Adventures in Maintenance!
- Thread starter aiminglow
- Start date
I guess it’s time for a new post here! And I’m sorry to say that it’s news which probably won’t rejoice any hearts here – still, better to know what it is we’re dealing with - so here goes:
The bad news:
“studies of those successful at sustained weight loss indicate that the maintenance of a reduced degree of body fatness will probably require a lifetime of meticulous attention to energy intake and expenditure.”
Why?
Because....
“Maintenance of a ⩾10% reduction in body weight in lean or obese individuals is accompanied by an ∼20–25% decline in 24-h energy expenditure. This decrease in energy for weight maintenance is 10–15% below what is predicted solely on the basis of alterations in fat and lean mass. Thus, a formerly obese individual will require ∼300–400 kcal per day less to maintain the same body weight and physical activity level as a never-obese individual of the same body weight and composition."
- from “Adaptive thermogenesis in humans”, Rosenbaum and Leibel, in International Journal of Obesity, October 2010, 34 (01) s47-S55. accessed at: Adaptive thermogenesis in humans
Translation –
having been overweight/obese for a period of time re-sets how much calories your body “thinks” it needs to keep functioning, so that when you lose weight (like, a serious amount, at least 10% of your starting weight) your body “thinks” it needs that much less to live on - you will simply not be able to eat as much as always-thin people without regaining weight.
To which, I have to admit, my reaction is rats!
and a strong temptation to stamp my feet and growl a lot. I'd love to get to an ideal weight, and then be able to eat as freely as everybody else I know.
But... I've just plain missed the boat on that. (sigh!) And so it goes. Probably for the rest of my life (all our lives, other ex-obesers!) I'll/we’ll need to eat lightly – and that’s just the way it is! And the benefits and fun of being healthy so much outweight the tiny pleasure of over-indulging in icecream (or whatever) that I can live with that!
(Sorry for a mild downer of a post!)
The bad news:
“studies of those successful at sustained weight loss indicate that the maintenance of a reduced degree of body fatness will probably require a lifetime of meticulous attention to energy intake and expenditure.”
Why?
Because....
“Maintenance of a ⩾10% reduction in body weight in lean or obese individuals is accompanied by an ∼20–25% decline in 24-h energy expenditure. This decrease in energy for weight maintenance is 10–15% below what is predicted solely on the basis of alterations in fat and lean mass. Thus, a formerly obese individual will require ∼300–400 kcal per day less to maintain the same body weight and physical activity level as a never-obese individual of the same body weight and composition."
- from “Adaptive thermogenesis in humans”, Rosenbaum and Leibel, in International Journal of Obesity, October 2010, 34 (01) s47-S55. accessed at: Adaptive thermogenesis in humans
Translation –
having been overweight/obese for a period of time re-sets how much calories your body “thinks” it needs to keep functioning, so that when you lose weight (like, a serious amount, at least 10% of your starting weight) your body “thinks” it needs that much less to live on - you will simply not be able to eat as much as always-thin people without regaining weight.
To which, I have to admit, my reaction is rats!
and a strong temptation to stamp my feet and growl a lot. I'd love to get to an ideal weight, and then be able to eat as freely as everybody else I know.But... I've just plain missed the boat on that. (sigh!) And so it goes. Probably for the rest of my life (all our lives, other ex-obesers!) I'll/we’ll need to eat lightly – and that’s just the way it is! And the benefits and fun of being healthy so much outweight the tiny pleasure of over-indulging in icecream (or whatever) that I can live with that!
(Sorry for a mild downer of a post!)
alligatorob
Respected Member
Hey Amy, good to see someone posting here again. One day I am hoping to be a member, and that day seems to be getting a little closer. Have to agree with the "Rats" thing...
Keep on posting here, I promise to keep on reading.
Yeah, me too, in fact I have tried that before, you know where it has gotten me. I am just trying to accept that if I am to have any hope of maintaining I will probably have to be on a diet for the rest of my life, that "meticulous attention to energy intake and expenditure " thing you mentioned. Not accepting that would be kind of like not accepting that I'll never be 6 ft tall, rich or famous, its just the way it is.
Keep on posting here, I promise to keep on reading.
overlandflyer
Well-known member
there is no doubt in my mind that i substantially changed my diet, but i'm still not convinced i'm dieting.
alligatorob
Respected Member
Just remembered this thread, and for me it is now more relevant. May try to post here from time to time.
LaMa, for you:
Maintenance: the final plateau. These are the adventures of people who need to work at keeping the weight off, a strange new experience. To seek out new ways of eating and living. To boldly go where this man has not gone before!
Just thought of that line "Maintenance: the final plateau", seems like a good one. For me anyway.
LaMa, for you:
Maintenance: the final plateau. These are the adventures of people who need to work at keeping the weight off, a strange new experience. To seek out new ways of eating and living. To boldly go where this man has not gone before!
Just thought of that line "Maintenance: the final plateau", seems like a good one. For me anyway.
That´s bloody brilliant, thank you!