Most people who do manage to lose weight will gain it back again. A lot of crash diets fail in this area. While this fact might seem obvious it bears repeating. Don’t let this happen to you! Don’t be another statistic! There are a few simple steps you can use to avoid letting this happen to you. There are also warning signs to watch for, let’s look at them:
1. Speed. Avoid any kind of program or diet that either promises rapid weight loss or makes you lose weight too fast. This is a definite warning sign. The longer it takes you to get the weight off the longer you will keep it off, period. The idea of losing weight fast might be tempting and can be done but why take the chance? Why risk something you don’t need to? Usually losing weight too quickly means starving yourself and when it’s over you will start to eat more again to compensate. Your body will be craving food and you’ll have to give in.
2. Monitor. When you first lose the weight and especially if you are inexperienced you need to frequently monitor your weight before it is too late. Once you get used to your habits a little more and experiment you will be able to go longer periods of time between weigh-ins. The key here is to catch the weight before it becomes noticeable to you and to others. When the scale says you’re over by two pounds it won’t show, you still have time. If the scale says you’re over by seven…chances are you waited too long and by this point you will see it.
3. Don’t push it too far. Sure you can eat more and for longer periods of time once you are thin but don’t get carried away! You could even binge for a week if your metabolism is cranked enough but watch one week doesn’tbecome two and so on. The thing with food is that’s it’s very addicting. It doesn’t take long if you are not careful to get back fully into your old habits. Save your bingeing for when you really need it like the Christmas holidays or vacations!
4. Boredom or depression. Sometimes you can just say ‘you’ve had it’ because you’re tired of constantly thinking of the timing of meals and when to exercise etc. This is very understandable. In this case you want to just drop everything. Take a week or two off and do things you like. Read, watch movies, or anything to get your mind off of it all. Before you know it, you will miss these things and be craving to get back into the swing of things like your exercise or making a delicious chocolate shake. Whatever your routine is. If you keep these steps in mind after you have lost the weight it will become very difficult to put it back on. Don’t get stuck in a rut. You’ll be where you want to be and looking the way you want. The world is yours!
Climb the next mountain and tackle the next barrier in your life! Good luck!
Key points
- Avoid losing weight too fast, you will be starving your body of vital
nutrients
- Implement frequent weigh-ins at first to avoid noticeable weight
gains
- You can eat more after it is off but watch you don’t take it too far
- If you grow tired of everything just drop it all and take a week or
two off
- Stay focussed and aware of what you are doing
