 Keeping weight off is a battle
Losing weight is only a part of the battle. Once you do, you have to keep it off. Whenever you read information on weight loss plans, they always include the number of people who were able to keep the weight off for a specified period of time.
The fact is, those of us who have achieved victory in the battle of the bulge have a tendency to put weight on easier than those who have always been thin. And as we age, the battle gets tougher.
Are you one of those who has lost a significant amount of weight and put some of it back on? You are not alone. I also have to cope with weight gains now and then.
The next question to ask yourself is: what are you going to do about it now?
You have some choices. You can keep sliding down that slippery path and gain it all (and likely more) back. You can start treading water and at least stop the gain. Or you can get back on track and get the weight off again.
If you are choosing to get that weight off again (and I certainly hope you are), there are several do's and don'ts that you need to keep in mind.
1. Don't spend time blaming yourself or lamenting over what you have done. What is past is past and you cannot change it. Self-pity won't accomplish anything.
2. Do take some time to analyze what got you to this state. Have you had added stress recently such as job or family changes?
3. Do clean out your cupboards, fridge and anywhere else food is stored. Get the unhealthy foods out of the house. Your home should always be a safe zone, free of temptation.
4. Don't, if at all possible, buy any new clothes right now. Make your first goal to comfortably fit into something you already have that is too tight.
5. If you have fallen off of the exercise wagon, get right back on immediately. This is going to be your best bet for brightening your overall outlook and getting the pounds off as quickly as possible.
6. Do remember what motivated you to lose the weight in the first place. What has changed? Why did you lose this motivation? Do you need additional reasons to maintain your focus? Perhaps a visit to the doctor to check your blood counts might help to get you in gear.
7. Do keep in mind that you have been successful in the past, so there is no reason you cannot be successful now. You may need to make a few tweaks here and there to allow for current differences in lifestyle or limitations, but you should be able to revisit your previous weight loss plan (providing it was a healthy one) and get the scale moving in the right direction again.
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