Hollywood watchers are buzzing about Kirstie Alley’s confession that she cut herself some slack after reaching her goal weight, but that little bit of slack led her to gain 83 pounds. Anyone who’s lost weight knows maintenance is the hardest part—and many obesity researchers and doctors agree. Plus we give people the fewest resources and the least support to help them keep weight off.
Although many people think they’re done, medical science is uncovering that your body still goes through a lot of changes—and may even work against you—after you lose weight. There are psychological challenges too. Here’s more on what happens after you shed pounds—and how to work with it.
Some of the psychological motivation you had while losing weight disappears once you reach your goal. Once the compliments stop and you are not seeing changes on the scale and in your clothes as you did when you were losing, it’s easy to lose your drive. You’re not working toward something anymore—you’re working to stay the same. It takes a different mindset and persistence to keep up a lot of work without the payoff of a visible change from week to week.
My suggestion: If you had a support system (a group, a friend, a trainer, a motivational coach or counselor, or someone else) to help you while you lost weight, don’t end that relationship. Instead, let it transition so you still have some encouragement to maintain your new weight. Check out our new Feel Great Weight blogger—she’s kept the weight off for almost three years.
Many unsuccessful dieters lapse into patterns such as binge eating and stress eating that can cause regain. A Swedish study shows people who are successful at keeping weight off learn better coping strategies, have more social support, assume more responsibility in life, and have more overall psychological stability. If you find you still turn to food to cope with emotions (and don’t make the mistake of thinking that overeating is all about the blues—some people make a habit of overeating to celebrate!) then seek out counseling to learn new ways to deal. If you’ve got health insurance, check your benefits—they may cover mental health services, and you can look for a counselor who specializes in eating issues.
Comments (9)
Congrats on your weight loss. I’m new to your blog and found it quite helpful. I broke my ankle a few days before Christmas and was “recliner bound “for two months. I had help and tried to lose weight, it is a long process. You look great and I have fibromyalgia and have to be careful on excercses. Good luck in the future and you have another reader! :)
The emotions and beliefs that one has are also important to address when losing weight. D. Barnett, Ph.D. http://www.weightlossforwellbeing.com/ck
I’m the author of a book (The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life – Rodale), and I just wrote an article about what we can learn from the Chinese about eating (I recently returned from a trip to China). Check it out at http://www.vibrantnation.com (put “how to lose six pounds”) into their search bar. I’ve integrated some of the the ways they approach eating into my own eating patterns with good results. Jan Cullinane
My first thought when I heard was that everyone should stay away from Jenny Craig. I know lots of people who have lost weight with them, but they all gained it back and then some. Lifestyle changes are really the only answer, and you cannot get that from any temporary diet.
nice one
You are doing wonders for the world!
I found you while posting my blog, Valerie’s Voice:For The Health of It. I have now read all your posts and joined you on Twitter.
I just have to ask about, “Applying my journalist’s brain let me step back and do some troubleshooting from a different angle.” from your blog: I’m a 225-Pound Weight-Loss Editor. Get Over It.
I’d love to talk about different angles and weight loss troubleshooting. If your interested, you can reach me via twitter: @nutritionnohow or via The Center for Balancedhealth.com
I have plenty of out-of-the-box strategies you may find interesting, like a fiber ratio that can help identify healthy carbohydrate foods by dividing total carbohydrates by fiber.
I am a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator who just co-authored, The Stubborn Fat Fix.
I hope to speak with you in person!
You should let us all know about the fiber ratio, I for
one at almost 62, can not lose weight. I eat healthy but stay at my weight. Have increased exercise and walk
frequently. Thanks
I am 66 and have so much trouble taking off a pound. For about two months I have walking for at least one hour. Sometimes two. My feet are great and the rest of me is doing ok. About five years ago my appendix burst(maybe it happened two days earlier) and after surgery where they removed most of my large and some of the small intestine, I have gotten well at last. But I can not eat before any exercise or I have to go to the bathroom. I have to be fairly empty and can not go for a walk after eating. So I go very early and have lost a few pounds and several inches. I feel better without the fat on the hips and stomach. But it is hard to lose after 60. I now walk a twenty minute mile which is plenty fast with my fast music on my Ipod. So keep up the good work and eat lots of fiber. It will come off I am sure.
Good advises! I´m sure it might help to many people!
Doing good job here! :)
ViktoryiaN