How to I maintain my weight loss?

• By Beth Meirav
• My Blog

Losing weight can definitely be a challenge. Keeping it off can sometimes seem like an impossible situation. Only about 20% of Americans manage to maintain their weight loss. Having the right tools in your arsenal is key.

1.View each meal as a Monday morning

Isolating the "setback" or "indulgence" is so important. You don't want to spiral. Go ahead and enjoy that chocolate, ice cream, pasta ... but get right back on track with the next meal and you will be fine (notice I didn't say "next day"). Shooting for perfection is not necessary. Making healthy choices at least 80% of the time is more manageable.

2.Figure out your motivation

Perhaps you chose to lose the weight and get healthy for a particular event, or an outfit you wanted to fit into or just to gain energy and feel amazing. Whatever your original motivation was, hang onto it. Keep it in the back of your mind and bring it to the forefront as often as needed.

3.Remember how you felt before

Think back to how you felt prior to your weight loss. Think of your lack of energy, perhaps your difficulty sleeping, your joint pain, the clothes you couldn't fit into, etc. Focusing on how great you feel now of course is key, but remembering what it was like in your "old body" is just as important. You don't want to step back into it. Remember, it's more challenging to be overweight than to live a healthy lifestyle.