I'm back after putting my weight back on :(

Hi,

I was actively participating in ASD in 2001 and 2002. I've been dreading
writing this for the past week.

My story:

1/1/01 - 25yo male, 6'2" - I weighed 258 lbs. 24% body fat. Generally I
used to be athletic, but after college I didn't live an active lifestyle and
drank too much. NY Resolution: 1800 calories/day diet w/ min 4 days
exercise. As my diary recalls, it was pretty tough the first month, but got
much easier, especially as the exercise got easier.

3/28/04 - 218 lbs. 40 lbs in 3 months. I was hooked. Seemed so easy at
the time. At this point running about 20 miles per week.

12/1/01 - 198 lbs - my goal weight. Running about 35 miles per week, and
becoming more competitive. 8% body fat.

9/18/02 - 206 - Knee injury. No more running.

I winged it the rest of 2002. Basically since 2003, I've put on about 1.5
lbs/month, with the greatest weight gain this year since June when for no
reason I stopped exercising.

Bottom line, instead of eating in 90% of the time, I was eating out 90% of
the time. I was making excuses and always saying I'll get back on it next
week. Amazing how time flies by and the pounds fly back on.

I'm at about 248 lbs and 28 yrs old right now. I feel like crap. Starting
yesterday I'm back on my original plan, around 1800 calories /day (starting
yesterday).

When I was near my goal weight, it seemed so easy. Exciting, fun, etc. On
day 2 of my WOE I can't even remember how I did it.

I was just reading something recently how the greater majority of people put
their weight back on within 3 years...

I thought I had a completely new WOL, but you can't take it for granted and
now i'm starting over. I'm not too excited yet but when I look at the scale
in 2 weeks, I know that will be the motivation!!

Brian C
248/248/198

"Brian C" wrote


I thought I had a completely new WOL, but you can't take it for granted
and now i'm starting over. I'm not too excited yet but when I look at the
scale in 2 weeks, I know that will be the motivation!!


Hi Brian ... I know exactly how you feel. I lost my weight in 2000. Like
you, I had a completely new "healthy" WOL - I did it the right way, for the
right reasons. Yet, a couple of unexpected life events later, I wound up
right back where I started. I never in a million years thought that would
happen to me. But, I've taken the reigns back on my life and I know you
will, too.

MaryD
265/252/175

Thanks Mary for the kind words. I know we'll both succeed!

How long ago did you start up again?

Brian C
"MaryD" wrote in message
et...

"Brian C" wrote


I thought I had a completely new WOL, but you can't take it for granted
and now i'm starting over. I'm not too excited yet but when I look at
the scale in 2 weeks, I know that will be the motivation!!


Hi Brian ... I know exactly how you feel. I lost my weight in 2000. Like
you, I had a completely new "healthy" WOL - I did it the right way, for
the right reasons. Yet, a couple of unexpected life events later, I wound
up right back where I started. I never in a million years thought that
would happen to me. But, I've taken the reigns back on my life and I know
you will, too.

MaryD
265/252/175

In article , Ignoramus2803
wrote:

The "confidence" that people like to praise, usually does much more
disservice than service. Many interesting books are written on the
natural human trait of overconfidence and how it leads to awful
mistakes, in all areas of life.

I think overconfidence is something in spurts that can't be sustained
indefinitely. It is useful if you are launching into something and need
extra incentive. Sort of a pep talk to one's self.

However it becomes embarrasing if one encounters obstacles or
experiences temporary failure and is ashamed to admit another start is
required. (especially if you have exhibited major braggadocio)

We all have our "high days" when even the impossible seems possible and
those that are not so hot when we think, I can't do anything right." So
overconfidence may help you get a handle on something but it takes more
than that to keep it.

Typical: the person at goal who vows they will never be heavy again.
Weight loss isn't like cancer where statistically you have a better
chance after five years. I feel the threat of regain is ever present.

--
Diva
*****
The Best Man For The Job Is A Woman

"Carol Frilegh" wrote


However it becomes embarrasing if one encounters obstacles or
experiences temporary failure and is ashamed to admit another start is
required. (especially if you have exhibited major braggadocio)


Embarrassing is right ... and I don't think I ever majorly bragged. In
fact, I hated talking about my weight loss and how I was doing it (eating
less/exercising more). Truthfully, at the time, losing the weight was the
easiest thing I had ever done and, in my mind, there was absolutely *no way*
I could ever gain it back.

However, once I hit those obstacles, my own personal embarrassment and
disappointment in myself for letting it happen kept me from doing what I
needed to in order to get it all off again.

MaryD
265/252/175

On 27 Oct 2004 20:19:57 GMT, Ignoramus2803
wrote:

It is, and people tend to get heavier as they age, also.

While I agree with this, I wonder if it holds true as people move into
old age, or if it mainly applies to the transition from youth to
middle age. Now that my mother lives in a retirement community I have
an opportunity to meet many elderly people, and -- while not all are
slim -- none are truly obese. There could be a few possible
explanations for this -- for example, that those who are obese just
never make it to this age. But I don't know. I do know that my
mother -- who was always a normal weight but who worked at it -- now
has trouble keeping weight on. Most of these people seem to have
small appetites, at least compared to me when I'm eating with them.
(And mine isn't huge.)

Chris

Ignoramus2803 wrote:

On the other hand, that sort of "pep talk" can lead us to doing
dangerous things we perhaps should not do.

Like what?

--
On the bike . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

Ignoramus2803 wrote:

On the other hand, that sort of "pep talk" can lead us to doing
dangerous things we perhaps should not do.

Like what?

--
On the bike . . .
Laurie in Maine
207/110 60 inches of attitude!
Start: 2/02 Maintained since 2/03

"Ignoramus2803" wrote in message
...
On 28 Oct 2004 01:29:58 GMT, SnugBear wrote:
Ignoramus2803 wrote:

On the other hand, that sort of "pep talk" can lead us to doing
dangerous things we perhaps should not do.

Like what?


Like opening failed businesses when a clear headed analysis of the
situation would suggest not to.


Ooooh....do tell.

Martha

That is basically what happened to me. Any injury started the weight gain.
And it wasn't fast.

I knew it was serious when my pants wouldn't fit anymore.

I'm optimistic, however. I know it's not impossible, it just will take some
time.

Brian C

248/240/198

"Ignoramus2803" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 27 Oct 2004 19:50:57 GMT, MaryD
wrote:

"Carol Frilegh" wrote


However it becomes embarrasing if one encounters obstacles or
experiences temporary failure and is ashamed to admit another start is
required. (especially if you have exhibited major braggadocio)


Embarrassing is right ... and I don't think I ever majorly bragged. In
fact, I hated talking about my weight loss and how I was doing it
(eating
less/exercising more). Truthfully, at the time, losing the weight was
the
easiest thing I had ever done and, in my mind, there was absolutely *no
way*
I could ever gain it back.

However, once I hit those obstacles, my own personal embarrassment and
disappointment in myself for letting it happen kept me from doing what I
needed to in order to get it all off again.

MaryD
265/252/175



Good point. I can identify with the feeling of embarrassment and the
need to rationalize it by redefining the goals, etc.

One individual from alt.support.diet.low-carb said one thing that made me
think.

A long time ago, he lost a large amount of weight, by eating less and
exercising more (just like you and me), and maintained for a while
with a huge amount of exercise. Then his life interfered with
exercise, as it happens, and he regained.

Now, he wants to be on a diet where weight maintenance is possible
without making exercise the center of his life. He hopes that low
carbing could help him with that.

I like this way of thinking, myself, my exercise requires a good time
commitment from me and I can see how real life could interfere with
it. I want to have some backup way of maintaining weight with a lot
less exercise, if I am forced to. I hope that if I am ever not able to
exercise much, say due to injury or lack of time, cutting back on
carbs even more would prevent regain without major hunger struggles.
Hopefully, even though I would not be realizing value from exercise, I
would still stay slim. Time will tell if that works, if I ever need
it.

--
223/172.5/180