Research shows that it is challenging to lose weight and keep it off. One meta-analysis of weight loss studies found that more than half of weight lost was regained within two years, rising to 80% after five years.
I've maintained my fat loss over the past three and a half years and hope to continue to do so as I feel good, strong, healthy, and happy in my body. Here are the lessons I've learned about how to do it.
This meant I lost weight slower, but it was easier for me to keep off because I could stick to my lifestyle without feeling deprived.
I eat all the foods I enjoy, like chocolate and cake, in moderation because even though they are less nutritious and thus less satiating than whole foods, I know I can still make progress.
2. Maintaining weight loss means continuing the same lifestyle
A post shared by Rachel Hosie (@rachel_hosie)
You won't maintain your weight loss if you can't stick to your method long term. That means you shouldn't attempt endless cardio or eating next to nothing.
I knew that if I went back to my old lifestyle I'd regain the weight, so I changed my mindset towards food and exercise.
I used to think of foods as "good" or "bad" but have learned that no food is inherently bad and all can fit into a healthy diet. I found workouts I love, and going to the gym is as much a part of my routine as brushing my teeth.
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The only change I make when moving out of a weight-loss phase is to eat a little bit more of the same foods.
I still try to eat mindfully, get steps in every day, eat mostly whole foods, work out around five days a week if possible, and eat plenty of protein.
I spread my protein intake over the course of the day, which is the best way to go according to research.
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4. My weight still fluctuates
My weight has gone up and down by about eight pounds since I first lost weight.
There are busy periods where I'm travelling or have more parties and I want to relax my diet and indulge a little more, and also can't prioritize training.
But I now know that if my weight goes up it's not a big deal, I can rein things in and shed any extra fat afterwards. This stops me from worrying about changes to my body.
It's a tool I can come back to if I want to, and I like the scientific approach: I know that if I eat a certain amount of food, I will lose or gain weight.
It's not something I would do long-term though, and I don't need to do it to maintain my weight.
The more muscle I've built, I've found that when I've weighed myself after, say, an indulgent week away, my physique has changed less (aside from the inevitable water weight).
8. Exercise alone isn't enough
Research suggests that exercising can help weight loss maintenance, but exercise alone won't prevent weight regain if you revert to eating too much because fewer calories are burned during exercise than people think.
I walk a lot too, because it gets you moving without ramping up your hunger like more intense cardio often does.
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