By Lynn Haraldson-Bering
The more I learn about the biology of weight maintenance, the more I realize just how complicated our bodies are. I used to think losing weight was the be all and end all of my journey. I understand now that losing weight was no more than packing my bags for a one-way trip. Maintenance is the meat of the journey.
One of Barbara’s patients told her about several articles on weight loss and maintenance published recently in the Los Angeles Times. The one I was most interested in was the one on maintenance (click here to read it).
Once obese, the article states, our bodies remember (and almost prefer) the level of fat that we stored in our bodies, and so when we lose weight and are maintaining, we’re constantly fighting food cravings because our bodies want us to stock up on fat again. There are several hormonal and central nervous system-related reasons for this, scientists believe, but all I know is that when I read that part in the article I said, “I KNEW it!” There are days when I crave things more powerfully than I ever did in my overweight or morbidly obese days. At least now I know I’m not imagining it, that I really do have cravings and that there is a physical, not merely emotional, reason for it. I do, however, believe that because I am more aware of my cravings and am better able to identify and deal with them now than I was at 300 pounds is a factor as well.
“Moreover, animal studies show that most of the regained weight is distributed as visceral fat, the abdominal paunch that is linked to heart disease and diabetes.”
I’ve been noticing since I’ve been in maintenance that if a few pounds creep up on me, they always show up in my stomach region. At 300 pounds I couldn’t tell if I’d gained a pound or two, but now I can feel it and see it. When I watch my food intake and up the exercise at little, those few pounds come off and my stomach goes back down. Again, I knew it but I didn’t know it was a proven fact. This scientific confirmation of my personal observation has taught me to trust my “gut,” so to speak, and that it’s wise to stay finely tuned to my body’s signals.
“Scientists don't know how long it would take to return the physiological responses of a once-obese body to normal -- or if, indeed, that ever is quite possible.” I could beat myself up for having gained weight in the first place. The thought actually crossed my mind. But where would that get me? I was where I was then. I am where I am now. I can only go forward, and so I will live with and learn from the body I’ve got now.
Overall, though, I was feeling a little discouraged, thinking ‘What vigilance it takes to keep weight off! What a tightrope we walk! It’s like the wolf is always at our door.’
By the end of the article, I felt my hope return.
“Studies do show, however, that weight regain is most likely in the first couple of years after weight loss. And Rena Wing, director of the weight control and diabetes research center at Brown Medical School, says that (National Weight Loss Registry) data shows that people who maintain their weight loss find the first two years difficult but eventually adapt comfortably to their new habits and lifestyles.
"After that, it's as if you master the technique," she says.”
I’ve got 16 months of maintenance under my belt. I’ll mark my 2-year anniversary next February. Do I expect maintenance to suddenly be easy in February and beyond? No. But as each month passes, I get better at it.
Education is key to maintaining. So, too, is staying in touch with other people who have lost and are maintaining their weight. It can be daunting staying on task day after day. What our bodies require of us, what we need to do to stay vigilant, can seem overwhelming at times. But if we stay real, take a few deep breaths, and talk about it amongst those who understand, this long trip we’re on will reward us with fun and some great views along the way.
FYI, we have discussion boards set up for maintainers to meet and discuss maintenance, life, whatever! Don’t be shy. Post a post. The board links are located on the right hand side of this site.