Restarting a weight loss journey after you've regained lost weight can be challenging. In order to set yourself up for success, you need to identify what didn't work the first time - and how you'll overcome those obstacles to lost weight successfully and sustainably. I'm looking for a behavioral health expert who can weigh in on common roadblocks that can lead to weight regain and share advice for how someone can reach and maintain their goals the second time around. Expert should be available for a phone interview within the next week.

If you haven't actually worked thoroughly on your lifestyle, you will gain the weight back. So I would say start there. Losing weight by doing extreme things such as restricting or depriving yourself from foods, habits that are not normal or natural, such as calorie counting forever, extreme low-carb or no-carb, very high protein, are not sustainable, and how long can you keep that up? It's just a matter of time before you give up. Also, if you aren't sleeping well and regularly moving your body, then that can push you toward emotional eating; hydration also matters because it carries nutrients to every cell, so your body can actually thrive. I set a simple goal: to be in bed at the same time and wake at the same time, even on weekends, and I exercise at least 150 minutes per week. I make sure to walk after meals for 10-15 minutes because movement right after eating calms cravings and helps my blood sugar. On top of lifestyle, I make sure that my gut is strong—Gut is your second brain—and when your gut and brain talk well, you get better hormonal, immune, and nervous-system balance, which supports real, sustainable weight loss. Also, work on stress, because stressors are a reason people binge eat, binge drink, or pick habits that hurt their goals, and until you work on mental and emotional health, it will keep tripping you up. So combine lifestyle with root-level work on gut health and stress, and support your hormones, and you will have a plan that you can keep and that actually lasts.

As a touring artist who has navigated the challenges of weight management with professional guidance, I understand the importance of addressing specific roadblocks like all-or-nothing thinking and environmental triggers. I would be happy to schedule a phone interview this week (PT) to discuss sustainable approaches that focus on consistent behaviors rather than just scale numbers. I can also arrange for my behavioral coach to join our conversation to provide expert clinical context on developing maintenance strategies that prevent weight regain.

As a behavioral health specialist, I've seen that the biggest challenge in restarting a weight loss journey isn't physical—it's emotional. Many people feel shame or defeat after regaining weight, and that mindset can sabotage progress before it even begins. One common roadblock is relying too heavily on willpower instead of sustainable habits. Strict diets often work short-term but don't address the behaviors and emotional triggers behind overeating. My advice is to start with reflection, not restriction. Identify what caused the backslide—stress, lack of structure, unrealistic goals—and build new systems around those weak points. That might mean adding accountability, like check-ins with a coach, or setting smaller, measurable goals instead of chasing perfection. Most importantly, self-compassion has to lead the way. Weight loss the second time around succeeds when it's rooted in understanding, not punishment. The goal isn't just to lose weight—it's to rebuild trust with your body.