There are so many diets and weight loss plans out there, it’s really hard to locate the one that will actually work for you.

I’ve tried a number of them through the years, but as soon as I reached my goal weight, I did what most of us do: I returned to my old familiar eating habits.

This is especially common when you’ve been eating something very different from what the rest of your family is used to, and they refuse to participate in your current dieting plan. We can’t blame them, really, but it’s a lot of extra work for the one who is trying to lose the weight. Not to mention the frustration and feelings of loneliness.

Because of that, once your desired weight has been reached, there is a feeling of relief, not only by you, but from your family. “Finally! Now we can get back to normal,” they may say. Or you may say it.

But the result of that tactic is that you simply gain it all back again… and sometimes even more than you just lost. Studies have shown that once weight has been lost, and the diet plan is no longer in use, the lost weight returns much faster than it took to originally gain it and may easily be surpassed. It’s like 3 steps forward and 5 steps back.

So what are the three tricks that will help you keep it off? First, this is what they are NOT:

It’s not a new eating plan.
It’s not a specific exercise plan.
It’s not a psychological tactic, like hynosis or anything like that.
And, it’s not even a secret.

Actually, the three tricks aren’t tricky either! They are simply common sense strategies that you need to follow… strategies that have worked for other people.

When I discovered that some of my constantly dieting friends finally found a way to keep the weight gone, I wanted to know how they did it. Luckily, they were willing to share their “secret” with me.

Now I can finally do it, too. These three strategies are quite easy. And without further ado, here they are:

1. Most important: Eat breakfast! Again, studies have shown that people who eat breakfast are more likely to stick with a diet because they don’t feel hungry by 10 a.m. and they don’t feel deprived. Feeling deprived is possibly the most common reason someone abandons a weight loss diet.

2. Keep track of your stats. Stats (statistics) basically means the numbers. Those numbers may include your measurements, or your weight. Do this
   every day, or you may lose sight of your goals. You can lose your motivation, too. It’s important to keep your goals on top of your mind. If you just measure or weigh yourself once a week or less, it’s very easy to forget about it. It’s also easy to think you’ve been doing so well, you deserve a little reward, such as a favorite dessert or some indulgence you aren’t really ready for.

3. Exercise. Sorry, but you aren’t going to keep the weight off unless you either stop eating (a dangerous approach) or work out at least a little. Our bodies are designed for movement. That’s why we have muscles and ligaments. Those are the tools of movement. If you don’t keep them in shape (use it or lose it), they will fail and go flabby, and your weight will return because you’re not burning enough calories. You can only restrict calories just so far, and for just so long. The body needs a minimum amount of energy in the form of calories just to function… just to live! If you don’t take in what you absolutely must have, it can lead to dire results… disease, disability, or even death if it goes on too long.

Now, you don’t have to get a gym membership, or even buy expensive exercise equipment. But as long as you have legs, use them! Walk, or jog, if you’re able and so inclined. Swim, if you have access to a pool. And do some arm movements. A good, albeit boring, bit of exercise is the old standby jumping jack. Doing 5 minutes of those every day isn’t really enough, but you’ll be on track to maintaining your ideal weight, and soon will feel up to doing more physically.

               

Tags: diet, diet strategies, lose weight, Weight Loss