Gaining

Cutting back on food, losing weight, and then overeating can cause a yo-yo effect where you gain back more than you lost.

Has anyone tried this as a way to gain? How did it work out? Would you recommend it?

It makes sense. Almost beyond the shadow of a doubt.
Yet I think it's only a last resort if all else fails. The most successful gainers sem to just power their way through plateaus and gain aggressively. But if someone has lack of appetite or stomach problems from stuffing? This might be the way to go.I certainly have witnessed weight watchers gain it all back and many many more lbs. Including a woman I am trying to go out with. She gained 30 lbs in two months hosting people from Europe who liked to drink and then have late night burgers and hoagies.From 130 to 160.Lost it all with Weight Watchers. Became a WW leader.And Now? Probably weighs 220-235.in other words. Goddess.

i went down from 260 to almost 200 in a course of a year as far as i remember. not that was dieting, I just had bad time back then and a couple of surgeries, so weight just slided down and I really was very curious how would I look at 200. Well I didn't like it... I looked like a deflated starved fatty.

And I didn't get extra after regaining that slowly (almost at the same rate).

But at least I was able to outgrow wardrobe I had to buy when I was thin once again. That was wonderful. I'd do it again, but I suck at dieting.

Certainly true for me. Every time I've lost weight, I've put it all back on plus ten pounds without even trying. Currently on an upward rebound that is being supplemented by my decision to just give in to my long term desires and intentionally get fat.

It definitely worked for me but I did not do it on purpose. Went on a diet 3 times (Weight Watchers, Nutri-System, etc.) and always gained back almost twice what I lost. Finally decided enough with the dieting and I am going to let nature takes its course. Gained 130 lbs. slowly and steadily over a 12 year period. Losing and gaining numerous times over is not healthy for your body according to the medical experts. Better just to keep at it in a steady as you go fashion so your body has time to adjust to each new weight level as you fatten up. I also was pleased to discover that gaining weight and growing fat was very physically and psychologically pleasurable. And as someone who loves to eat, just letting yourself go is really nice.

I think wera has it right though. If you lose quickly through fasting and perhaps weight-loss supplements, then you basically set your body in motion to regain the weight (plus more).

But if you lose slowly and through exercise and limiting portions/calories, the yoyo isn't going to be as likely to bounce back up again.