Well, my personal experience is that it ain't over until it is over,
considering the ups and downs I had through the years. Still. I plan on
being vigilant and not Ever having to pay the $10. Right now I am taking
off a pesky 2 pounds Again.


"Prairie Roots" wrote in message
.. .
Well, that's a rather sobering observation. What do you think about
it? Agree? Disagree?

On Thu, 20 May 2004 15:54:13 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

I am browsing around and reading the new stuff the NWCR has out there and
this is a quote from one of the studies.

"Although successful weight losers continued to maintain a large
percentage of their weight losses over the years, recovery from even minor
weight regain was uncommon. Considering these findings, clinicians may need
to shift their focus from ways to reverse small weight gains to ways to
prevent any weight gain."

yeah, not yet

"dcb" wrote in message
...
"Ain't over till it's over"
That's the truth!

When asked if he lead a happy life, the philosopher responded, "Not
yet." He believed that one must look over one's entire life before
determining whether or not it was a happy life.

So, "Have you kept the weight off for good?" -- Not yet!

Best, Diane
--
182.6/171/165 mini/150 LT




On Fri, 21 May 2004 01:07:30 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

Well, my personal experience is that it ain't over until it is over,
considering the ups and downs I had through the years. Still. I plan on
being vigilant and not Ever having to pay the $10. Right now I am taking
off a pesky 2 pounds Again.


"Prairie Roots" wrote in message
.. .
Well, that's a rather sobering observation. What do you think about
it? Agree? Disagree?

On Thu, 20 May 2004 15:54:13 GMT, "Lesanne"
wrote:

I am browsing around and reading the new stuff the NWCR has out there
and
this is a quote from one of the studies.

"Although successful weight losers continued to maintain a large
percentage of their weight losses over the years, recovery from even
minor
weight regain was uncommon. Considering these findings, clinicians may
need
to shift their focus from ways to reverse small weight gains to ways to
prevent any weight gain."

So true. People keep asking me if I'm still dieting. Well, I am, to a
degree, but mostly it's just a WOL thing, which I will thus be doing for the
rest of my life.

Diet. Lose weight.
Stop diet. Eat like before. Weigh like before. Simple really.

So many people don't get that.

--
krys

UK 157/128.4/126
Started March 1st 2001
GOAL August 16th 2001
....going down?...

"ray miller" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 20 May 2004 19:58:57 -0500, Prairie Roots
wrote:

Well, that's a rather sobering observation. What do you think about
it? Agree? Disagree?

It sounds reasonable. I know I used to rachet up my weight. I'd be
fine most of the time, but put on a few pounds at christmas/holidays.
Then I found it never came back off. Losing weight is far harder than
putting it on.
I guess that once you get to maintenance it may be reasonably easy to
stay at a preset weight, until you come to a holiday etc. Then losing
the few pounds you've put on again may be much more difficult even
than losing it in the first place.
In fact it SHOULD be easy, 'cos you've proved to yourself that you
know how to lose weight. But the problem may be more psychological.
Feelings of defeat, and having to spend the next months/years in
calorie deficit doesn't appeal.
My guess is that people still see losing weight as a journey that ends
when the goal weight is reached. In reality reaching goal is a
cross-roads. The right way is to carry on with slightly different
emphasis, the way some people are doing on here. The wrong way is to
celebrate with chocolate and cheesecake and start putting the fat back
on.
It will be quite a shock for me to change this regime after 2 years,
and I doubt I'd want to go through this twice.

Ray
--
rmnsuk
273/193/182