How to Maintain Weight after Losing it

How to Lose Weight Fast and Keep it Off

You’ve lost the weight and now the hard work must begin when you have to keep it off. Too many people lose weight only to find themselves a year later weighing the most they ever have. Without the proper tools and understanding on how to maintain weight loss, all of your dieting could be in vain.

Healthy habits must be a daily part of your life in order to maintain your success. Below are tips and strategies designed to help you learn how to maintain weight loss and prevent yourself from ever packing on the pounds.

1. Drink plenty of water daily

Consuming a glass of water before you eat is a great tip to keeping you feeling full and less likely to overeat. Replacing soda and other high calorie drinks with water also helps to eliminate the possibility of gaining weight. It is important to drink water throughout the day, every day to avoid dehydration.

2. Get plenty of rest

Research has shown that people who don’t get enough sleep at night tend to overeat and gain weight. When a person is fatigued or exhausted they tend to make poor food choices and eat low quality foods. Getting eight hours of quality sleep at night will help you maintain your weight loss.

3. Keep on gaining strength

Strength training is an excellent way to build muscle. Lean muscle burns calories at a much higher rate than fat. Due to the increased rate of energy being burnt, the metabolism is boosted. A high metabolic rate helps to burn off excess calories much quicker so that the body avoids gaining weight.

4. Complete your cardio

While cardio is not the most important exercise program to maintaining losing weight, it is important when it comes to maintaining weight loss. Two to three days of 30-minute cardio sessions is ample if the work-out is intense and elevates the heart rate.

5. Start the day off right

Never skip breakfast, but make it the most important meal of the day. Eliminating the first meal can send your body into starvation mode and cause calories and fat to be stored. Breakfast is needed to keep your metabolism operating at an effective rate.

6. Eliminate tempting foods

Limiting the tempting foods in your pantry can help avoid problems in the long run. If you have had a problem with high calorie snacks, don’t line your pantry shelves with your old-time favorites. It is better to keep healthy snacks on hand to avoid over-eating.

7. Plan meals ahead of time

Preparation is the key to maintaining long-term success. Planning meals and snacks ahead of time is helpful in maintaining weight loss. Keeping yourself on a meal plan or schedule will help you avoid over-eating and consuming food when you really aren’t hungry.

8. Dine in, not out

Dining at home and not in a restaurant is highly effective when it comes to maintaining weight loss. Cooking at home allows you to control the portion and the contents of the food. Processed restaurant food can be high in sodium, fat and calories. At a restaurant the portions are typically super-sized and more difficult to control.

9. Control portion size

Portion size at home can be monitored by using smaller plates, a food scale and self-control. Get out of the habit of eyeballing portions and start accurately measuring your food content. Measuring cups and spoons are much needed investment. It is impossible for you to guess how much dressing or oil should be added without the proper tools.

10. Switch to diet soda

The average can of soda yields 150 calories and is one of the most common drinks consumed in the United States. Switching from regular to diet soda is a crucial weight loss maintenance key when it comes to success. There is no room for the empty calories regular soda brings. If you must consume soda, make it diet.