The human body is an efficient machine and it seems that when we lose weight it is busily working away to maintain itself with fewer and fewer calories. At first we lose fast (water being shed from Glycogen stores), then we start to burn fat (not as much water) and weight loss slows, and then we replenish our glycogen stores and may actually gain (water). Then at six months our intake and outgo can reach equilibrium (our body has adjusted it's energy needs to match our intake) and we plateau. A plateau is defined as I recall as no weight loss for six weeks. It's at this point that scientists are somewhat baffled. Since our body will fight to stay at it's "set point" (the weight you keep going back to +) studies show that the best thing to do is to maintain at your plateau weight for about a month purposely to try to reset your set point and stop your body from agressively trying to get back to the original set point. This probably means increasing calorie intake. Then proceed with reduced calories again. And they recommend boosting excerise a little. There is evidence that people who haven't lost weight use more calories than we fatties AT THE SAME WEIGHT. Now if that isn't unfair I don't know what is. Anecdotal evidence from the Weight Loss Registry says that after 3-4 years maintaining at your desired weight your body will take that as your pemanent set point and stop fighting to regain weight. they basically say "it gets easier" to maintain, but not like someone who was never overweight to begin with.
I'm six weeks on reduced calories right now and I've been going up and down 1-2 lbs for a week. The water levels are fluctuating I guess. I'm 15lbs from my set point which as near as I can figure after all these years is around 280lbs. I always seem to go back to that weight whenever I lose; I have gained more sometimes but I can usually get back around there before I start having trouble losing.
So, that means that if and when I plateau that I need to increase my calories to maintain at that weight! and do that for a month. I have to trick my body. Oh boy. As long as I continue on reduced calories my body will fight losing any more. I'm trying to stay ahead of the game beause I know being at a plateau is a dangerous time and usually means falling off the wagon.
So, I'll have to think about this. It seems counterintuitive doesn't it? When I was 34 years old I didn't have this problem. I lost a steady 15lbs a month for about 5-6 months, then it slowed to 10lb a month and then once under 150lbs, 5lbs a month and gradually 2-3 lbs a month. But over 2-3 years I gradually went back up to 280lbs and danced around there for years. I'm getting older and running out of time and I want to maintain my weight loss this time. I guess I'm going to have to rethink all the old ideas about weight loss, esp those that they espouse on programs like the Big Loser and Dietribe where the advice there is really screwed up and is more for a TV program than anything to do with reality. They say eating grapes is bad for god's sake (too much sugar). What a crock. Plus they know that these people are losing mostly water, which accounts for the huge losses at first. Plus they are pushing them with overexercising to burn inordinate amounts of calories. And they are giving them food advice which is not healthy in the long run. Then, they all branch out and stat writing books and selling stuff with their names on them like they are some magic weight-loss guru. It's all so deceptive and commercial in the guise of helping people. I'm surprised that the AMA hasn't criticized these programs which are seen by millions who believe this stuff. No one goes back a few years later to see how these people have done. I'm sure they have all gained it back and more because it's inevitable.
Okay, I'm stepping down from my bandbox now.
My goal is to get into the Weight Loss Registry as one of those who loses and maintains permanently. And to be part of their study so other overweight people can be helped on a real level.