If you're like me and have experienced  a significant weight loss, your biggest fear is probably that those pounds will find you again.  Here are some tips from everydayhealth.com to help prevent those pounds from creeping up on you again:

• Build more lean muscle
• Fight off hunger with more filling foods
• Avoid temptation
• Count calories
• Plan your meals in advance
• Consider adding minutes to your exercise plan
• Measure your portions
• Weigh yourself daily
• Include dairy in your diet
• Let your plate be your guide

I know there are a lot of people who say calorie counting is too much work for them, but for me it is a necessary evil. If I am not counting calories it is easy for me to lose perspective of exactly how much I am indulging.

Click HERE to learn how the above steps can help you manage your weight, then please come back and help us out by sharing your own weight loss experiences. What has helped you keep your weight under control?

Debbie

Women’s Forum   

In 2005, I weighed 217 (I'm 5'3"). For the last two years, my weight has stayed at 126-129. What has helped me maintain is portion control rather than deprivation. I weigh myself daily, as I find it MUCH easier to psychologically handle and intervene with small weight fluxuations of 1-2 pounds. I am religious about working out daily: an intense brisk walk of 90 minutes, which includes steep hills. My work outs are just part of my day, like getting dressed. I also actually enjoy yard work :). I do plan meals and have educated myself on nutrician. I have to disagree with Valerie Bertinelli's comment on Oprah, saying that "anyone can get her bikini body." I'm 57 and the elasticity of my skin is clearly never gonna be bikini worthy again...that's just a fact of aging :).

Congratulations, on your weight loss and healthy habits.  It really is about a life style change.   I totally agree with you on portion control and deprivation.

Debbie

Women’s Forum   

I've done a really bad thing Debbie, I put Joe (and myself)  on a diet and he doesn't even know it!  Since he has such a problem with portion control, I've been doing it for him.  I have a digital kitchen scale that I've been using the past week and I dish up his meals.  So each portion gets wieghed.  He hasn't noticed yet, which is fine with me.  I'm also slowly changing my cooking style.  Which he hasn't noticed either. 

A bad thing for an excellent reason.   It sounds like a good idea to me.  We are changing our habits here too.   When Glenn couldn't eat anything with fat in it while waiting for his surgery he lost 15 lbs.   I made a chicken and only basted it with broth,  I made stuffing,  and again only used broth in it-no butter. Potatoes were made the same way.  I thought it would be bland,  but Glenn liked it,  so now he has asked me to make it that way all of the time.  With Glenn jumping on the health wagon,  I am hoping I can finally get back to where I want to be weight wise.

We can't afford to throw out food,  so we will use what is here,  and do portion control,  and we will only be bringing healthy foods into the house.

With Joe, I have to be sneaky.  Otherwise, he munches all the time.  I'll buy a bag of chips and they will be gone within the hour. 

Glenn has always been like that with a bag of cookies.  I used to be the way Joe is with potato chips but after giving them up for so long I  no longer care about them.  I will eat a few at a bbq once in a while,  but normally we do not buy them.

 When we do have chips for dinner, I'll count out his (and my) chips so that he has the recommended serving amount, then I dump the remainder into a ziplock and hide it.  He doesn't notice the difference and when he wants more chips - they are all gone - just the empty bag remains!

As long as he isn't running out to the store to buy more!!!   The problem there is I could never hide the chips from myself!   I just don't bring them into the house now.

I hate having to be this way with him, but he has to get the weight under control.  He has stated several times that he wants to loose weight, so I'm giving him a nudge.  Now with spring here and summer coming, gardening season is here.  I'm making him help weed and help with yard work, so he will be getting excercise!  He is already feeling better and he hasn't figured out why! :)

He might notice soon!  When he does find out,  hopefully he will like the way he feels so much better that he wont go back to eating his old ways.

Debbie

Women’s Forum   

Debbie

Women’s Forum   

Joe had a dr.s appointment this AM.  Glad to report that he has lost 11 lbs, and I had to fess up that unbeknownst to him that he has been on a diet.  It made him real happy.

Good for Joe!   I knew you'd have to tell him sooner or later.  

Debbie

Women’s Forum   

I knew I would too (have to tell him) but not until after the habbit was formed.  And guess what, I believe it is!

I think it's easier to stick with something once you have seen the results,  Molly.

Debbie

Women’s Forum