My fear is that the medical world is increasingly focusing its attentions on surgical and medical interventions for the treatment of obesity because these are perceived as the only effective treatments. So the money is being put into research into drug treatments and building medical centers for bariatric surgery and most definitely not into research into weight loss without surgery or drugs; maintenance of such a weight loss; and the long-term effects and consequences of weight loss.

I've often felt that I was an orphan of the medical system, having lost 122 pounds without drugs or surgery and keeping it off for more than seven years now. I don't know anyone in real life like me. One (former) doctor called me a freak. My PCP can't answer any questions about calories, excess skin, or metabolism because she's never had a patient who lost as much as I did without surgery. She's the first to admit that she learns from me. I see doctors interviewed on the news who say that permanent weight loss isn't possible without surgery. The University of Pittsburgh here built a big center devoted to Life After Weight Loss, with a team of psychologists, nutritionists, and doctors and plastic surgeons. Sounds like my dream come true, right? Nope, I don't qualify, despite having lost 122 pounds. It's only for people who have had weight loss surgery. The medical world has very little to offer the rest of us.

So more research would be wonderful, but I'm not holding my breath. We're not where the money is. That's why 3FC is such an important resource for us because where else can we meet people like us, compare notes, and know that we're not alone?

Meg, one thing that you do that most people I know don't do, is exercise faithfully, day in and day out. You're an athlete and you live like it. I don't know anybody who keeps their eating as clean and consistent and exercise on the front burner like you do. So maybe instead of orphan, you're more of a pioneering champion. :cheer:

And truth be known, I am MUCH more interested and value what I gather from my co-maintainers at 3FC and their experiences, than absolutely anywhere else. Like I said earlier, research does have its place, but I think in the weight loss field in particular, there is a huge gaping hole.

All the research in the world, all the comparisons to fellow maintainers, still won't change the fact that *I* have to do what *I* have to do in order to maintain. I won't and absolutely can't be swayed by what others do, this is one place where I've got to discover what works best for ME and for me alone.

But boy am I grateful and thrilled to share and hear of others experiences from the wonderful folks here on this very board. :hug:

This is a very interesting thread. I find I can feel satisfied on 1200 calories, and I can feel satisfied on 2000 calories. It's not how many calories I'm eating, but WHAT I'm eating. Foods with lower calorie densities make me feel fuller faster, even though I'm eating less calories.
On days I want to eat 2000 calories, I eat more calorie dense foods. On days I want to eat 1200 calories, I eat more foods that are NOT calorie dense (like soup and veggies and fruit!), but either way, I eat the same AMOUNT of food and feel the same amount of fullness.
I believe that satisfaction from your food is about quality, not quantity.