Have you recently lost weight and are worried it won’t stay off? Stop worrying! Here are 5 habits that are easy to incorporate into your life that can keep you at your goal!
Habit 1: Support yourself with positive self-talking:
This habit is so important that without it, the other 4 won’t matter. You are a smart, capable, creative, focused person, but if you aren’t telling yourself those things often, and believing them, you won’t display those characteristics. Pay attention to your thoughts, if you notice you’re letting them go in a negative direction turn them around immediately. You’re only and strong and smart and capable as you tell yourself you are. Be all that you can be!
Habit 2: Make time for meals:
Meals are important. Eating on the run, or while driving/riding in a car should be avoided if not entirely, then at least as often as possible. Mealtime is one time you should avoid multitasking. Giving yourself time to thoroughly enjoy every meal enhances satisfaction and promotes a longer feeling of satiety.
Habit 3: Eat slowly:
Make it a habit to take smaller bites. Chew each bit thoroughly – 10 chews per bite. Put your fork down in between bites. Take sips of water between bites.
Habit 4: Spend more time on your feet and less time in your seat:
Make it a daily goal to spend as much time on your feet as possible. If there are tasks you can accomplish while walking, rather than standing still, even better. Sitting decreases the activity of an enzyme called lipoprotein lipase (LPL), which helps burn fat.
Habit 5: Weigh yourself weekly.
Stepping on the scale multiple times a day isn’t a good habit. Weight typically fluctuates by several pounds daily. Weighing yourself too often can give you false information that could negatively influence your behavior. Weighing yourself once a week, about the same time of day, in similar clothing can give you the clearest picture of your maintenance success. If you stray an average of more than two pounds over your goal for more than three consecutive weeks you would be smart to evaluate your actions over that same period. It could be a sign that your letting your weight maintenance habits slip.