Fletcher reports that most of her subjects had been on three to five types of diets before they successfully lost weight on their own. People have to really believe that the changes they are making are absolutely worth it, and they have to never want to go back. Losing weight, and even maintaining that loss, doesn't always mean happily ever after. A lot of issues besides exercise and food arise once someone has lost weight. For example, a woman who may have stayed in an unhappy marriage because of her low self-esteem will have to reevaluate the relationship once she loses weight and realizes that she can attract other men.
People hide behind fat.
Other factors can make maintenance difficult as well. Binge eaters are at elevated risk for relapse, as are people who suffer from depression. At difficult times such as these, Fletcher suggests that people remind themselves of the pain they felt when they were heavier and how unhappy they were with themselves. Know that you can maintain what you've accomplished. All rights reserved.