If you are currently dieting, you are not alone. The vast majority of us have tried to lose weight at one time or another, and many have even succeeded.
What is much harder is keeping that weight off. It is one thing to shed a few pounds, but keeping those pounds from corning back requires much more than a short-term diet. If you want to make your temporary weight loss permanent, these 5 tips may help.
Fill a smaller plate
It may seem like a small thing, but studies have shown that the size of our dinner plates can have a big impact on how much we eat. Choosing a smaller plate is a smart habit – one that could help you maintain your weight loss for a lifetime.
Savor every bite
You spend a lot of time preparing your meals, so take the time to enjoy the flavor. Chew slowly, savoring every bite and deriving as much enjoyment as possible from every meal.
Focus on fresh
Processed foods harbor all manner of unhealthy ingredients, from added fat and sugar to preservatives with a questionable safety record. Avoid those processed foods whenever you can and cook with fresh ingredients instead.
Make exercise a healthy habit
Whether you take a walk around the neighborhood after dinner or join a local sports league, making movement part of your daily life is one habit that will pay off in many ways.
Focus on your body instead of the scale
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires more than the bathroom scale. Muscle weighs more than fat, so as your condition improves your weight may tick up a bit.
There is a reason that diets do not work for the long term. Restricting calories and avoiding fatty foods may work for a while, but the only way to keep those pounds off is to change the way you live. The 5 key habits listed above can help you transform your temporary weight loss into a permanent improvement in your life and your health.