You’ve worked hard and lost weight. How can you tell if you’re setup to gain it all back? Here are three signs your weight loss might be temporary:
1. It Was For A Specific Event
If you set a short-term goal, say to look your best for a specific event (a wedding or vacation, for example), then it’s very likely you didn’t have the time to adopt healthier lifestyle practices. If this is the case, once the special event has passed you will be more likely to return to old habits.
If this is you, try finding another future event as a goal. Having another deadline can prevent you from losing all of your hard-earned progress once the big event is over, instead helping you set your sights on the next phase of achievement.
2. You Lost Too Fast
If you had a drastic weight loss in a short amount of time, then it’s likely you took a more extreme dieting approach that left you with intense cravings. Once the diet is over, this leaves you vulnerable to overeating those same junk foods that led to your weight gain in the first place.
The most sustainable weight loss is slow and steady. this gives your metabolism and appetite a chance to acclimate, allows you to begin building new healthy eating habits, and affords you the ability to enjoy some of your favorite food within reason.
If you’ve started out of the gates too fast, lighten the restrictions on your calories and/or food choices. Ease yourself back into a steady pace of 1-2lbs per week of weight loss.
3. You Checked Your Weight At A Different Time
Have you ever weighed yourself in the morning, and again later that evening, only to find you gained weight throughout the day? Or perhaps you weighed yourself right after a workout to see you’ve lost a few pounds. While you may notice a change in the scale, it doesn’t necessarily mean you genuinely gained or lost weight. Due to a number of different reasons your weight can fluctuate a few pounds throughout the day.
Don’t give too much weight (pun!) to these daily fluctuations. Instead, set a standard time of day when you will check your weight. I recommend first thing in the morning, after using the bathroom but before breakfast, for the most accurate measurement.
If you fall into any of the above categories for temporary weight loss, there is still time for you to adjust your plan and settle into a more sustainable routine. Good luck!
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