We all know someone who has lost an impressive amount of weight by following a weight loss plan… only to regain some or all of the weight later. That person might even have been you in the past. Why do some people regain lost weight, and what can you do about it?
Your body is trying to trick you. While we know that losing weight carries many health benefits, your body often views a weight loss as an emergency. Thinking you’re experiencing a famine or some other emergency, you might find yourself tricked by an urge to replace lost fat stores via cravings. In fact, for every two pounds that you lose, your body will attempt to convince you to eat 100 more calories per day! This will go away in time, as your body adjusts to its new weight. In the meantime, drink a glass of water when cravings strike, and distract yourself with an engaging activity. Most cravings only last 15-20 minutes.
You drastically changed your diet, all at once. Maybe you lost weight by changing a dozen or more eating habits. And that’s a good thing, if you can stick with it! The problem is that many people change so much, so soon, that they are tempted to revert back to their old habits at some point. Slow and steady changes often work better for these people. Focus on developing one healthier habit over time, give it a chance to stick, and then move onto the next one.
You focused on the physical. Yes, weight loss does involve food choices, exercise, and numbers on a scale. But if underlying psychological factors cause you to overeat, choose unhealthy foods, or resist exercise, those habits will return if you didn’t address their root cause. Get to the source of those issues, and you can make your weight loss plan permanent.
Of course, most people need support and guidance, and a hefty dose of medical knowledge, in order to truly succeed at their weight loss plan. For more information on an appropriate eating plan and exercise regimen, call us to schedule an appointment. We can offer the services and support you need both during journey and after, so that you can prevent a regain of lost weight.
