weight loss efforts= 100% failure???

prunepie · 12-25-2004, 11:58 PM

hi everyone..i have been researching weight loss and weight loss surgeries lately.

i have been coming across alot of studies that follow people who diet/or lost weight...and the studies basically say that when following those who have lost significant amounts of weight..after about 5 or 10 years..that almost 100 percent gain back most if not all the wieght they originally lost.

again...almost 100 percent..so not saying that some dont keep wieght off...but according to the studies it seems almost like certain failure to maintain a sig amount of weight loss in the long term.

what do you guys think about these sort of studies??

i have so much weight to lose... so i have been reading about the lap band.
on the other hand, soemtimes i do hear stories about natural methods of weight loss.... but i almost always hear that people gain it back.

i feel doomed.

what are your thoughts on long term weight loss possibilities?? thanks so much , xox jenn

KlassicalKat · 12-26-2004, 01:57 AM

These types of studies are so discouraging!
They make a person not even want to try to lose weight. It was hard for me to overlook those studies, or when a "well meaning friend" told me that only 2% of people who lose weight keep it off. At the other extreme is another "friend" who told me sternly that "there's no reason why you can't be one of those 2% who keep the weight off!" That was equally frightening, to be under that kind of pressure. And you should read the depressing statistics about gaining weight back for women over 40...my age group.

The key for me is to ignore these studies and just concentrate on consistently exercising (walking, going to the gym, bicycling). I try to exercise for at least an hour every weekday...yes, that's 5 days a week without fail (I take weekends off to save my sanity and let my muscles recover). It's the only thing that works for me. Hard to do at my age (48), but I have gone from 201 pounds to 175. No special diet, just cutting back on portions a bit.

To be truthful, I do worry if I will be able to keep this pace up. What if I am injured or become ill? If I can't exercise, I am not sure if I could keep up the long term weight loss. But, it's a risk I am willing to take, as I am enjoying the process and the benefits of exercise.

So, at least for me, exercise is the key.

Kathryn

MyBagelhasBunions · 12-26-2004, 05:20 PM

I think it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. You *think* you won't lose weight, so you don't. Simple as that.

It's really more psychological than alot of people think. If you think you can't get pregnant, you won't. For example, if you are trying to concieve and making sure to have sex on your ovulation day, you won't, but as soon as couples stop TTC and just have sex whenever they feel like it, BAM! child.

I've seen this more time than I care to count in my patients and my friends and family. Also in myself. I tried for years to lose weight, watching my food intake and exercise, but when i stopped suddenly I lost weight. Well not really, since I actually lost inches, cause I'm so muscular, but I digress.

My point is that exercise and eat right to feel good and your weight won't really matter. Feel good about yourself and your body will show that.

If you think you are thin/beautiful/sexy/insert positive physical adjective here then you will be.

And that's the key.

The mind has more power than you think.