How Do I Maintain Weight Loss?

One of the most critical things you can do to maintain weight loss is continuing to eat healthily after you have lost the desired amount of weight. You may also benefit from paying close attention to your calorie intake and ensuring that you do not exceed the number of calories you burn each day, including the calories your body uses for involuntary processes. Exercising and finding healthy outlets for your emotions may prove helpful as well.

One way to maintain weight loss is to eat healthily. Once you've shed the extra pounds, you may wish to start eating everything you want — this is usually a poor choice, however, as it is very easy to regain the weight you worked so hard to lose. Instead, you will likely be better served by continuing to eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You may splurge now and then, but making high-calorie selections a regular choice will work against you. Additionally, you may do well to put effort into controlling your portion sizes when you are trying to maintain weight loss.

You likely had a calorie plan in mind when you were trying to lose weight, and sticking to it probably helped you achieve your goal. Once you've lost the weight, however, you may benefit from continuing to count calories. In this case, however, you won't work to create a calorie deficit — your goal will be consuming the same amount of calories your body uses, including for involuntary needs, each day. Fortunately, there are online calculators that can help you determine your calorie needs based on your height, weight, and activity level.

Exercise is also important when you are trying to lose weight, and it remains so after you have met your goal. When you are trying to lose weight, your goal for exercising is usually to burn excess calories, and the goal is usually the same when you are trying to maintain weight loss. Essentially, exercise can help you burn any excess calories you consume. For example, if you have a 300-calorie dessert that would give you a calorie overage for the day, you can work it off at the gym to maintain your weight loss.

It is also important to find healthy outlets for your energy and emotions when you are trying to maintain weight loss. Often, people eat out of boredom or as a way of dealing with troubling emotions. To avoid falling into this trap, you could take up a new hobby or focus on getting out of the house more. You might also seek support from family and friends during troubling times rather than turning to food.