LOST THE WEIGHT? HERE’S HOW TO MAINTAIN IT

ABOUT 80% OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST WEIGHT GAIN IT BACK. HERE’S HOW TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN’T HAPPEN TO YOU.

- NICKY PERKS

Losing weight isn’t easy, but, in general, people figure it out and get the job done to varying levels of success. The tricky part is keeping it off. Experts believe as many as 80% of us gain back the kilos we’ve worked so hard to lose, with some ending up even heavier than before. These statistics can be discouraging, but don’t lose hope – the flip side is, 20% of us are keeping the weight off! Research into the habits and behaviours of that 20% gives a valuable blueprint to those of us tired of yo-yo dieting.

Our own unique biological makeup, the tendency to be more sedentary and a modern world that promotes cheap, tasty and highly processed foods can make losing weight and keeping it off exceptionally difficult.

We have little power over our genes and our environment, but we do have control over our behaviour: we get to decide when, what, why and how we eat.

Consistently making good choices is key.

◗ TAKE IT SLOW

First off, when you’re in the weight-loss phase, it’s important not to fall into the trap of ‘quicker is better’. Have patience. Going on a crash diet or starving yourself sets you up for failure because it is near impossible to sustain. Instead, take this time to figure out which healthy foods you enjoy eating. This will enable you to develop new and better eating habits that you’ll be more likely to stick to. Choosing a sustainable approach means that once you reach your goal, keeping the weight off will be much easier.

◗MAKE IT A LIFESTYLE