Strategies to Prevent Weight Re-Gain
Maintaining Weight Loss Long-term
Weight loss surgery doesn’t always follow this story arch. For the first year or even two years following weight loss surgery you may still be losing weight as you gradually reach your optimal level of health and wellness.
Once you reach your goal, it is up to you to maintain your accomplishment by sticking with the healthy habits you adopted as you were losing weight.
Even after weight loss surgery it is important to be aware of the threat of weight re-gain. By focusing on your health and doing your best to refrain from returning to old habits, you can maintain your healthy weight for years to come.
How to Prevent Weight Re-gain
To lose weight you had to burn off more calories than you consumed daily. To maintain your weight loss you’ll have to make sure your calories in and calories out are even. As long as you are maintaining healthy habits, this won’t be too hard for you to do.
Here are a few strategies that may help you with long-term weight management:
- Stay active: Keep exercise a normal part of your life. In addition to helping you maintain weight loss, regular exercise promotes optimal heart health, bone strength and a positive mood.
- Eat healthy: Focus on eating whole foods like meats, whole grains and produce. Also, continue paying attention to portion sizes and make an effort not to over eat.
- Stay positive: A good attitude can play a big role in helping you maintain your weight loss. Keep a smile on your face and don’t think about what you “can’t” have; think about the health benefits you are gaining.
Even after you reach your weight loss goal, stay an active part of the healthy community at your weight loss center. Attending support groups, not missing follow-up appointments with your bariatric surgeon and monitoring your weight regularly can help you maintain a healthy weight level.