Once you’ve lost the weight you want to lose, now comes the real work … not getting it back or Diet maintenance. I’ve seen it so many times. People work really hard to lose weight, and then it comes back slowly, and a little extra filler, just in case. This is the way the body was designed. Of course you don’t want to starve, so you implement a few things to avoid it, making the last few pounds the hardest to lose.
You’re trying to fight the evolution of the human body, it’s no wonder you’ve been having a hard time! Think of it as your body. Every time you lose weight, there are not enough nutrients to supply your body with energy. (That’s your job as a body, to serve energy when requested.) After this happens several times, wouldn’t you keep something in reserve as well? If you can think from your body’s point of view, maybe we can turn things around. Think about it: if you continued to have a steady, steady supply of food that you can trust, don’t you think you would give up the reserves you’ve been holding on to?
Now you can begin to understand why what you have been doing has not worked. Of course, the longer you have lost weight, regained it, lost weight, gained it back … the more your body will have acclimatized and the more difficult it will be to lose weight. We’re going to throw a curve ball at him! Something that is not expected. What if you lose weight slowly, always have enough food, and never feel hungry? You can reach your goal weight and keep it there by maintaining a proper diet.
How? You asked? You are going to have to do something different. You know the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results? There will have to be a change.
Are you continually thinking about food? “What foods should I include in my next meal?” “Is it in the fridge or will I have to go through the chicken coop on the way home?” The more you think about something, the more you will get. The law of attraction is in effect here and what you focus on will get you the most. Have you ever met someone with a poverty consciousness? They seem to always focus on the lack and get more out of it. Your body and weight are similar, except that your body has evolved to save a bit for the tough times. (no pun intended)
The maintenance of the diet should include a lot of food, so that there is no feeling of lack. After you’ve put on your ideal weight, you shouldn’t go back to your old eating habits. You will need to start eating quite often, but in small portions. Then your body will always know that there is a surplus of nutritious food and it will let the extra inch go around your abdomen. It’s really that easy, don’t think twice.
Your diet maintenance plan starts with having a meal plan scheduled a few days in advance so you don’t have to think about it. Remember, stop thinking about lack of food. By planning and not having to think about what to eat in two hours, you can relax and focus your energy on work or something else productive.
You should include a breakfast that is full of protein. You have to make sure that you don’t fill up on carbohydrates and sugar, because there is not enough substance for your body to have energy. You should eat three healthy meals a day that are smaller servings. You will have a snack between each meal to get you out of trouble. If this is done consistently, your cravings will end and you won’t feel hungry. It is very important to eat meat, cheese, eggs, vegetables, and some fruit. Remember that fruit has a lot of sugar, so be careful. More protein, less carbohydrates, and drink lots of water. Look at the ingredients in what you are eating. Is there more sugar than protein? That sugar, if not used immediately, will be stored as fat. It is best to be consistent and eat at the same time every day, if possible.