[hardworkwillpayoff]

I gained 20 pounds since the last time I was on here.

Last time I did manage to lose 10 pounds. But I ended up gaining all the weight back and more!

What are some of your secrets to keeping the weight off permanently? Do you have any specific tips on maintaining weight?

Please help.

[luckymommy]

You're not the first or last person to come here with a regain and I've done the same, managing to come back with a regain of more than 30 lbs. It's not a good feeling, but once you start taking steps toward your goal, it's incredible how quickly you start to feel better. Everyone is different, but I will list some things that have worked for me:

-no more sugar and flour. This was very hard at first, but I feel it has been a huge life saver.
-Only one protein and fiber snack per day (I have greek yogurt with blueberries, since they're in season)
-3 meals a day
-breakfast is steel cut oats with stevia (so delicious! I make it the night before so it's ready in the morning), lunch is a salad with protein and a bowl of soup or a fruit like a mango, apple, orange, etc., dinner varies from a frozen meal with steamed veggies or salmon w/ veggies and a bowl of soup.
-I drink only water and 1 coffee in the morning. I don't drink my calories.
-no more than 1500 calories a day, although most days I have 1200 calories
-if I hit a stall in weight loss, I'll increase my calories for one day by having an extra 300 calories or so that are healthy and then after about 3 or 4 days, I'll see a loss.
-I keep active and use an elliptical machine a few times a week, but this is more for fitness and stress management than weight loss. Most weight loss has to do with diets. Although, I do believe that exercise plays a big role in maintaining weight loss.
-If eating out, I'll check out the menu in advance and decide what I'll have. I don't go to restaurants that don't have healthy options.
-I recommend not weighing yourself too often as the loss will seem too slow. If you know you're doing everything you can be doing, then trust in yourself and weigh in no more than once a week. I think once you hit goal, it's better to weigh in more frequently to keep yourself from being in denial about any weight gain.

I wish you lots of luck. I always say there's more than one road to the same destination so if my advice isn't suited with your life style, you can find something else. However, there's no getting around the fact that you either need to cut down on calories or to find a certain way of eating (like Paleo, low carb, etc.). There are some people here who have found a way to eat intuitively and to have a normal relationship with food. These are the people that really amaze me, but I am not one of those people. I know I'm addicted to sugar and flour. Now that I"m not having those foods, I have so much more freedom because I'm not constantly struggling. Who wants to constantly struggle? Is having a daily bowl of ice cream really worth it? Not to me..I could never stop at a bowl....I would make many trips to the refrigerator and cupboards and not be able to stop. Now I have my dinner and I'm done. I know I have that bowl of yummy oatmeal waiting for me in the morning.

[shirly]

Hey mate,

My names Cam,

I'm currently researching healthy solutions to
guys lose weight plus minimize the chances of developing heart disease
and was wondering whether you would be
interested in doing a 20 minutes interview with
you about it?

If you have any questions please don't hesitate
to write back.

[kelijpa]

I just keep coming back and keep working towards my goal. I'm taking the derailments as part of the process.

Keep trying new things, keep what works and get rid of the things that don't.

Don't quit, you'll get there!

Best of luck

[Gingerjv]

Most of us are the same as you) we lose and we gain, some gain all of the weight back. but some stop before the critical number and gain only little. You need to understand that your diet plan MUST become lifetime! it's impossible to lose weight with the help of any diet and then return to old habbits without gaining wieght! it's myth. you need to choose the most comfortable diet plan and stay on it till the rest of your life (of course with some days of cheating but then back to plan!;-)

[hardworkwillpayoff]

Luckymommy, thank you for the advic e. I do believe that it was all the strudels, pizzas and pies that were causing me to gain weight.

kelijpa and Gingerjv, thank you for your encouragement. Sometimes I wonder what is the point of losing weight is. I just have to remind myself how inadequate I felt around all those skinny and healthy people. I can get there too! I just have to believe that I am worth it.

[unwanted37lbs]

this is what I do:
try to do cardio on treadmill every day. This is what gives me the boost of weight loss. I read 30 mins of cardio is to maintain your weight. IF you want weight loss than go more than 30 mins. I do 60-80 mins each time. My theory - if you go to take a shower anyways then might as well go there already sweaty from cardio

of course stay within your calories intake. i never count them but i do watch labels for sugar. Dont over eat. Eat smaller portions. Water is your friend. Try to drink 100 oz a day (3 water bottles i have).

Another huge thing for me is that I fast on Fridays. That means nothing to eat. Water is allowed. I work overnights so when i eat last time at work at 5am that is the last meal i eat, then i come home and fast till the next morning. That alone helps me TONS to cut down cravings, control my appetite and really helps me re-evaluate what foods are good for me and what not.