While losing weight is hard for a lot of people, it is even more difficult to keep the weight off. It is common for people who lose a large amount of weight just to regain it a few years later. It is possible that they are regaining lost weight since they decreased the number of calories, they consume to lose weight, which meant that they experienced a large drop in the rate their bodies burn calories.
You’ll have to approach maintaining weight loss in a very different way compared to when you were trying to lose weight. It is possible to do, and you can make it easier following a few tips.
- Lose weight for yourself: Your want to maintain weight loss, you have to be driven by something that’s deeper and consistent with your own core values. Of course, your looks are important, but you should take the time to think about what’s really important to you and how maintaining a healthy weight ties into it.
- Exercise is important: While focusing on your diet is important when it comes to losing weight, in order to maintain weight loss, physical activity is key. Walking for 60 minutes straight is a great form of exercise, but it can be daunting. Try breaking it up and do something else you enjoy.
- Check-in with yourself: It is common for people to turn to food when they’re stressed. If that includes you, it’s good to learn new ways to handle your emotions. There are many things you can do and experiment with, like gardening, yoga, or talking to a friend. You might even look into talking to a therapist.
- Find support: If you tend to be a bit of a loner, it may be time to join a group. We all need some support, whether it’s emotional or physical. They can also help you stay accountable. Try teaming up with family, friends, or even co-workers to work out with you. There are also weight loss support groups you can right up for – even if you’ve already reached your goal weight. If you slimmed down with help from a dietitian or other weight loss expert, try to check in with them every now and then.
- Keep yourself moving: Whatever your addiction is – your tablet, phone, computer, or TV – screen time tends to be downtime. The risk is, vegging out in front of a Netflix show makes it easier for you to overeat. So, give yourself a time limit on how long you watch shows a day.
- Eat a balanced breakfast: Weight loss typically depends on what you eat and your overall calorie balance throughout the day. It is a common fact that when you eat breakfast, you’re setting the tone for the rest of your day (at least when it comes to food). So, it’s important that you start out eating something that is going to give you nutrients – so stay away from empty calories! Try stick to foods like oatmeal topped with fruit and nuts or an omelet full of veggies and a side of whole-wheat toast.
- Fiber-rich diet: Fiber is more important than we realize, and you should make sure your diet is rich in fiber. You can get fiber by eating plant foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts, and legumes. Fiber is also a good way to keep you feeling full, which means you’ll be less likely to overeat later in the day.
Vacations, holidays, and stressful life situations happen all the time and during these times, no one eats what they should. That’s OK. The important thing is that you get back on track as soon as you are able to. This is all a learning experience, don’t think of it as a failure. Remember, you’re able to move on from setbacks, and maintaining your weight is a marathon, not a 100-yard dash.