Comments on: Feeling strangely fine

By: zia

zia — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 04:21:49 +0000

i just watch your interviw this morning about the new book i checked your blog

i love your blog you are inspiration Thank you for sharing your experence

riyadh saudi arabia

By: joehawkins

joehawkins — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 15:58:52 +0000

WoW! what an wonderful post. i am new to your page and so far very taken with both your approach and your ability to relay those thoughts so clearly. inspiring comes to mind. me? i was a skinny, active kid growing up… ate whatever i wanted, didn’t even think about it. slimmed down nicely after my firstborn (exercised w/joannie greggains every AM, healthy eating habits). i didn’t gain weight until my late 20’s, and boy, did i gain: 175lbs (i’m 5′4) six months AFTER the birth of my second. i lost 501bs in my mid-30’s (mainly through regular exercise) and vowed NEVER to let that happen again. well… guess what! by my late 30’s i was at 205lbs (single mom working full-time and finishing college degree means a whole lotta sitting around). i can remember crying at marshall’s at the sight racks of clothes for everyone else, and the horrible styles only available in my size. i finished my degree and lost 651bs (AGAIN) by the time i was 40. BTW– i confirmed a feeling that i had with my previous weight loss experiences: people treat you nicer when you are thinner… there is no doubt in my mind (but then again, it could be confidence factor on my side ;-P). anyway, my mid-40’s finds me back up to 190lbs. YiKes, how i the world is this possible. happily, i have exercised myself down to 1501bs and hope to reach my goal of 135 by the holidays (bikram’s yoga 5-6days a week and i like to walk). so the point about maintenance really touches a chord. my class reunion is next year… the good news is that i have already lost most my weight, the bad news… can i maintain it over the next 11 months? fingers crossed… i am going to look for your book.

By: Emily

Emily — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 13:35:55 +0000

I can honestly say I was never obese but I was fat… and just at the right time- during high school and starting college. I chose WW as my guide to change how I ate (it’s not a diet because it doesn’t end) and can happily say I’ve been at a more healthy weight for about a year and a half now. However, I CONSTANTLY stress about re-gaining- maybe I’m a perfectionists, maybe I remember what it felt like to not be able to borrow my friends clothes, maybe a lot of things caused it but secretly I think it’s just me still remembering how painful it was and being afraid to go through that emotion journey again. Don’t forget what it was like because that will keep you motivated to not regain(I’ll always be a fat kid at heart though thankyouverymuch!) Thanks for keeping it real…

By: Manic Mom

Manic Mom — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:37:34 +0000

A M A Z I N G!!!

I could spend hours reading through your archives. Beautifully written, and I will be for sure buying your book!

You deserve all the happiness in the world. You’ve obviously worked very hard to get there!

By: sandy

sandy — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 12:09:26 +0000

i’m noticing just the opposite. maybe it’s because i’ve gained wieight over the past few years and you’ve lost it! i’ve never been “fat,” but i have to tell you – i read a few posts last week about women dreading the thought of eating out for fear of not fitting in the chairs – and i felt IRATE. maybe this is just the first time i’ve really thought about issues like this – and the first time i’ve had access to the thoughts and feelings of the women they affect. maybe you’re just desensitized now, you know? after all of that fretting for all of those years, it seems completely normal to think of that period of time like it was another life.

By: E. Noel

E. Noel — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:36:15 +0000

So, I did a little looking regarding those numbers and I think the best explanation I found came from this article that was written in 1999 in the New York Times. They referred to the figure as "95% of people" regain all the weight lost and they investigate that myth. It can be traced back to a study in the 1950s that followed 100 people and most regained the weight lost. That particular study has become a part of the weight loss myth even though further studies have shown more promise and hope than the 1950s study.
One of the most promising studies that the article notes comes from the National Weight Control Registry. The doctors who created the registry in 1993 ask people to join who have lost more than 30 lbs. and maintained that weight loss for at least a year. (PQ, you should join!) Here is a quote from the 1999 NY Times article:
"To their surprise, Dr. Wing and Dr. Hill found that on average the respondents had maintained a 67-pound weight loss for five years. Between 12 and 14 percent had maintained a loss of more than 100 pounds."
That definitely seems to be more exciting than the 98% (or 95%) figure that seems to be pounded into our brains. Thanks for the research E. Noel! I'm already in the NWCR, by the way. I had to fill out a big survey about what I eat and portion sizes. It took a long time. That study from the 1950's doesn't sound very convincing to me. They only followed 100 people, a very small sample. Plus life has changed a lot from the 1950's especially in the types of food available and people's activity levels. They didn't even have microwaves back then! How could you eat your Hot Pockets without a microwave? - PQ

By: PastaQueen

PastaQueen — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 07:21:12 +0000

I notice several of you keep saying 98% of people regain weight. Does anyone have a link to a study that shows that? Because it's my understanding that no one really knows what percentage of people regain weight (though it is a low number). I thought the 2% thing is just one of those myths that get passed around like that we should drink 8 glasses of water a day or that we only use 10% of our brains.

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 00:11:09 +0000

A fantastic post! You’ve described my own feelings so well – as a Former Fat Person (FFP), I don’t want to forget what it was like to be so fat just in case I get ever get complacent and start to regain.

The fact that 98% of all people who lose weight regain it within 3 to 5 years is always in the back of my mind. After the 5 year point, are you considered to be in remission?

In answer to The Lassie’s comment – for me, at least, maintaining my weight as a FFP *is* a daily struggle. I was just posting about that today over at Angry Fat Girlz. For me, it’s practically equivalent to having a second job.

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 15:06:21 +0000

Someone just pointed me your way and this is the very first time I’ve seen your website. In fact, it’s the first time I’ve ever commented on a website. Your story has hit home and I can relate to every bit of this story. I myself have lost a half a person and have kept it off for 3 years now but I still remember…every day…what it was like. Thank you for making me laugh during a day that had been going badly. You remind me it’s not so bad after all…

By: adrienne

adrienne — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:07:47 +0000

PQ-

I keep writing lame-ass philosophical/emotional responses to this brilliant and deeply insightful post but none are good enough to submit.

I hear you. I have such memories in my life (though they’re not necessarily weight-related), and I now consider many of them assets.

Every sentence before this starts with I. It makes me feel like a narcissist.

Lovely post.

adrienne