How do some people keep weight off?

[gman]

I posted this under another forum and then saw this one....

Even more of a reason to work hard at life-long Atkins and to stay in touch for support in the ADBB, here is an article in the Wall St. Journal today that says:

Can't Keep the Weight Off?
Maybe Leptin Is the Culprit

"So, you ate less and exercised more and lost weight. But now the pounds are piling back on. You're hungrier than ever, and you can't seem to resist food. Once again, it's all your fault, right?

Wrong. Blame evolution, and the fact that for the vast majority of human history, famine was a bigger threat than flab. Even your seeming lack of will power is part of a complex biological system that drives humans who have lost weight to regain it, according to new brain-scan research by scientists at Columbia University Medical Center."

..."Loosely put, after you've lost weight, you have more of an emotional response to food and less ability to control that response," says Michael Rosenbaum, lead author of the study in this month's Journal of Clinical Investigation. The key driver of this system is leptin, a hormone secreted by fat cells. When humans (and rodents) lose 10% or more of their body weight, leptin falls rapidly and sets off a cascade of physiological changes that act to put weight back on. Skeletal muscles work more efficiently, thyroid and other hormones are reduced -- all so the body burns 15% to 20% fewer calories, enough to put back 25 pounds or more a year.

This mechanism kicks in whether people are obese or relatively lean before losing weight -- and researchers believe the effect can last for years."



...How do some people manage to overcome the leptin effect and keep weight off? Generally by watching their food intake very carefully and continuing to increase their physical activity. "Anybody who has lost weight and kept it off will tell you that they have to keep battling," says Dr. Rosenbaum. "They have essentially reinvented themselves, and they are worthy of the utmost admiration and respect."

see the article here:
Health Journal - WSJ.com


OK I'll fess up: the fighting emoticons were my addition, don't know why the editors at the WSJ did not just insert them right there....

[Sherri]

Great thread Glenn!
This really hit home with me. Going into my 5th year of Atkins and being at my goal ONCE at 219 lbs. Back in "06". For me, the difficulty wasn't in losing the weight, For me, it melted off of me quickly. It's maintaning and keeping the weight off, that's when the real work began with me.
I'm still sorting out the emotions that got me at 374 lbs. Now/still with over 100 pounds gone, I still have old ghost (emotions, habits) that want to creep back into my life because of stress. I can really see how I USE to feed my emotions back then. Now i'm over 20 pounds from goal. Getting my grip from the slippery slope I find myself on. Suffering from major burn out.
This is a journey of healing, making healthier choices, therefore, healthier habits. Evolving into a healthier lifestyle.
It really is about reinventing ourselves and being worthy of the upmost admiration and respect.
It was nice to be reminded of just that. This gives me that push I needed for tomorrow when I tighten up the reins and head back to goal. "Keep Battling"
Thanks Glenn!
I liked what he wrote here-
How do some people manage to overcome the leptin effect and keep weight off? Generally by watching their food intake very carefully and continuing to increase their physical activity. "Anybody who has lost weight and kept it off will tell you that they have to keep battling," says Dr. Rosenbaum. "They have essentially reinvented themselves, and they are worthy of the utmost admiration and respect."

[Adena]

This is a real eye-opener for me. After losing about 90 pounds, I've regained 30 over the past year. I was on and off Atkins constantly over the course of the year... I kept saying it was NOT this hard the first time, and I didn't understand why it was so much harder to just bite the bullet and get it done. This part especially hit home:

"Loosely put, after you've lost weight, you have more of an emotional response to food and less ability to control that response," says Michael Rosenbaum, lead author of the study in this month's Journal of Clinical Investigation. The key driver of this system is leptin, a hormone secreted by fat cells. When humans (and rodents) lose 10% or more of their body weight, leptin falls rapidly and sets off a cascade of physiological changes that act to put weight back on."

I'm not letting myself off the hook for my gain, but knowing this helps me understand why it seemed SO much harder getting back on track. I kept wracking my brain, trying to figure it out. It just didn't make sense. Now it does!

Thanks so much for sharing, Gman -- great article!

[Lisa]

Great article, G-man!

I'd insert the fighting emoticons, too.

I was just talking to my DH last night about my goal weight and how I just want to be comfortable in my own skin at 165 and not have to work so hard to get to the weight that the doctors, charts, and books say I should be at (155)...because it would be to difficult to keep it at that weight.

Gosh, that was a big admission to myself knowing what I'll have to do even when I reach 165. I'll have to work hard at staying there or below.

I think just reminding myself every day that getting there is a battle, but being at a healthy weight is worth that battle.

[gman]

You are all welcome! I just thought this was right on and answers some mysteries about sustaining our success.
This leptin thing is like hey "Who Moved My Cheese"!!
I think the main point is the one about renewal. We need to set new goals. Walk 2 miles after doing 1 mile for a while. Run in a 10K after doing 5Ks. Climb the next 10,0000-ft. mountain. Mix is up and make it interesting so we keep going.
One of the exciting things I think about is doing new activities that I have not yet done. Beyond all the work outs, this could include dealing with some of the basic reasons why we gained a lot of weight in the first place. We're older, wiser and stronger now to take this on when ready. And then move on to more renewal!

[Razzle39]

Awesome Post GMAN

Wow! This is really an eye opener. All those years of yo-yo dieting and feeling like I was weak. Its good to know its a physiological component. At least now I know 'the enemy'.

Thanks again for sharing!

[FLdoodette]

Good article, gman ... thanx for the link. It sure doesn't get any easier once you hit the "dark side" of 50. Sugar is my "trigger food," so I'm hoping that once I reach my goal, I'll treat sugar as what it is to my body: Poison. I start on it and just can't stop! What a junkie :P Right now it holds no appeal at all; hope that keeps up!

[gman]

HEY NOW fldoodette! I am turning 50 this year and am planning on a bright future!!
1/2 way to 100 ! You are right about things getting less easy though - all the more reason to bring it on.

Razzle39 I was thinking exactly what you were re: Know Your Enemy.

[Lyssie]

This is so depressing... after fighting to lose 140lbs, only to gain back 40 in the past year, it's quite obvious that it's going to be an uphill battle for me... of course if I had kept working out and eating right, I'm sure it wouldn't be so horrific. Maybe I should be thinking about 100 mile runs by the time I hit 40 in order to keep the weight off.

[gman]

Lyssie you've made great progress and at 26 knowing what you know you are way ahead of most people, so you have a big advantage in taming the tiger.