Lost weight AGAIN!

Losing weight? Honestly, it’s the easiest thing in the world—which is exactly where I run into trouble.

Ever since my early 20s (and now that I'm 33), I've been caught in this exhausting, invisible loop of dieting and regaining. In the beginning, it felt harmless enough to fluctuate by just 10 or 15 pounds, but over the years, those swings grew much more drastic. I'd finally hit my goal, only to watch myself gain back 30 or even 45 pounds.

I simply can't sustain this lifestyle anymore; it’s draining me both mentally and physically. It takes a massive toll on my quality of life and, most importantly, it's seriously impacting my health. Every single time I "fix" my physique, I tell myself I'll never let things get out of control again, but I end up breaking my own promises every single time.

I would love to hear from anyone who has struggled with this same cycle and actually managed to break free. I'm looking for stories from people who have successfully ended that constant yo-yoing and maintained a steady, healthy weight for several years without those massive spikes and drops.

Emily Barnes78, check out these threads on sustainable weight loss where you're looking at dropping maybe a couple of pounds a month through actual nutrition and exercise. It's about making those habits stick until they become your lifestyle, rather than just some temporary diet...

Robin Myers said:Emily Barnes78, you should check out these threads about healthy, sustainable weight loss—we're talking about dropping maybe 2 to 4 pounds a month through mindful eating and regular workouts. The goal is to make those habits part of your lifestyle rather than just following a temporary diet. Forget the fad diets...

To be honest, I’ve never been someone who sticks to a strict diet. My approach has always been much more fluid: I just focused on staying active and being really intentional about my food choices, and the weight would naturally stabilize over time.
However, I definitely have a tendency to turn to the fridge whenever life gets overwhelming. It’s like my stress response is hardwired to the pantry. For example, every time I finish a massive project at work or deal with a high-stakes situation, I seem to gain weight in direct proportion to how stressful that event was. That's the real hurdle for me. I can maintain control and stay on track for a while, but then suddenly, it feels like I've lost my grip on the steering wheel and everything starts sliding downhill again.

http://fitlife-feferonka.blogspot.com

This was actually my response over on another thread, though I suppose it’s just as relevant here:

amberfox4 said:I wouldn't dream of interfering with Dr. Miller's specific dietary protocols, primarily because I am certainly no medical professional and I haven't spent any time studying his particular regimen, but I felt compelled to share my own little journey with those of you currently battling extra weight. I am thirty-six years old, and I have managed to maintain my ideal weight for ten years now, having once carried an extra thirty pounds. In my humble experience—and please forgive me if this comes across as blunt—when weight gain is significant and long-standing, these "crash diets" people obsess over rarely make much sense; they tend to just stall your metabolism because your body mistakenly assumes it's in a state of famine and begins hoarding energy. Honestly, what is the rush? If you were able to carry that weight for years, why the sudden urgency? I lost my excess weight over the course of a full year by focusing exclusively on nutritious eating and consistent physical activity—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, all paired with plenty of time at the gym. I still work out regularly, which allows me to eat quite heartily without seeing the scale creep up. Generally speaking, I found success by centering my meals around lean proteins, vegetables, whole grains, fruit, olive oil, and low-fat yogurt... and believe me, it truly works. I cycled through more fad diets than I can reasonably count before finally stumbling upon this simple, sustainable solution. While any restrictive diet might force the numbers down temporarily, only a properly balanced way of eating serves you for a lifetime. I hope I’m not being too harsh; I know all too well how heavy it feels, both physically and emotionally, to struggle with your weight. Best of luck to everyone!

vividcobra722 said:http://fitlife-feferonka.blogspot.com

That’s a great resource, thanks!
It all sounds wonderful in theory, and unfortunately, I can tell you from experience that putting it into practice is a whole different ballgame. It’s honestly just like when people try to quit smoking; very few folks manage to kick the habit on their very first attempt. The real trick is simply refusing to give up. If you keep at it, eventually you'll hit that milestone where you don't have to do it again—I'm really crossing my fingers that this current attempt is the one🙂. That being said, I still find you incredibly charming 🙂.

amberfox4 said:I actually posted this same thought over in another thread, but it definitely applies here too:

Woohoo! So it really can be done. Huge props to you! Sharing your journey like this is so incredibly helpful for the rest of us.
If I’m being honest, whenever I’ve tackled weight loss in the past, I usually managed to see results within about a three-month window.

Emily Barnes78 said:Lose weight? It’s easy—I’ve done it countless times. That’s actually my whole problem.

So, ever since I hit my early 20s (and now I'm 33), I've been quietly sliding into this endless cycle of losing weight and then just packing it all back on. In the beginning, a 10-pound swing felt totally harmless, but over time, those numbers just kept climbing. I’d drop the weight, only to gain 30 or 40 pounds right back.

I can't do this anymore; it's absolutely draining me both mentally and physically, it's ruining my quality of life, and most importantly—it's seriously messing with my health. Every single time I finally "fix" my figure, I tell myself I'll never let myself get that out of shape again, but every single time, I just end up lying to myself.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has dealt with this same struggle and actually managed to break the cycle—people who have maintained a steady weight for at least a few years without these massive ups and downs.

I lost about 25 pounds two years ago just eating rice, and I held it until this winter, but now I've gained it all back. I just couldn't say no to homemade bread; I love making it, and I have plenty of people to feed. I'm 31 now, so I've started a cabbage soup diet to see if that works.😢

I’m currently in the middle of a weight loss phase, and I’m feeling pretty good about where things stand right now.
Basically, I’m putting in the work, and I can see the numbers on the scale dropping, which is encouraging.
However, I have to admit that I’m feeling a bit anxious about what happens once the initial progress slows down or hits a plateau.

The real issue is that I am struggling to find any truly high-quality, reliable information regarding nutrition and diet.

Everyone keeps telling me that there is an endless amount of vegan resources available all over the internet,
but honestly, I just can't seem to find anything that actually works or feels substantive.

fadedraven772 said:About two years ago, I managed to drop 24 pounds just by sticking to a rice-based diet. I held onto that weight through the end of last year, but once winter hit, the weight started creeping back up. I simply couldn't say no to homemade bread; there’s just something about the process of making it that I love, and I have a family to feed! I'm 31 now, and I've decided to try a cabbage soup diet to see if that helps me get back on track.😢

Jessica Kern16 said:I'm currently in the middle of losing weight, and honestly, I feel pretty good about it.
As long as you're putting in the work, those pounds will eventually drop off.
My biggest worry, though, is what happens after the weight is gone.

It feels like it's impossible to find any truly high-quality nutritional advice online.

That's exactly the heart of the matter.
Over the course of about ten years, I've gone through several cycles where I lost and then regained roughly 45 pounds. The last time I successfully slimmed down, I actually managed to maintain it for nearly three years. However, a difficult situation within my family threw everything out of balance, and before I knew it, the weight was climbing again uncontrollably.
I am currently in a weight-loss phase myself. I don't have very much left to lose, but I share that same anxiety regarding how to sustain the progress once I reach my goal.

Look, I’m not even sweating that initial phase because I’m not just going on some temporary diet, I’m actually overhaulng my entire lifestyle...

Robin Myers said:See, I'm not actually worried about that post-diet phase because I'm not just "on a diet"—I'm fundamentally shifting my lifestyle. I highly doubt I'll ever go back to eating the way I used to.

I completely agree; embracing a lifestyle change is truly the only sustainable path forward—something I am actively working toward right now.
However, we have to remember that changing how you live is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a long process filled with inevitable ups and downs, much like navigating a winding mountain road in the Rockies. It's full of little pitfalls and unexpected turns.
From my own experience, I've noticed that certain types of life stressors act like a tripwire for me. They trigger a sort of systemic breakdown—both mentally and physically—which eventually manifests as extra weight on the scale after a while.
I realize that I need to build up better defense mechanisms for those high-pressure moments. It's about replacing my old, reactive habits with healthier, more resilient ones. To be perfectly honest, though, I haven't quite mastered that transition yet.

I suppose I consider myself an emotional eater as well. 😁

However, I truly believe there is a way to prevent that weight from creeping back on. In my experience, the absolute most important thing is making sure you don't let those first couple of regained pounds snowball into four or five, and then ten, and eventually fifteen... You really have to address it immediately when it happens! Once you finally embrace a solid, steady, and healthy routine, getting back on track actually feels quite manageable. You might have a week or two where you're just indulging, crying, stressing out—you know, just riding the highs and lows of life—but then you can simply return to the exercise, the nutritious meals, and everything else. 👍

So, I guess you could say there isn't really such a thing as a 'life after dieting.' Exercise needs to be a constant, and watching what you eat is just part of the deal too. That’s just how it is. I think the sooner we all come to terms with that reality, the better off we'll be!

Hannah Stewart said:I’m an emotional eater too. 😁

But look, there really is a way to prevent the weight from creeping back. In my experience, the golden rule is to never let those one or two regained pounds turn into four or five, then ten, then fifteen... You have to address it immediately! Once you actually lock in a solid, sustainable, and healthy routine, getting back on track becomes surprisingly easy. You might have a week or two where you’re just spiraling—eating everything in sight, crying, feeling stressed out by all the ups and downs of life—but then you pivot back to exercise, nutritious meals, and the rest of the lifestyle. 👍

The truth is, there is no such thing as "life after a diet." You have to keep exercising consistently, and you have to stay mindful of what you eat. That’s just how it works. The sooner you embrace that reality, the better off you'll be!

Whenever I hit what I considered my goal weight, I would set a mental "red line" for myself—sort of like a warning siren going off in my head if I crossed it.
However, I also go through these inevitable cycles where I just stop caring about everything. During those times, I unconsciously start "sabotaging" myself with food, which is clearly just my way of venting accumulated dissatisfaction, frustration, or whatever stress I'm dealing with at the moment.
It’s a relief when that phase passes and I feel energized again, starting to see the bright side of things and actually caring about myself again,
BUT the scale still shows the physical evidence of that rough patch.
Then comes that next phase where I’m absolutely furious with myself for letting things slide, and I can't help but feel frustrated by my own lapses in judgment. After that, it's just the process of gathering my strength to get myself back in shape again, and so on.

Does this cycle sound familiar to anyone else?