Recently when I surveyed Stonesoup readers the same theme kept coming up, over and over. You lose the weight. Then you gain it back. Then you lose it again. So today I want to talk about how to stop losing and regaining the same weight, especially if you’re a food lover like me.
Why do you keep losing and regaining the same weight?
Whatever method got you to lose the weight, it wasn’t sustainable.
That’s the whole answer.
All diets work. Low fat, low carb, keto, counting calories.
They all work, while you’re following them.
The problem is what happens underneath.
There’s a huge psychological side to hunger. When you’re restricting, denying yourself, following someone else’s rules, your brain notices.
It thinks food is scarce.
So it builds your desire for food, ready for the next chance you get.
You can push through that for a while. But not forever.
It’s not fun, for a start.
And on a physiological level, the restriction has built up real hunger in your body.
Then something happens, the plan falls apart, and you go back to eating whenever, however.
Usually more than before, because you’ve been in that restrictive mode. You land back where you started. Sometimes worse off.
After all that effort. Frustrating doesn’t even cover it.
How to stop losing and regaining the same weight
Good news. You’re not stuck on this treadmill forever.
Here’s how to avoid the yoyo trap.
Before you start any new way of eating, ask yourself: could I do this every single day for ten years?
If the answer’s yes, you’re onto something sustainable. Go for it.
If the answer’s no, you already know how this ends.
Unless you’re losing weight for one specific event and you’re genuinely fine with it coming back afterwards, that’s a different game. Otherwise, save your energy.
My approach is the one I’ve actually been able to do for six years now.
No external rules. .
I’m not cutting anything out, and I’m not changing what I eat unless I want to.
What I do change is HOW MUCH.
Instead of a calorie counter telling me how much to eat, I use intuitive eating.
Listening to my body to get the quantity right. Stopping when I’m satisfied, not when I’m stuffed.
That gap, between satisfied and stuffed, is where the weight loss actually comes from.
Overeating is what brings the weight back on.
Stop the overeating and you don’t have to go hungry.
You still feel satisfied. You’re just eating a little less than the day before. And the weight takes care of itself.
I’ve been eating this way for six years.
My weight has stayed completely stable, right through the hormonal changes at 53 that usually pack the weight on.
Weight hasn’t been my struggle. Plenty of other things have but thankfully I haven’t had to add buying new clothes to the list..
Want help to stop losing and regaining?
If you’d like to learn to actually listen to your body, properly, I’d love you to join me in the Naturally Healthy Club.
I say properly because the first time I heard about intuitive eating, I tried it and it did not go well. There’s real nuance to it.
It’s a group coaching program, six months, slow and gentle.
No 30 day challenge, no pressure.
We work on the habits and the identity shift too, so you stop seeing yourself as someone who yo-yos, and start seeing yourself as someone who is naturally healthy.
Someone who travels, eats out, enjoys her food, without it being a problem for her weight.
We open twice a year and often sell out, so get on the wait list and you’ll be the first to know when doors open.
Find out more about the Naturally Healthy Club
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My Best Bite
Last week I made a whole chicken in the slow cooker with mustard and rosemary. I got the flavour idea flicking through Gourmet Traveller magazine.
The chicken came out so succulent. There was cream in the sauce with the mustard and rosemary, and honestly it was one of those meals where every bite had so much flavour. I finished the leftover chicken breast with my lunch the next day and was still impressed by it.
If you love your slow cooker as much as I do, my program Slow Cooker Magic is worth a look.
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I’m excited about…
I’m heading to Sydney this week to see my friends. I haven’t been in over a year, which is hard to believe.
When you’re raising a family and growing a business, friendships are so easy to let slip. Mine did, over my child rearing years. So this is something I’m being more intentional about now, reconnecting with people who used to be really good friends.
I’m excited to see them and eat out for every meal while I’m there. And I know I’ll come home the same weight, because I know how to listen to my body now.
In your corner,
Jules from Stonesoup xx
(Your favourite Australian Food Scientist)
See my bio
ps. Can I ask a favour?
If you’ve found this helpful please forward the link to a friend who also loves food. Thank you!
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