Weight Loss: Keeping the Weight Off
Once you have achieved a desired weight, a positive attitude is very important in your efforts to successfully maintain it. To lose weight permanently, you must make a commitment to gradually adopt a healthier way of life.
Don’t fall back on those unhealthy eating habits you had before you lost weight.
By Amy Engeler At 3 a.m., with all the houses dark up and down her winding suburban street in West Warwick, Rhode Island, Jo-Ann Frey, 37, lights a candle so she can see well enough to dust her furniture. Careful not to turn on any lights or make noise that might wake up her family, she drifts from room to room with her candle and cleaning supplies, waiting until she feels sleepy enough to climb back into bed. That feeling doesn't come -- and when she hears the alarm in the bedroom go off...
Read the Why Moms Can’t Sleep article > >
Controlling your weight is not an impossible task. Balancing what you eat with how much you exercise will help you maintain your new weight.
How Can I Prevent Gaining Lost Weight?
Keep the following tips in mind:
- Do not skip meals. Skipping meals can slow your metabolism down. Skipping meals can also cause overeating later in the day.
- Weigh yourself once a week. Monitoring your weight will help you stop weight gain from occurring by creating the awareness. You may not always feel a difference in how your clothes fit. To ensure you are eating healthy, keep an accurate food journal. Write down everything you eat or drink. Be honest and accurate, otherwise the journal is not as helpful. The food journal will help you realize when higher calorie foods are being included more frequently then they should. Recording when you exercise (and how long) will also help you to look at trends. Are you gaining weight because you are eating the same but stopped exercising?
- Eat a variety of foods to get all the nutrients you need.
- Include choices from whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean protein sources.
- Be sure to get plenty of activity every day. Physical activity is one of the most important aspects of keeping weight off, so do your best to keep active every day.
For more information on assessing how many calories you need, go to http://www.choosemyplate.gov.
WebMD Medical Reference

