Just losing weight is not enough. Ladies, we must put in our minds the idea of losing the extra weight forever…bye-bye, see-ya-later, good riddance. While it takes a lot of focus and dedication to lose weight, it’s very important to remember that weight loss isn’t a start-and-end process. It’s a lifestyle change. True enough, it is wise to have a weight-loss goal; but once you attain it, be sure you don’t just stop eating healthy and working out…Noooooo, you keep it going because your new lifestyle is livable and lovable, one that will make you feel great!
Once you reach your goal of losing weight and transition to just maintaining weight, you have a little flexibility in your diet and exercise plan because you don’t need to create a deficit of calories anymore. You just need to take in the number of calories that you need in order to not gain or lose.
It doesn’t matter if you are just starting your journey of completing your weight loss or if you have successfully reached it, you can benefit from these top strategies and tip the scale for good.
- Get Your Move On – Moving and being active is of utmost importance when it comes to keeping unwanted weight off. Being physically active also helps lower cholesterol, reduces blood pressure, creates a more positive mood, and strengthens the heart. Make sure you have fun while being active like dancing, walking, biking or playing your favorite sport. Set a goal of doing exercises that will get your heart rate up at least 3 days a week. Sessions should be 20 to 30 minutes each. If that length of time is too challenging, it can be broken up into smaller increments.
- Keep a Record – Ladies, the best way to lose more weight and keep it off for the long haul is to write it down. Logging food is one way to keep on track long after the weight has been lost, Also, studies have shown that women who used a food diary to document every bite taken while dieting lost twice as much weight as those who did not keep a journal.
- Love What You Eat:Eat What You Love – Ladies, there’s something stressful about being forced into not having something that you want. If you love banana pudding and hot fudge brownies with ice cream but have a food plan that restricts you from consuming them, you will become a pretty depressed diva. And, trust me, that’s not a good thing because most of the time, it will backfire. Every woman deserves a treat, just as long as the portion is controlled. Instead of having half the banana pudding, have only one cookie full.
- Consistently Challenge Yourself – Although you may have already met your desired weight goal, never stop setting fitness goals. Whether it’s adding more weight to your strength training routine, walking or running a little faster, fitting more colorful foods such as fruits and vegetables into your diet or saying “no” to the extra cookie just because it’s the last one in the cookie jar…keep setting small goals and increase them as you progress. And be sure to reward yourself by enjoying a great massage, getting a pedicure, or treating yourself to a movie.
Ladies, let’s encourage ourselves and pat our own selves on the back for tipping the scale in the right direction. Start by keeping a photo of your past self in your wallet. This will remind you of where you wish to never return when you are tempted to skip a scheduled workout or tempted to make an unhealthy option while eating out.