Tips for Maintaining That Hard-Won Weight Loss Goal

Any serious dieter will tell you that losing the weight, although a struggle, is the easy part. Maintaining your victory after you see that desired number on the scale is an ongoing challenge. Somehow your body just wants to return to its pre-diet comfort level. What can you do to keep those unwanted pounds from returning to their former place of residence?

•     You had to change your eating habits to reach your goal. You can’t revert back to your old evil ways if you hope to maintain your weight. Add calories and additional foods back into your diet slowly and see what, if any, effect it has on your weight. If you see more than a two-pound change on the scale, it’s time to start eliminating one or two of those extras.
•     Do not reward your success with a bonus dessert or second helping of mashed potatoes. If food got you in trouble once, it’s a guarantee it will do so again. Find other, non-calorie, ways to give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.
•     Your original successful weight loss was a two-fold plan of reduced food intake and increased energy output. Exercise was important in losing the weight and its impact is as great or greater in keeping the weight off. Learn to love the process of exercise. Find a sport or routine that really makes you want to get out there and sweat on a regular basis.
•     Share your success with a friend or fitness buddy. They can be a watchdog to oversee and comment on any lapses in effort or commitment they may see. If both of you strived for and achieved a weight loss victory, you can form a strong alliance to keep each other on the straight and narrow.
•     Buy clothes to fit your new body and donate all the larger clothes to charity. Being forced to dress the part of the new, thinner you will bring out the cheapskate in you that doesn’t want to have to spend money to cover those extra pounds if they come back.
•     Don’t starve yourself to keep the weight down. This is a guaranteed recipe for failure and overindulgence. Instead, be constantly vigilant about the food choices you make. Eat regular, healthy meals, including breakfast. Choose healthy snacks such as fruit, raw vegetables or nuts and remember that moderation is still important, even when your food choices are good.
•     Be in charge of what you eat. Eat most of your meals at home and learn to cook with enough diversity to keep your palate satisfied. Make dining out a special treat instead of a way of life. If you are dining out, check out the restaurant menu online ahead of time to make the most weight-friendly choice you can make. Take food with you if you’re going to be away from home all day so you’re not forced to choose fast food over good food.

Unlike other lifestyle elements you want to change, such as smoking or drinking alcohol, you cannot eliminate food from your life. In order to maintain the weight loss you worked so hard to achieve, you need to form a new relationship with the sustenance you put in your body. With the right mindset, you can learn to love the food you eat and the energy and healthy body that comes with making the better food decisions.