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If you have been dieting for some time and are now at a weight and shape you’re happy with, what can you do to maintain this new you?
We all think the hardest part of getting to our goal weight is the dieting and exercise we’ve done to get here. But, don’t you feel a little apprehensive about the likelihood all your hard work will be undone over the next few months?
Do you think you can eat what you want when you want? Do you think those exercise routines you did are now a thing of the past? Oh, No!
You’ve worked hard to get here, don’t fall now. You will need maintenance forever to keep the shape you’re in. But if you’re sick and tired of being so strict with yourself over the dieting phase, change your attitude. Here are five ways to keep the shape you’ve always wanted without it being a trial.
1 – Don’t Feel Guilty if you Slip-Up
You may now feel that you can eat more and eat the nice things you were denied when on your diet. So you have a large piece of chocolate cake that’s been at the back of your mind since day one! Go ahead…eat it! Make it the treat that you’ve been longing for.
Don’t feel guilty about it.
The naughtiness that that cake has brought to your system won’t stay there for long, you can work it off. But you must make sure you do work it off! Do an extra 30 minutes training…focus on why you’re doing that extra 30 minutes and what it’s for.
You have worked hard to get into shape, doing an extra 30 minutes of jogging, brisk walking or gym work will rid you of that chocolate cake. You will soon see that eating a treat now and again isn’t bad for you, in fact it’s good for your morale and it keeps you happy. So go ahead, work with your food, not against it.
2 – Change your Exercise Routine
If you’ve been jogging, walking, swimming or been going to the gym but you’ve always hated it…try another routine. You should be fit enough now to do most types of exercise. So if you’ve had enough of running on that treadmill in the gym, buy a bicycle and go cycling.
If you had enough of pounding the streets, go to the gym, if you’ve had enough of walking, go for a swim. You can mix and match to find another way to keep you in trim. You don’t have to stay on the same regime…mix it up a little. A change is as good as a rest.
3 – Keep a Log
No doubt you’ve jumped on the scales every morning since you decided to lose weight. Well, don’t stop now. Check every 3 or 4 days to see if there is an increase in weight. If there is, wait another day before you panic…it might be just a temporary imbalance in your body i.e. water retention, or the scales might be playing up.
If you are slowly putting weight on, work out what you’ve eaten differently lately and cut it out or simply do the extra 30 minutes of exercise to work it off. Keep a check on your weight; you don’t want to go through all that dieting again. Ignore weight gain at your peril.
4 – Talk to Yourself
If you feel you are weakening in your maintenance regime and if you feel weary of keeping up a constant watch of your food or exercise routine, ask yourself some questions. Ask yourself “Were you happy when you were heavy?” And “Did you enjoy wearing larger clothes” or “Do you like getting admiring glances and compliments?” and “Do you feel happier now than 12 months ago?”
These questions should be easily answered by yourself and should keep you focused on your weight. This will also act as positive affirmations; they are positive thoughts that make you feel good about yourself.
Remember when you were worried about your weight and how miserable it could make you? Think back to the bad old days and now look at yourself with pride. It will keep you on the straight and narrow.
5 – Go to the Shops
Go to a clothes shop and buy a good quality pair of jeans that are just a perfect fit. Keep them as a guide to measure your maintenance. A high quality pair that cost more than your normal jeans will keep you focused.
If they start to become tight or uncomfortable to wear, change something until they’re comfortable to wear again. There is nothing worse than buying an expensive piece of clothing only to find out that a month later they are left at the back of you wardrobe!
5 simple ideas to keep you in check. Maintaining your shape is a big part of why you started a diet in the first place. Now you’re happy and more confident, you won’t want to slip back into your old ways. Keep in check with your health. Just remember the days when your confidence was low and your plan was so far away! Now you’re here…stay here!
