Keeping the Weight Off!

A close friend of mine recently moved across the country to the East Coast and told me she had been getting in better shape and lost a good amount of weight. Even more important she is keeping the weight off! There is just 1 problem, and I know you are thinking how could there be a problem? She does not know what it is specifically she is doing to maintain her new weight.

Many people who have endured a long weight loss journey or just shed a few pounds will tell you that keeping the weight off is tougher than losing the weight. So true! And here is the reason. A person will work so hard changing their nutrition plan, organizing their schedule for more training time, managing the normal stresses of life and it all adds up to this goal weight. However, the goal goes much beyond losing the weight. The true goal is to adopt this new lifestyle that you have been training yourself for, which is really a life long journey.

Not knowing what her new lifestyle is like or the old habits that have become new ones, here is my attempt to answer why she is doing so great at maintaing her new weight.

1) Nutrition. I believe nutrition accounts for the majority of one's weight loss plan. Simply understanding if the food you are eating is a carbohydrate, protein or fat. How much of each food group are you eating? Precision Nutrition wrote a great article about calorie control and how to make it easier. (http://www.precisionnutrition.com/calorie-control-guide). If you have trouble measuring your food, check this out.

2) Of course you need to be exercising, that is a must. However, there are plenty of times we are exercising without knowing it. With gas prices sky rocketing, people have been commuting to work through trains, bicycles or walking. All of which require energy expenditure even if it is at a lower intensity. (If you have ever been on a train you know there is a lot of walking that takes place between your destination and the train stop). Do not rely on walking alone to burn your calories, but take note of the healthy ways you are getting around your town.

3) Sleep is a no brainer for me because your body has to recover. People tell me that as you get older you won't have time to sleep as much and I understand that. But I am talking more about sleep quality  vs. sleep quantity. I believe if you are getting quality sleep each night and being able to reach those deeper levels of sleep that it helps in the recovery process for your body.

CONCLUSION
I am very proud for my friend and her fitness accomplishment. If you are in the same position or are working on getting to your goal weight assess these 3 things in your life. What do you feed your body? Where is your exercise coming from? And are you getting quality sleep each night? Be confident that if you are eating healthy and exercising safely then you are doing most things right. As always seeking help from a certified trainer or a registered dietician is a smart choice. I am happy to answer any questions or comments you may have.