For many of us, losing weight – and ensuring we don’t gain it back – can be an uphill battle. While losing weight is not too difficult, a lot of people find it hard to maintain their weight. What makes it so hard to maintain our weight, and what can we do about it? One theory is that we can’t maintain our ideal weight because we go on crash diets – which are fine for the short term but not so good for long-term weight loss! The trick, they say, is to change our lifestyles – and this means changing our eating habits and getting new, healthier ones. Simply put, it’s all about acquiring a healthier lifestyle. Here, then, are the top habits you should cultivate to lose weight permanently.
Go for more doable goals
Perhaps your ultimate goal is to drop 20 kilograms or be the same size as you were when you were married or in your 20s. Although this is entirely possible, perhaps you’d like to settle for more attainable – in other words, doable – goals first. For instance, you can set your goal of losing 5 to 10 per cent of weight first, and more than this, make sure you have plenty of time to do so – don’t starve yourself! Remember that many people need a minimum of six months before attaining a loss of 5 to 10 per cent. It’s important to keep this in mind: losing weight and keeping it off is a lifetime change, not a change you can make over the course of a month.
Find a partner/s
This would be great if you could find a partner – or better yet, an entire network of people with the same goals as you. Then, you can encourage each other and be each other’s support. If you have at least one friend or family member who can be your weight loss partner, they can also hold you accountable! You can send each other emails of healthy recipes, you can swap stories of ‘falling off the wagon,’ and you can even get the newest (and safest) treatment for weight loss, such as Aqualyx fat dissolving injections – and make sure to follow a stricter regimen, so you don’t get the weight back.
Begin monitoring yourself
Once you have determined to change your lifestyle and eating habits, another way to encourage and motivate yourself is by keeping a daily journal. You can begin monitoring yourself by writing down your food intake (specifically what and how much), and you should also write down the amount of physical exercise you get (even a brisk walk around the block will do). This will help you track your lifestyle and any changes you make to reach your goal. You can write down all of this in a notebook or go the high-tech route and list it down on your smartphone (better yet, you can find an app). This whole exercise also aims to figure out what you are doing wrong and find ways to improve.
Try a new exercise
Staying active doesn’t just mean lifting weights or doing cardio on a treadmill – you can always try a new activity, such as swimming, dancing, or playing with your dog in a park. The point is to find something you enjoy doing, making it much easier to stick to a regular routine.
