Wow, this post made me think.
Actually, my dad did optifast back in 1988/89, lost over 100lbs and maintained for 4 years - he started gaining it back when he was laid off and went back to college. No doubt that had to be a very stressful time and transistion for a 40 year old man! But he did maintain for 4 years, and at least this time around he knows how to maintain and what to expect, and he knows that he doesn't want to gain the weight back ever again.
My grandma lost about 50lbs waaay back in the day - her and her mom went on a diet together (which had to be hard back in the early 60s, especially since we live in a Volga German community), and she lost weight and never gained it back.
There are a few others that I know that lost large amounts and have maintained over the years. The one thing that I can say for sure is that of the people that I know that have maintained, they ALL have an attitude that they never want to go through weight loss again (the last time WAS the last time), they enjoy being active, and have made a real lifestyle change.

My older sister lost 30 lbs. about 10 yrs. ago and has done excellent at maintaining that weight loss. She lost it by counting fat grams and walking a lot. She still watches what she eats and exercises.

Thanks everyone for your interesting and informative posts!
I love to hear about people who beat the odds and PROVE that it is possible, with lifestyle changes, to maintain a healthy weight!

I'm the first in my family. Can't even interest the others it seems. Though my daughter wants to try, she's not really focused on it. I just hope she can focus and really really wants to lose the weight. My dad and mom's New Year's resolution was Sugar Busters instead of Atkins this year, WW the year before and TOPS the year before that. They'd still swear they're on Sugar Busters. And can even say that with a straight face while they're looking at the cinamon buns on their counter and the ice cream in their fridge.

But since I've lost the weight, I have met up with a couple of others. One however lost hers through surgery. The other is one of the owner's of my Curves who lost it through diet and exercise...my preferred method.

Other than myself? (And I'm still sort of trying to lose, but I've maintained my current loss for a couple of years now.) Only one person, my best friend. I am not sure how much weight he lost. He gains some and loses some now and again, but he's in the normal range right now, whereas when we first met back in elementary school he was in the ball stage. As in, totally round. I think he said the number is over a hundred pounds, and I can believe him. He just quit eating vast & copious amounts of fast food. His dad is one of those who had no way of expressing love, so he'd bring Mark Whataburger to school for lunch every single day. And from Mark's size back then, I'm guessing it wasn't the kid's meal...He eats quite well now, but normally. He recognizes things like when he's hungry and when he's full. Lucky little twit.

I shed 57 pounds on Fat Flush and 80 total. Have kept it off for over 2 years. I personally know at least 6 others who have shed at least 20 pounds (one flushed over 100!!) and are maintaining their losses (all on Fat Flush I might add!).

The key to ANY successful weightloss is changing your lifestyle permanently. For the vast majority of us, we became obese by a combo of diet and lack of exercise. Expecting to make temporary changes in diet to reach a weight, without making PERMANENT changes in lifestyle (DIET and EXERCISE) is a recipe for failure, longterm.

Does that mean we have to give up white bread forever? Boy Howdy, I'm DONE with empty calories of that kind! However, I have chocolate now and then. A glass of non-sulfited wine. Fruit crumbles. I'm here to tell you that NO one food can compete with the way it feels to be wearing size 6 after years in 2x!

Yes, me too! I have several clients who have shed and kept off 20-50 pounds for more than two years through permanent diet modification and incorporating structured exercise into their daily lives.

One of my neighbors lost 40 pounds with Weight Watchers at about the same time I started losing (5 years ago) and has kept it off, still attending WW meetings, walking at the gym at luch time and has recently started a very limited weight training program.

I know several people who told me that they used to weigh 50-100 pounds more and I've known them for at least 10 years and never knew them fat. It's hard for me to picture them that way. I've been maintaining now for almost 5 years, and people who I've met in the last few years say the same thing about me. Only I (and my mother who just won't let me forget!) seem to still have the fat lady in my head.

Mel

My mom lost probably 30-40 pounds back when I was in college and kept it off until she died last year - over 40 years! She watched what she ate, rather than follow any particular diet. She never exercised. And she had her favorite foods - ice cream and candy - just not every day, or even every week.

My mom lost a significant amount of weight after a major health crisis, and has maintained that loss for about 7 years now. She walks everyday (even though she swears she hates it) and has started bicycling. I know she is aware of what she's eating, although she's far from strict about it.

DH lost about 30 pounds about 3 years ago, and has kept it off. He's increased his running mileage pretty dramatically, avoids sugary drinks (probably cut out 2L of cola a day), and cuts back on seconds and junk food when he creeps up a bit.

I knew a woman at work who lost a lot of weight. I never knew her fat, but she showed me a before picture. I knew her for at least 3 years after her loss and have lost track of her since. She told me this when I was losing--I'd have never guessed about her. She did WW, still went to meetings about monthly if I remember, counted points, and was adamant on 'never again'.

One of the women in my triathlon club stopped drinking, smoking and lost a lot of weight. I've known her for 2 years and she's rail thin to my eyes. She won't ever tell me how much exactly, but from some of her stories (people don't recognize her now) I'd guess it was a lot.

Finally, I know a handful of women who 'recovered' from a great 60 lb pregnancy like mine. I also know a couple men at work who lost a lot when Atkins was popular, and look like they've maintained.

The more I think about it, the more people I come up with. I'm sure there are more--I don't talk weight loss with most people and if I didn't know them fat or they didn't know me fat, weight loss just doesn't come up that often.

Anne