|
Reaching your target weight is a great feeling – enjoy it! The most important thing now, is to make sure that you maintain this new weight. Sadly, so many people who lose weight put it all back on again. To make sure that this does not happen to you, there are a number of things that can be helpful to bear in mind.
Weight management has 2 phases: weight loss and weight maintenance.
Weight maintenance is for the rest of your life. Sure, there will be ups and downs, but it is very much something you will need to stay conscious of for the years to come.
In order to maintain the weight that you are now you need to become ‘weight aware’. In other words, although you can eat slightly more, you will need to continue to eat healthily and remain conscious of what you eat. It is also vital to keep active. Research shows that people, who keep their weight steady, are active for around an hour or so each day.
Because you have been following a healthy life style during the weight loss phase, you will find it easier to maintain this lifestyle. Take heart from research that shows that the longer you can maintain your new healthier weight, the easier it becomes.
|
|
|
So keep with the new eating and activity habits you’ve established. You know that if you go back to your old habits, the weight will creep back on again. That is why it is so important not to think about being ‘on a diet’. People who think like that are much more likely to put weight back on – because they then go ‘off the diet’. Instead, think of yourself as following a healthy lifestyle that will help maintain your weight.
However, in the world that we live in, there are endless opportunities to eat more and to be less active than we need to be to maintain our weight. Think about how you will ensure that your weight stays steady. Research shows that are a number of things that can help to keep you on track:
- Continue to eat healthily and enjoy occasional favourite foods or meals out
- Remain active – this cannot be stressed enough!
- Keep a regular check on your weight or note how your clothes fit
- Have regular meals
- Keep an eye on portion sizes
- Plan ahead for holidays or times when you are likely to put weight on
- If you do put on a few pounds, don’t give yourself a hard time – just start keeping a record of what you and your levels of activity to help you get back on track
- If you do struggle to get back on track, seek help from your doctor or nurse – a few words of encouragement or support can make a big difference.
Enjoy the benefits of all your efforts and stay ‘weight aware’! |
|
|
