80%

Do you think it's poor eating habits or lack of physical activity that accounts for most regain? 

And, I too would like to see stats about longer-term success. I'm still pre-op and getting a bit jittery about going through with it (although I can't see any other option really).

Definitely poor eating habits! Exercise is a key to maintenance, but that alone will not keep the weight off, whereas a good diet and little exercise would have a better chance at keeping weight off. We need both, but food habits is the biggest part to success IMHO.

I have been told by a few NUTS, doctors and trainers that weight loss and maintenance success is made up of 80% food, 15% activity and 5% hereditary (which blows any theory that we can totally blame our parents for our obesity....if we have obese parents, chances are we become obese because of poor habits instilled).

I think TWH told me that "success" to them is when someone loses something like 80% of their excess weight (in other words, 80% of the difference between their starting weight and the upper end of "normal BMI").  TWH generally doesn't ask us to set a goal weight, at least that has been my experience.

So, to be a healthy BMI, I'd have to be about 156, which is 180 lbs from my starting weight.  80% of 180 lbs is 144 lbs, so I guess I'm probably already a success stat for them since I've lost 150 lbs - or will be when I go in for my one year check in.

But as you say - I have the feeling that this has been the easiest part so far.  I'm finding it a lot more challenging the further out I get because of the head stuff that is re-emerging, especially when life gets in the way.

 

That truly IS encouraging to hear!

Very good to hear  - this gives me a lot of hope.

Cheers,