How much did you think about regain in the beginning?

I thought about it all the time from the beginning. I am almost 3 years out and I still think about it all the time.

Even during the weight loss phase, I was far more concerned with regain than with the weight loss. I new I would lose weight - after all I was a professional dieter like most of us here.

The most stressful time for me was transitioning to maintenance. My whole life I had either been gaining or losing. I had never been able to maintain a steady weight.

As the months went by and I remained at a steady weight, it was definitely validating in the sense that it COULD be done, but I never lost the fear that I would fall off the proverbial wagon.

I experienced by first regain over the holidays this year. It was "only" about 10-12 pounds, but it confirmed all of my fears - that regain was simply lurking around the corner for me.

I wouldn't say I obsess about it, but it is nearly constantly in the back of my mind. I know that I have to be vigilant for the rest of my life, or I will fall into old habits.

At this point, I know I can be successful. But I also know it will not happen magically, or without constant vigilance.

I worried about it from day 1. But, I had been here on OH and in other communities so I knew it was a real possibility. Unfortunately, I found myself 18 months out from surgery with a real diagnosed eating disorder and many physical (and mental) struggles due to that.

I don't have a good answer. The concept of balance isn't easy to preach either, because we didn't get to 300lbs because we're good at balance. But, I think I would have liked to have known that it was a possibility - I truly felt blindsided because I thought I was just doing what I was supposed to do.

Thank you for sharing this; I agree we are not wired for balance and knowing we can go too far in either direction is definitely something we should be aware of and vigilant about.

I really appreciate you sharing this because underlying my post is a fear of an eating disorder. I had some disordered eating (not overeating, the other way) when I was young, so I am just trying to figure out what is normal and helpful and try to think that way! I have talked about this fear with my dietitian and asked her to check in with me about this to make sure I immediately identify if I start going in a bad direction. Fortunately, I seem to be feeling less concerned about regain since I first posted.

What you said about balance, truer words were never spoken!

Im am one month also tomorrow. i last 20 in the first two weeks but since then i have only lost 5. i feel like im doing something wrong or just scared of going back to my orginal wieght.you are not alone !!

My first worry was that "I was such a diet failure that I didnot think RNY would work for me" - until I got under 250 pounds. And then I thought, I guess the dr was right. Then I thought about regain - in a paniced way.

Follow the advice here - track what you are eating and doing, as many here suggest.