Warning – deep thoughts ahead.

Thank you so much for all of the birthday wishes via the blog, email, and facebook! I was overwhelmed at them all 😀

After the overload of food yesterday, we decided to forgo the bagel ( 😯 I know!) and eat at home. Today was such a rainy, drizzly day. I had the forethought last night to put some steel cut oats in some water to soak overnight, so they only took 10 minutes to cook this morning with a mashed banana in there.

Topped with cashew butter and chocolate fluff. Gonna need a sugar free day this week for sure.

Debated for a long time about whether or not to take a rest day today. I am planning a long solo bike ride on Monday because I have 1 more day off (yippee!).

I was going to show pictures of lunch, but it was the leftovers of last night’s dinner and while it tasted even better next day, it was not blog worthy picture wise.

Since it was rainy, it sounded like a good day to go out to coffee with our respective computers and wi-fi! That way I can play with my new netbook and get used to it before trying to work with it on Tuesday. I bought a little carrying case for it (so cute!) and we went to Panera bread.

I just got coffee because I brought one of my birthday cuppycakes to eat. (I really need a no sugar day this week…..).

We also looked at places and talked about a planned trip to Montreal sometime in July. Going to take our bikes 😀

During my internet browsing, I was reading an article on MSNBC, not sure if anyone else read this about regaining weight.

This statement stood out for me

“By some estimates, more than 80 percent of people who have lost weight regain all of it, or more, after two years.”

more for the reason that I am fast approaching a 2-year maintenance anniversary of 100 pounds.

Then this part:

“Researchers at the University of California at Los Angeles analyzed 31 long-term diet studies and found that about two-thirds of dieters regained more weight within four or five years than they initially lost.”

So what happens to me? Will I gain it all back and more? I get asked sometimes about what ‘clicked’ for me and how I know this is the last time. My answer is that I don’t know if it is the last time. I honestly don’t. I sure hope it is, but I know all too well how easy old patterns can be to fall back into if I let them. It’s not like losing the weight necessarily changed any of my hard wiring to eat or propensity to gain and hold on to fat (thank you genes…) There are those days were I am hanging on my the skin of my teeth not to really binge just for the sake of bingeing. There are days where I just eat too much for no other reason than I just want to and like food. I know that people hard wired to be thin don’t do stuff like that, or at least not to the degree that I can.

Is it maybe body image as well? Maybe if you see yourself as fat, you then self-sabotage yourself to become that? I still struggle with what I actually look like at times, even though I have been at a pretty stable weight for 2 years now. I was talking about that with John yesterday when I dragged him into a consignment shop (hey- my birthday, he had to do whatever I wanted!) I saw some pants, size 8 petite – my size. I almost didn’t try them on because I held them up and thought – “These won’t fit”. They did, though, and it’s hard enough to find 8 petite size, so I got both pairs :mrgreen: I said to John that I wondered how many size 8 pairs of pants do I have to own before I realize that yes, that is the size I wear currently.

I do know that I eat differently than I used to, and maybe that is more of a difference that matters. I eat more veggies (although I still need work in that department). I eat a lot less sugar and refined grains. We eat out less than we used to, and when we do, it isn’t they way we ate before (fried, sauced, and extra large).

(BTW, the irony of me writing the majority of this while at Panera and eating a cupcake is not lost on me….)

The other point in the article that miffed me a little was this:

If you decrease your body mass by 10 percent, you would expect your metabolic rate to decrease by 10 percent, but it actually slows down more than that, by about 11 to 15 percent.”

The reason that it miffs me is that I am finding it to be true. And the fact that I have lost about 40%… 40% of my body weight, what the heck has that done to my metabolism, even though I was never super low calorie. Not to mention just the fact that I am in my 40s now.

Only time will tell, I guess. I plan on being on the winning end of those statistics, though.

Anyhoo – the rain stopped, so we decided on a run after dinner.

Kind of a meat mishmash LOL. Chicken and cube steak just to get a whole serving. After letting that settle, we headed on to the track. Finished up 3 miles in 33:43. Getting a wee bit faster each time. It will take me a while before I get back to sub 30 minutes, though – but that is okay. I’m not in any rush.

Question: If you read that article, how does it make you feel?

40 thoughts on “Warning – deep thoughts ahead.

  1. Tish

    Interest article. Thanks for noting it. I’m in my 50s and have “weight cycled” way more than 5 times in my life. All reports say this is bad for me. However, I take encouragement from the last sentence of the article. “Weight cycling” (yo-yo-dieting) my be bad for you, but being overweight is worse. I hope that I never regain what I’ve lost. I’m working on it; making life=style changes.

  2. cammy@TippyToeDiet

    I’m so happy you had such a happy birthday! (And boy that cupcake/praline looks awesome!)

    I didn’t see that article, but I’ve seen others like it. I honestly don’t worry so much about regaining my 100 pounds, but I do worry about picking up pounds that my advancing age will make more difficult to lose.

    One thing I do wonder about these articles is if they are factoring in people who are doing strength training regularly and how that affects metabolism. I’m thinking they don’t, or at least that’s the story I’m telling myself as I’m doing walking lunges with a barbell on my shoulders. 🙂
    .-= cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..Another Family Reunion Laid to Rest =-.

  3. Kimberley

    Well, I have to agree with it as that is exactly what happened to me. 136 pounds gone and then a regain of 140. Not to mention 40 here, 60 there…I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to get down to 160 and stay there.

    You have been maintaining for a long time and are very active…I don’t see you regaining.
    .-= Kimberley´s last blog ..My Week Update # 12 and Week #23 Goals =-.

  4. Lisa

    You will NOT gain the weight back. I’ve read articles about this subject too and I feel like it gives people an easy “out”. We all make choices, we eat what we want and if we are smart about it, we won’t gain the weight back. Of course I have a fear of gaining my weight back but I rationally don’t see that happening. I changed my life, I changed my LIFESTYLE. I no longer sit around eating an entire carton of ice cream. Ever. I just can’t do it. I’m a different person now.
    .-= Lisa´s last blog ..Saturday Night Grilling =-.

  5. Sarah

    I read these too and wonder… But often I find they are talking (researching) about small time losers. Less than 30 or 50 pounds to lose it seems. I would think that would make it easier to yo yo. Not as big of a difference, but just as damaging to your metabolism.

    This is your first attempt yes? You haven’t really been a yo-yoer? I think that it’s easier to keep it off if you haven’t done it before. I have nothing to back this up except my own personal experience. But having never regained (well, that 10 pounds in ’08.) it seems to me that once you get into that cycle it gets harder to hold on to those positive thoughts about your self. Negative thought equal weight gain.

    Happy Birthday! Keep holding onto your maintenance and it does become your life. YOU are a petite size 8, embrace it, know that it is you now and all your birthdays to come!
    .-= Sarah´s last blog ..All Compression Garments are NOT created Equal =-.

    1. Lori Post author

      This was not my first attempt at weight loss, but it has been the largest weight loss that I have achieved and kept off. That is my concern about ‘the last time’ thing, because I have lost and regained before.

      Reading your blog helps me have hope I can do it as well. 😀

  6. Marisa (Loser for Life)

    I didn’t read the article yet, but I can relate to all you are saying. I have had many of those thoughts myself. But, you know what Lori? We are gonna prove those suckers with their statistics wrong. We ARE losers and we are gonna STAY losers. FOR LIFE 😉
    .-= Marisa (Loser for Life)´s last blog ..A NuNaturals Giveaway =-.

  7. Kat

    Happy Belated Birthday Lori! I hope you had a wonderful day!
    I think you really work at your fitness and maintenance and think you have made it fit into your lifestyle. I see you as a role model for healthy living and enjoying the food you eat. I haven’t read the article yet, but am going to.
    Stay strong Lori! You are an inspiration to many people.
    .-= Kat´s last blog ..My first 5k, Loretta’s Spring Challenge and Vtrim! =-.

  8. Shelley B

    I swear, we are on the same wavelength! I am in the middle of writing my post for tomorrow about regaining the weight, and I hadn’t even seen that article until you pointed it out. Anyway, I don’t think you or I will be one of the regainers due to a major lifestyle change where eating right most of the time and exercising has become automatic.

    Oh, and I did laugh at you writing that post while at Panera!

    P.S. Your cupcake looks yummy!
    .-= Shelley B´s last blog ..Friday Randomness =-.

  9. Andra

    We can only take it one day at a time but for the first time in my life, I AM IN CHARGE of what I put in my body. Focusing on getting control of my health and breaking that diet mentality, the all or nothing syndrome while working on my deeper issues of why I abuse food is what makes this time different for me, I lost weight as a side of the changes. Eating healthy food, not overeating, and moving is a way of life, not a diet so it’s not something to go on or go off of. The cupcake and glass of wine along the way just adds to the pleasures of living and loving life.
    .-= Andra´s last blog ..The Magazine Has Landed! =-.

  10. Andra

    That should say “side effect.” D’oh! And did you know that there is a HYOOOGE Duncan Hines banner flashing at me from this page. With two lovely looking whoopee pies batting their eyelashes at me. LOL
    .-= Andra´s last blog ..The Magazine Has Landed! =-.

  11. debby

    Yes, great minds think alike LOL! I have had the last Nutrition Action Healthletter on my desk for a couple of weeks, and I was going to quote some of the same stats. I have always had in the back of my mind that if I could maintain for five years I would be in ‘remission’ like someone who has had leukemia but is now clear. Doesn’t mean the leukemia won’t come back, but you can feel somewhat more relaxed about your outcome. So by those rules, I reached this current weight in about july ’06. Got one more year to go to make it to remission.

    And I hear you about hanging on by the skin of your teeth some days. Thank goodness there are a few more of the ‘I’m doing great, making healthy choices, look at me go’ kind of days. For you too, I expect.
    .-= debby´s last blog ..Salad Season has Officially Arrived! =-.

  12. John

    Fate is what you make it. It’s just an article so it doesn’t mean you’ll be one of the ones who fail and put it all back on. I do know the last time I put it back on I added 8lbs extra so that part is true for me.

  13. Leah

    I did not read the article, but after reading what you said I thought to myself, “Yes, I’ve seen plenty of people who gained back the weight they lost within about 5 years. HOWEVER, (capitalized for a reason) I have also in the last year met people like you and Diane in the blogging community who have lost a significant amount of weight and work daily at keeping it off. So, I am hopeful that as I make my slow, but steady changes I too will be on the winning side.”

    I think making it a lifestyle change and not just getting on a diet is what makes the difference. I see that in your life and I’m confident you’ll keep your weight down.

    Thanks for sharing your deep thoughts! 🙂
    .-= Leah´s last blog ..Weigh-In … Summer Challenge – HA! =-.

  14. roxie

    I have maintained a significant weight loss for ten years (given a bit of variation) and I do not consider myself “cured”. I’m a disordered eater and I probably will always have a strange relationship with food. I don’t know if those studies account for people like me in a different category than someone who, say just needs to lose 20 or 40 pounds. I would never be so arrogant as to think I’ve got this whipped for good. I deal with it each and every day. Do I think I stand a good chance of continuing to defy the odds? Yes, as I’ve done a lot of the other work, the mental work – that helps me deal with what I was using food to deal with. I’m also now an exercise lover, which is a change. But, as you’ve experienced, what if something happens that renders me unable to exercise? While exercise wasn’t a large part of my losing, is a HUGE part of my maintenance plan, both mentally and physically.

    Over the course of my lifetime, I’ve lost and gained 50, 60 pounds on several occasions. This time, I did, however, find some dietary changes that I’ve stuck with over the years to make it easier to maintain. I’m still tweaking the foods I eat, even years later. Finding a regiment/plan that will work and is doable for a lifetime is key.
    .-= roxie´s last blog ..Margheritaville =-.

  15. Fran

    First: you will not be one of those people who gain the weight back and neither will I. One of the reasons we won’t is because we have each other for support and accountability.

    But I’ve seen it happen. As I wrote on Shelley’s blog just before this, I had this co-worker who lost a lot of weight with some diet. And I have to say that I was sometimes jealous because she lost is so fast. But today she has gained it all back and more and I kept doing my thing and lost weight and kept it off. Because I’m in my 40’s I want to live the rest of my life as a healthy person.

    Having overweight and keeping it off is a life sentence, we have to work for it, every day again. The day we let go of that and the next day and days after that, we’re lost and will gain. But we won’t let that happen, do we?

  16. South Beach Steve

    I haven’t read the article, but it doesn’t surprise me. Like you, I can’t say for certainty that I won’t be one of those who regain, but I feel pretty strongly that I won’t. I think one of the keys is something you have written about before — keeping a redline. Another key is the constant barometer on where you are. If you are constantly aware, it is more likely to keep you in line.

  17. Gina Fit by 41 Maybe 42

    “There are those days were I am hanging on my the skin of my teeth not to really binge just for the sake of bingeing.” — So, that never goes away? I struggle so much with binge-eating.

    I liked your post and your honesty. Thank you.
    .-= Gina Fit by 41 Maybe 42´s last blog ..Cowgirl Up =-.

    1. Lori Post author

      Those binge thoughts are definitely less than they used to be, but they do appear at times. 😀

  18. Amy

    Great post – depressing article! But it is a good thing to know that it is fairly easy to slip back into those old habits and regain – hopefully this will make us all the more vigilant. I think the most important thing is not to go on extreme low calorie diets. It is far better to eat a moderate diet that can be maintained long term and combine that with regular exercise so that you end up with a healthier overall life style that will support a healthier weight. I think Dr Phil said you can’t be overweight unless you have a lifestyle that supports being overweight. So the key is training yourself to have a healthy lifestyle. I think you do a pretty darn good job of that, Lori!
    .-= Amy´s last blog ..Back in the Saddle & Big Plans! =-.

  19. Miz

    I am off to read the article but already think you wont regain.
    Its a choice.
    and youve CHOSEN an entirely different lifestyle and CHOOSE to remain on that healthy path daily.
    and its not an easy decision by any means.

    My best friend has lost and regained 100 pounds about..7 times since we met (22 yrs ago) and in a way its as simple as she never changes her lifestyle—she merely adopts a different one for a little while.
    .-= Miz´s last blog ..New Two Fit Chicks podcast. =-.

  20. Susan

    I have been on my fitness journey for 13 years now. Originally I lost 40 lbs which I had done before several times but THIS time I changed my lifestyle for good. I think that is what it comes down too adopting a eating plan you can live with FOREVER and finding a exercise or two that you can do almost daily.
    Its only been two years for you so far I think as time goes on and you maintain the loss you will grow in confidence that you won’t regain all your weight that you loss. Don’t let the article throw you be mindful of your eating amounts daily and get your hour exercise in most days and you will be fine.
    .-= Susan´s last blog ..Before And After Photos =-.

  21. Alissa

    The statistics are scary. I like how you are honest with yourself and realize you are not invincible when it comes to the weight struggle. That will help you be more realistic and be more successful at keeping the weight off.
    .-= Alissa´s last blog ..Month Ends- New Begins =-.

  22. Jody - Fit at 52

    I think you feel & know it now Lori.. it is a lifestyle for you. I have read those statistics more than I can count & want to read them & I fear it is true.. the regain the weight part. It is HARD work to take it off & just as hard to keep it off. And, yes, as we age.. I hate to give ya the bad news.. it gets harder. Yes, I have had to cut back calories but I still eat more than most my age or even younger. I will say the weight training is a god send though. It will help you thru this AND it will keep the bod humming better as age takes over & tries to screw us up! IT will help with that metabolic rate.

    Keep doing what you are doing, listening to the bod & making adjustments as needed. I did that & still do…

    YOU ARE A SIZE 8!
    .-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Plus Size Models? You Tell me! =-.

  23. Fitcetera

    You blog. It holds you accountable to yourself and others. I actually think this will be a key factor in you keeping it off.
    You are very active and have made that a part of who you are. You’ve changed your eating style and continue to tweak and adjust.

    I do think that there are those of us who will always have to work at it to keep it under control so we’re no different than a diabetic would be essentially. It’s just something that we’ll have to deal with.

    20% of the people DID NOT regain their weight after 2 years. They must blog. 😀

    ????? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! ?????
    .-= Fitcetera´s last blog .. =-.

  24. Fitcetera

    Hahaha … it didn’t let me leave the musical notes … turned them in to question marks! 😀
    .-= Fitcetera´s last blog .. =-.

  25. Susan

    I definitely think you are the winning end of that statistic. Although, I do have to say, I never view weight maintenance as holding on to one certain number. I fully expect to fluctuate by 10lbs in my life (or more, as I don’t want to be this thin when I’m 50!). So far, I’ve been lucky to stay in the same 5lb range – but you never know what life brings, and it’s pretty likely I could pack 10 more lbs back on. I think the difference with that now, as opposed to when I was overweight, is that I can catch myself as soon as I puff up a little and immediately make the necessary changes to get back down to a comfortable zone. It’s like you – choosing to eat breakfast at home after an indulgent day. Overweight Susan would have just kept splurging…
    .-= Susan´s last blog ..Homemade Scones and an Awkward Flashback =-.

  26. Missa

    Well, I think the problem is most people go on ‘diets’. Super restrictive, non-realistic life changing diets that cannot be sustained for long periods of time. You are living your life in a real way. That is definitely the way to go and they way to continued success. Don’t sweat it. You are keeping off the 100.

    Cheers,
    Missa
    LosingEthel

  27. kalli@fitandfortysomething

    Well for me I am scared to death I will gain weight and I am like you and think I am bigger then I am…..I think if we are aware and make changes for life like exercise etc. we will be ok but we need to gut check or pants check occassionaly to stay on track! glad you had a great day and hope you went on a long ride today!
    .-= kalli@fitandfortysomething´s last blog ..Sensible and Delicious and Fun =-.

  28. Jenn@slim-shoppin

    Hi lori! I think that since you’ve basically maintained for 2 years tells you that you are doing the right thing.

    I think a lot of people who initially lose weight, when they get to their goal weight, it’s kind of like a sigh of relief like its over. It isn’t ever over though! Not that you can’t find balance and still enjoy food. I eat great food while I am losing weight, I don’t feel deprived at all, BUT it’s something I will have to watch out for the rest of my life and I know that now!

  29. Jilly

    What a depressing article! Although having lost and regained a lot of weight in my life I can agree with some of what I read, very low calorie diets dont work, neither do Atkins, or Slimfast, because they do not teach you to change your habits. Yes your metabolism will slow IF YOU DO NOT EXERCISE, but building muscle and feeding your body well, will burn calories crazily. I now weigh less than I have my whole adult life, and am also fitter than I was 20 years ago, I aim for 1500 cals a day, I often dont hit it, I dont worry about those times, I’ve lost weight very slowly and am sure I can keep it off, but I must be aware that this is a whole lifestyle change. I cannot go back to my old habits and expect to stay slim. I wish that article had just one quote from someone who had done it. There are people out here. I think it is just giving licence to people to not bother at all!

  30. Megan

    It scares me and p!sses me off. I worked really hard to get here. But then I remember that this is all my decision (for the most part). To gain or loose. Having control over it is comforting. What I put in my mouth, getting off my butt to exercise all my choices.
    Having said that…I’m working right now to loose 3lbs I’ve recently gained.

  31. Ang

    I have lost and regained weight, but I think it was all my own fault. I got married, adopted my husbands eating habits, started a full time job, slacked off on exercising, ect. I think being active is such a part of your life that its unlikely to change so you will definately be one that keeps it off!
    .-= Ang´s last blog ..Fiesta chicken! =-.

  32. julie

    Of course we all like to think we’re not going to gain it back, but the statistics say otherwise. I gained 5 pounds back just recently, had to lose it again, it’s very easy to do, and this is why I step on the scale often. I like to think I won’t regain because I lost it SO slowly, I don’t feel restrained at all, and I love exercise. But I got close to this weight once before, gained most back, so it’s happened to me before. Maybe something would happen, and I wouldn’t be able to exercise, I’d have to eat less, can be tricky to adapt. I’ll keep stepping on the scale, I’d still like to lose 10 or 15 pounds, though I’m not stressing on it these days.

  33. Melissa Fast

    I, too, lost 100 lbs, and I have been struggling with a 15-20lb gain after maintaining the weight loss for 3 years. It’s not the “diet,” its me – I got really sloppy. I also let 2-year-old Melissa out of the closet and she threw a tantrum about how “hard” the weight maintenance is… dumb, dumb, dumb. I used to see fluctuations as a time to give up, but I learned that 10 or 15 is not greater or equal to 100 so it is time to get serious.

  34. Jennifer

    My hope is that my fear of regaining the weight, sticking with the WW points for the long-haul, and embracing my new more active life style will help me not regain the weight. I think you have a similar mind-set and will be fine! But I’d like to say that having lost 30 pounds myself, it’s certainly not easy to lose and maintain any amount of weight loss. Whether it’s 100 pounds or 20, excess weight keeps us from living the lives we want, and losing the weight necessary to embrace your life fully is HUGE whether it’s 20 pounds or 120. So, while in an ideal world I think it would be great to lose about 7 or so more pounds, I am pretty confident that with diligence, I can stay right where I am without having to overdo any one part of it. That’s important to me, and I know that with the support of the internet, belief in ourselves, and the power of the Universe, we’ll make it through!
    .-= Jennifer´s last blog ..The first fruits of the season =-.

  35. Laurie

    Great blog post. I lost 65 pounds and regained 55. I had regained just 10 for the longest time but I didn’t take care of it. I think my problem was thinking that I was a thin person now and I could eat what I wanted…so not true! That and I stopped exercising like I once I did. I used to work out 2 hours a day…how can a person keep that up? So that’s part of the problem. I didn’t have the time to work out for 2 hours, and instead of working out for 30 minutes, I just didn’t do it. Its about balance.
    .-= Laurie´s last blog ..I’ve come a long way baby =-.

  36. janetha

    thank you for posting that article and giving us your insight on it! i found that all really interesting. i lost 10% body fat (about 25 lbs) and i will be the first to say that yes, i gained it ALL back. but the weird thing is when i gained it back, my body shape didn’t go back to the original shape. i still stayed muscular and i didn’t go back to that weird, circular shape i originally started out with. kinda strange. i gained it back because i lost it all and then thought i was invincible and ate whatever. but now i have lost that again and i am determined to keep it off!
    .-= janetha´s last blog ..cut & dry. =-.

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