How to prevent weight gain after you've lost it
Most of us know what we should do in order to lose weight. The trouble is that more often than not we will end up putting it back on again further down the track.
This tends to happen when we don’t identify the issues surrounding our eating patterns in the first place. We then fall back into old habits and the weight comes back (sometimes even more than you started with).
Here are some tips so that you can avoid the dreaded yo-yo diet pattern.
1. Start small
Rather than cutting out a particular food group or your favourite food (hello chocolate) it’s better to take baby steps.
So if you feel as though you are eating too much of a certain food such as bread you could take a look at your day and make some changes.
Maybe instead of toast for breakfast and a sandwich for lunch you could switch the breakfast to cereal or eggs instead. This is more effective as you aren’t cutting out all of the food you love, but just being more mindful.
2. Look inside
Many of us reach for certain foods like ice cream or chocolate when we are tired, hormonal, stressed, upset or whatever else triggers you.
Try to find what sets you off and take a step back to ask yourself, ‘do I really need to eat this, or am I just feeling upset?’
Noticing your emotions and dealing with them is a much more effective long-term diet strategy than just willpower.
3. Find alternatives
There may be healthier options for the things you love, or consider making them yourself instead of buying them. For instance, homemade banana bread has a lot less sugar than a commercial product.
You might find that you are just as satisfied with some homemade crunchy baked salt and vinegar chickpeas instead of a bag of crisps. Try new things to see if you can satisfy cravings in more nutritious ways.
You can also introduce healthier habits into your life in general. For instance, you could try meeting a friend for a walk instead of a long lunch; or join a yoga class to meet new people instead of a sedentary activity.
Have you had success losing weight and keeping it off? Have you got any tips to share? Let us know in the comments section below.