I think there is still a common belief (maybe wishful thinking) that things will be different once we reach our goal weight, and many people are disappointed when their life doesn't change dramatically at goal. We're often led to believe that life will be easier at goal - or at least weight loss will be, and the fact is that life at goal is not going to be significantly different than life a few pounds from goal.
For the first time in my lfe, I'm not worried about gaining back, because I'm losing only one lb at a time, and really noticing all of the benefits as they come along. Gaining back a pound or two (and it happens) inspires me to lose them, it doesn't make me feel like I'm doomed to failure. I think often after some people reach goal, they stop weighing themselves as frequently, and when they see that gain, even if it's only a few pounds, they dread having to get back on the diet rollercoaster, and feel it's hopeless. And you know, it is hopeless if you expect to reach your magic number and by magic stay there. I weigh myself daily, and I realize that is going to have to be a habit for life. I'm not going to be doing anything differently at maintenance than I have during loss.
That's why I think rapid weight loss, the kind that cuts calories drastically enough that a person has to increase calories in order to maintain, can make it more difficult to lose weight. It's not impossible, but it means that the skills needed to maintain weight will be at least somewhat different than those who make more gradual changes in which the skills to maintain are nearly identical to the skills that got you there.
It used to depress me when I thought about needing to "do this" forever, and then I realized I could choose to work in reverse - determine what I am willing to do forever, and just do that and see where it takes me. If I really am unwilling to do more, then I'm just going to have to acccept the weight at which weight loss stops as my goal weight (or decide if I'm maybe willing to do just a little bit more and see where that takes me). Looking at things that way, my goal weight may change several times. I may spend months or years, and only later decide to change my goal weight. I might find that I am more comfortable at a slightly higher weight, and that's OK too.
It's almost sacreligious to suggest to someone having trouble maintaining their "ideal weight" to change their goal to a slightly higher weight that they are able to comfortably maintain. Fat phobia is such that we often can't allow ourselves to be "a little overweight," and I think it encourages an all or nothing mentality. "If I can't reach and stay at goal, I might as well eat whatever the heck I want."
I think if the focus were on behaviors (eating better, exercising more) instead of on the weight itself, I think we'd see less dismal weight loss results. If eating well and being active was the real issue, then I don't think backsliding would be as common, but when only the weight matters, and only in a "pass/fail" kind of way, the entire "dieting culture" works against maintenance behaviors. We have to start a revolution to change those views, and I think 3FC is at the forefront of that change in thinking.
