S/O Broken calorie: If you've maintained significant weight loss..

[lauraw4321]

did you ever stop feeling hungry?  

 

I have successfully lost weight several times (ranging from 20 - 40 pounds) but I ALWAYS regain it.  Some of that is because I ALWAYS have another baby.  There won't be any more babies, so I am once again embarking on the weight loss train.  Yes, I realize she's 2, but I had lost a lot and managed to gain it all back between Oct. and Dec.  

 

I am always hungry when trying to lose weight.  I'm sure this is why I can't maintain.  And yes, I do almost entirely low-carb, and I still feel hungry all the time.  

 

So, if you've lost significant weight (let's say more than 30 pounds), and you maintained it, did you ever reach a point where it was natural?  Where you didn't feel as thought you were constantly battling?  

[Carrie12345]

I'm at -25lbs.  I was at -38lbs for about 6 months and it did feel great, not a struggle, to stay there.  I gained the 12lbs back almost immediately when I took a break from strength training, and I've stayed there consistently for, yikes, another 6 months?!?  I still feel good (if weaker!) here, where I've maintained a healthy diet without a struggle. 

 

I lost very slowly, intentionally, so there wouldn't be a drastic dietary change.  I absolutely think that's what's kept me from spiraling all the way back to square one.  I don't get hangry.  I *do get cravings, and I listen to them.

 

 

[vmsurbat]

I lost 50+ pounds following NoS principles (www.nosdiet.com) and have maintained a 40+lb loss.  The gain of 10 pounds coincides with menopausal hormone changes....still working on figuring out a way to budge that weight..... But even with my thyroid issues, I don't live in dread of continuously gaining weight like I did 8 years ago.....

 

However, to answer your question,  I enjoy my meals and feel satisfied most of the time, not hungry until it is time to be hungry.  Sometimes I desire a cookie or sweet or whatever (I find it best not to leave homemade cookies out on the counter!).  Like the previous poster,  I lost my weight slowly (35 pounds the first year, 10 the next, 10 the third) and think that is a key factor in maintaining the loss.  My weight  loss was tied to real lifestyle changes that I enjoy--so no desire to give it up and go back to my old (bad) habits.....

[Pawz4me]

I lost about 65 pounds when I was 25 (which was 28 years ago).  And for the most part I kept it off w/o being crazy hungry.  I was normal hungry, of course.  As I've gotten older I've steadily tended to have less hunger.  So for me being able to eat less due to a (slightly) declining metabolism due to age has been balanced out by a slightly diminished appetite.

 

Also, last year I gained some weight due to wonky thyroid.  I've since lost 25-26 pounds (twice the weight I gained) and for the most part I'm not all that hungry.  Cold weather makes me hungrier than I am when the weather's more moderate.  And staying busy helps--as long as I'm busy I don't even think about food now.

[Guest]

I maintained a 130 pound loss for quite awhile, six years if we are counting the time spent losing and maintaining during pregnancies and such. It was fine until my body went insane and regained a ton of weight as it got very, very sick.

 

Hunger... It was a constantly challenge being that weight reduced. Staying very low carb and fasting part of the day helped a lot, but the low leptin state was a fact. Being reduced obese is tough, especially if you don't have something like surgery helping control your stomach. It is doable but not easy and the hunger only goes away for me when I keep my insulin signaling as low as humanl possible. Like, 35-40 net carbs for life except birthdays and Christmas.

[Carol in Cal.]

What does 'low leptin state' mean?

[SproutMamaK]

What does 'low leptin state' mean?

 

Leptin is the hormones that related most strongly to hunger and satiety. Here's something of a primer on it.

[Katy]

Always hungry.