I not necessarily disappointed that he is gaining the weight back, but more disappointed that he got the plastic surgery to remove the excess skin (and then gain the weight back). I am dealing with excess skin issues myself.

When I see the magazines at the newstand talking about current TBL contestants, I do not bother reading them. I cannot get inspired by their “weight loss success stories”, as it was all done via a television show

I have read all over the web how Erik gained his weight back because the Biggest Loser didnt teach him right, or promoted unethical and shady weight loss tactics. It all comes down to Erik.

Look at Pete THomas, he is in amazing shape and it’s been years.

There are 3 stages of weight loss. (this is why you mainly see “Skinny people in the gym”)

1. Feel Stage: An overweight person starts to feel the changes of working out and being healthy. Starts to build self esteem.

2. See Stage: People start noticing the weight loss… then the person gets to their goal.

3. Maintain Stage. This stage is the life long commitment. This is where the “diet stops”. Once the overweight person gets to their goal.. they go off the “diet”. They never get to the maintain stage.

THIS IS WHAT IS HAPPENING. I used to be overweight. I still am not at my goal. But a double major in Kinesiology and Premed with a minor in nutrition, my goal is to stay healthy the rest of my life, and help as many people as I can stay healthy. NOT A DIET.. a LIFELONG COMMITMENT! Common Eric… stay healthy. DIABETES ISNT ANYTHING TO MESS WITH. Especially Type II. Turns into type I, or worse.. you could really get sick. Get to the gym, and get used to it. We all know you can do it!

1. Maintain high levels of physical activity. Consider at least 60 minutes daily of moderate activity. Ouch!
– I don’t do that much, except in the summer. I am a road cyclist and bike 3,000 miles a year; I also do gym cardio in the winter and lift weights. But my workouts in winter are less than an hour, usually, and not always intense, and not every day.

One thing I do: I match my eating to my workouts. I eat less when I don’t work out.

2. Limit television to less that a few hours a day.
I rarely have time to watch TV. I have a TiVo with lots of unwatched programs on it.

3. Eat a diet low in fat and calories. [I disagree with the accross-the-board low-fat recommendation.]
I also disagree. I eat a lot of healthy fats (and sometimes not so healthy). I can eat 30% or more of my diet in fat, depending on the day or season. Fat is satiating.

4. Maintain a consistent eating pattern throughout the week and year. Successful losers often report less variety, compared to other people, in all food groups except for fruits.
I also disagree with this. I eat less during the week, and more on weekends, when I bike more and we go out and eat more. Because I do track calories faithfully, I’m able to balance my weeks and months out. I believe in “flexible restraint,” and living a normal life – eating at parties, enjoying real treats, not diet crap.

5. Eat breakfast routinely.
Oh, always.

6. Control emotional eating.
I’m not that much of an emotional eater, but I can be . . . and I get these periods when I think I’m entitled to chocolate every afternoon, because I’m under so much stress at work. Sometimes I have it, but I developed a trend this fall that put an extra couple of pounds on me. I think I’ve squelched that habit now.

7. Weigh frequently, whether daily or weekly.
I weigh daily, and am familiar with my ups and downs on the scale.

8. Catch and address weight regain early, before it gets out of hand.
Always. Right now I’m addressing about 5 lbs (part from vacation). I’ve done this many times over the last few years, always successfully.

9. Consider sequential medications. E.g., sibutramine for months, then orlistat for months.
N/A for me.

10. Individual and/or group follow-up support. Even follow-up by phone works.
I am a lifetime member of Weight Watchers – still go to meetings, have many WW friends, participate on a WW board, and have my own blog (not currently updated, due to recent life events). I stay connected to support constantly, and also try to help other folks – this also helps ME!

11. Have realistic expectations.
Ahhh, this is good and bad. If I had expected to lose only, say, 40 lbs, I may have not tried for the rest. But I just kept moving forward and never looked back. It ultimately took me nearly 2.5 years to lose the 80 lbs – I hovered 7 – 10 lbs from goal for more than a year – but I finally made it. And I’m still here — which is the most important part.

I’m also not at the bottom of my weight range. I’m 56, and don’t think it’s realistic for me to try to be 115. I also a mesomorph, and being 115 would mean I’d have body fat that’s too low.