Maintenance is the stage of weight loss that comes after you reach your goal weight. At that point, you adjust the amount of food you're eating so that your weight steadies. You also continue to practise the healthy behaviour patterns that got you to your goal.
"While you're losing weight you're very focused - there's a specific end goal," says Zoe Griffiths, Head of Public Health at WeightWatchers. "But when it comes to maintaining weight loss, you have to have a different mentality."
While you're losing weight, you have the gratification of watching the numbers on the scale get smaller and of hearing compliments from friends and family.
4 tips for maintaining your weight loss
Be realistic
Losing weight will improve your health and give you more energy, but it won't cure a bad marriage or make a disliked job bearable. If weight loss brings up issues that you aren't sure how to handle, talk them over with a trusted friend or seek alternative help.
Keep active
Regular exercise is the key to maintaining weight loss. Record how often you walk, run, swim, or cycle and refer to it if the pounds start to creep back on. You'll probably find you're letting your workouts slip.
Weigh-in
Continue to go to your weekly Workshop and get weighed by your Coach, or weigh yourself. This will keep your weight in check and gauge how you’re doing with maintaining. If you've gained a pound or two, look back. Have you been eating larger portions? Exercising less? You can always get back on track. You’ve done it before, so you can do it again.
Reward yourself
Treat yourself to a manicure, a vacation, an afternoon in the hammock, or a day off from work to celebrate maintenance milestones.