You may have been doing all the right things and lost weight and suddenly, bingo, it’s all rushing back. You may have done a few wrong things as well.

1. Unsustainable diet plan

A very restrictive meal plan, such as a very low-calorie diet, cannot be maintained over the long term and is unhealthy as well.

Please decide carefully, keeping in mind your particular health and requirements, how many calories you can cut from your diet every day and for how long. You should also be careful about cutting out certain food groups, like carbohydrates, altogether, as it may spur you into overindulging when you stop the diet.

2. Ignoring baseline weight

Your body and brain has its own “baseline weight”. It can be higher than your desired weight. So even if you reach your desired weight, your body would constantly like to return to the baseline weight with which it is comfortable.

Your hormones will further influence your hunger and fullness levels to bring you back to that weight and you may feel more cravings and higher hunger levels.

So set realistic weight-loss goals.

3. Skipping meals

Skipping meals to cut back calories cannot be maintained over the long term. It also often leads to overindulging during the next meal, especially on sugary, fatty foods.

Balance your meals. You can combine heavier and lighter meals, but make sure your macronutrients (protein, fats and carbs) are balanced at every meal so that your body feels full and energised.

4. Little or no exercise

To maintain the right weight in the long term, you must increase your activity levels. To keep your weight steady you have to burn the number of calories you consume.

Strength training is a good way of maintaining weight. It increases the body’s muscle mass, which speeds up the metabolism, which leads to more calories being burnt.

5. Single event focus

If you want to lose weight for a wedding or vacation, it’s fine, but if your motivation is short-term, so will your weight loss be. After the event, you pick up where you left and your calories too.

Remember that weight loss is not only about looking good (though that too!). If you are reaching and maintaining your ideal weight, your health will improve in distinct ways and you will feel more encouraged to keep up the good work always!

Information courtesy: www.livestrong.com