If you had to guess, how many people do you know who have ever gone on a diet?
It’s a funny question, isn’t it?
When you think about it like that, you realize that at one time or another, almost everybody you know has told you that they need to take off a pound or two.
You’d have to tally up the numbers of almost everybody that you have ever met.
It’s far more interesting – and revealing – to ask how many people you know who have lost weight and kept it off. That is a much smaller number because it is a much harder thing to do.
The people who have lost 30 pounds and then kept if off know that losing weight is only half the battle.
They know that counting and cutting calories is just a temporary fix and that if they don’t adopt healthier habits, the weight is going to come right back.
There’s a good chance that they have tried and failed at dieting before and only managed to make a permanent change when they changed their lifestyle.
The people who have been most successful at keeping their weight off share certain things in common. They might not all have lost their weight in the same way, but the lifestyle changes they've made are what has kept it off.
5 Habits of People Who Lost 30 Pounds (and kept if off)
1. They get enough sleep.
Studies have shown that people who are sleep-deprived have higher levels of activity in the part of their brains that reward eating unhealthy food.
Getting enough sleep keeps our hormone levels stable, including the hormones that tell us when we are hungry and when we are full.
2. They exercise more than other people.
A study using data from the National Weight Control Registry shows that people who keep their weight off walk 60 to 75 minutes per day or do some other exercise for that amount of time, 6 days per week.
Exercise gives a buffer against gaining weight.
3. They are careful about what they eat.
Instead of counting calories, people who keep their weight off watch their fat and sugar intake.
They eat more lean proteins and fresh fruits and vegetables to help them feel satisfied.
4. They do not deprive themselves.
They eat in moderation and mindfully. They plan their meals, and if they eat something that is high in fat or sugar, they savor them.
5. They have a good support system.
The people who are most successful at losing weight and keeping it off do so with the support of family and friends.
By enlisting people to join you in a program or sharing your victories, you make yourself more accountable.
Yours in health and happiness,
Danette
P.S. Please share this with your friends and I welcome your comments below.
