10 Myths About Weight Loss Maintenance (That Keep You Stuck)

Lessons from brain and cognitive science can help you maintain, not regain.

Posted May 5, 2026 | Reviewed by Hara Estroff Marano

A few months ago, you started what seems like your millionth diet . You’ve noticed a vicious cycle that you can’t seem to break. You get excited, lose some weight, and then start eating “normally” again.

Then, you feel helpless as your weight comes back on. Eventually, you’ll begin again, harnessing whatever limited resolve you still have left.

The cycle of excitement, weight loss, and weight regain is frustrating and hardly good for your self-confidence . As many as 35 percent of dieters regain their weight in five years, most likely due to psychological and neurobiological factors.(1)

What if one way to break the cycle rested in gaining a true understanding of what is required?

Susan Peirce Thompson, a brain and cognitive scientist at the University of Rochester, has published a new book called Maintain , which follows many years of scientific research on the topic. Her studies have evaluated how to help people not only lose weight but also keep it off long-term.

She promotes adherence to four bright lines, and her protocol has shown that significant weight loss can also include sustained, long-term weight loss maintenance if the right factors are addressed.(2,3)

Here are 10 myths about weight loss maintenance that may be keeping you stuck and what to do instead, based on an interview with Thompson(4):

As you consider the myths, you’ll begin to see that help is available if you’re willing to learn to play the long game.

Moszak, M., Marcickiewicz, J., Pelczyńska, M., Bogdański, P. (2025). The Interplay Between Psychological and Neurobiological Predictors of Weight Regain: A Narrative Review. Nutrients . May;17(10):1662. doi: 10.3390/nu17101662 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12114007/
Thompson, SP, Thaw, AK, Goetting, MG, and Guan, W (2021). Bright Line Eating®: A Two-year Follow-up Evaluation of a Commercial Telehealth Weight Loss Program within an Abstinence-Based Food Addiction Framework. Journal of Nutrition and Weight Loss; 6(3): 125. https://www.walshmedicalmedia.com/open-access/bright-line-eatingsupregs…
Thompson, SP (2025). Maintain: The 3 Simple Shifts that Turn Temporary Weight Loss Into Lasting Freedom. Hay House LLC.
Thompson, SP and Garcy, PG. Personal interview, 4/30/26, 8 am CT. https://www.dropbox.com/home?preview=GMT20260430-130016_Recording_640x3…
Greenbert, J., Murphy, M. (2024). Self-Perception Theory. Health and Medicine. EBSCO. https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/health-and-medicine/self-percep…

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Pamela Garcy, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist in Dallas, is the author of The Present Coach , The REBT Super-Activity Guide , and The Power of Inner Guidance , offering practical tools for navigating life.

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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.