Anyone who has been on a diet will know that losing weight is hard but keeping it off is even harder. Getting good results from any diet takes vigilant effort and serious attention.
For most such vigilance is impossible to maintain for long periods. However, sustainable weight loss can definitely be achieved by building and maintaining healthy habits. Here are Real Health NZ’s tips to keeping the weight off long term.
Don’t diet
All diets work for a short amount of time and then they all fail because they are all so difficult to sustain. Results might be achieved initially, but at some point the diet stops and the majority of the time the weight is regained. Research suggests that in fact 95% of dieters gain back the weight they lose plus more. When considering the latest diet trend, the real question to ask yourself is “Can I do this for the rest of my life?”
Focus on the big picture
Wellness is so much bigger than “What should I be eating/doing to lose weight?” The reason to eat right and move your body should not be to lose weight. The main reason should be to feel great (inside and out) and have energy! When we focus on wellness and consistent healthy habits, weight loss comes as the by-product. Try to think about your weight loss journey holistically. Noticing how you feel and all the positive changes that exercise and real food brings to your life.
Don’t cut food groups
This is a common weight loss tactic and something that we find so frustrating. Cutting out macronutrients such as carbohydrates or fats is not the way to go. Our bodies need macronutrients to function optimally. Carbohydrates are our body’s main source of energy and of course we need energy to function at our best! Fats are important for brain function, to help you feel satisfied and so much more. It’s the quality of the food groups that are important not cutting them out completely. Choose complex carbohydrates such as fruits, veggies, whole-grains (brown rice, oats, quinoa) nuts and seeds and quality fats from sources such as avocado, flaxseeds, chia seeds, olive oil and oily fish.
Exercise consistently
Exercise is critical for weight loss, management and overall well-being. Starting an exercise routine is easy. Sticking to it is the difficult part. So many people are up and down when it comes to exercise. When it comes to achieving weight loss, consistency with exercise is the absolute key! It’s so much more beneficial to move for 20 minutes every day rather than hit the gym for a 1-hour sweat session then do nothing for the rest of the week. Consistent, steady exercise is what gets results – long term.
Be patient
One of the most common mistakes is to expect visible results in a very short amount of time. In our opinion for long-term and sustainable weight loss, it is necessary to accept that long-lasting results will not come overnight.
For more tips or to sign up to their online health and fitness solutions visit www.realhealthnz.co.nz