Keep That Weight Off

Introduction:

Well done – you've reached your target weight. But how do you make sure you stay there? By sticking to a healthier lifestyle and not falling back into old habits.

Losing weight slowly using a new eating pattern is a much better way to long-term weight loss, as quick-fix diets will not achieve the permanent result you require.

Crash dieting is the worst thing you can do. It turns your body’s metabolism upside down and afterwards you can put even more weight on than before. You must lose weight in a controlled way. Never starve yourself.

Don't think of yourself as being ‘on a diet’. Instead, remind yourself that you are following a healthy lifestyle that will help maintain your weight and vitality.

Once you have achieve your desired weight loss, you can eat slightly more, but you will still have to be aware of what you eat and keep up your activity levels.

Research shows that the longer you can maintain your new healthier weight, the easier it becomes.

Here are some tips to keep you on track:

1. Continue with a balanced, lower-fat diet and keep an eye on portion sizes. Stick to regular meals, and fewer snacks
2. Enjoy your food, sit down to meals and take time to enjoy them
3. Stay active – regular exercise not only burns calories and increases metabolism-boosting muscle, it also beats stress and increases self-esteem. Just 30 minutes walking each day may be enough to achieve this
4. If you do put on a few pounds, don’t give up – write an eating and activity diary and you'll soon spot what needs to be fixed to get back on track
5. Don't get on to the scales every day; note how your clothes fit rather than obsess about daily weigh-ins

This article has been written for PruHealth by Dr Foster Research. All Dr Foster Research (DFR) health content is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional.