Lil Miss Healthy: Weight Management Tips :$

I'm back again with a health post. If you want to read about my weight loss journey, click here. 

Just to recap anyway, I've been chubby most of my life; I was even bullied about my weight. Back in 2009, I weighed myself and realised I was nearly overweight and I had simply had enough of my body. Since that day I decided to take care of my body, and most important of all, my health. I was always ill (every other week might I add), had low energy and was generally moody! Since losing the weight, I feel full of energy, my mood has improved - and I'm hardly ever ill (yay!)

I've noticed that there are lots of tips on losing weight, but hardly on maintaining it. Losing weight is half the battle when it comes to weight loss.. but how about maintaining it?What's the point of only losing weight and keeping it off for a few months? Don't you want it to last forever?

I know countless people who embark on so called 'crash diets', and then once they have reached their weight loss goal, they simply go back to eating normally again, sometimes even eating more to make up for their lack of eating during the diet. 

During my weight loss journey, I ate whatever I wanted. I still do now - in fact I eat more than I used to. The reason is because my metabolism has increased. When you starve yourself, your body slows down and stores the fat just in case you happen to starve yourself again. In fact, I put on weight in Morocco due to not eating enough!!

Here are some photos of my weight loss journey.. and my journey after I reached my target weight:

     Summer 2009:  1) 62kg     2) 62kg  

December 2009: 3) 60kg

February 2010:  4) 58kg

 5) September 2010: 52kg

6) April 2011: 53kg

7) June 2011: 52kg

This is my weight loss journey, resembled by a bunch of skinny arm poses (sorry about that!)

Here are my tips on maintaining your weight:

•  First of all, never, ever forbid yourself from food that you love. I love chocolate - I eat it a few times a week and I never feel guilty. There's no point denying yourself from food you love because you'll end up craving it more and most probably end up bingeing it.
• Do not starve yourself. When I went to Morocco I was not eating enough. This resulted in weight gain. When you starve yourself, your body goes into 'survival mode'. It also slows down your metabolism and your body starts to store fat. Starving yourself wrecks your metabolism (which I believe is a major factor in losing and maintaing weight).
• I feel that my metabolism has increased since changing my eating patterns. I used to eat very little when I weighed more and now my father tells me off for eating too much! My basal metabolism has increased because I eat often, I never starve myself and I exercise.
• Speaking of exercise, try it. You don't have to spend hours in the gym, even walking, dancing in your room, generally moving around more during the day helps. Every little helps ;)
• Instead of feeling sorry for yourself if you gain weight or you're having a bad day, do something to solve it! Feeling bad may cause you to eat emotionally  which will cause you to gain even more weight - it's a never ending cycle!
• Avoid relying on weighing scales. I weigh more than I did last year but it may be due to muscle gain. I work out using weights at least three times a week so it may be possible. Remember, muscle weighs more than fat. Furthermore, during your menstrual cycle you will weigh at least two pounds more - so I suggest you avoid doing that.
• Don't be a slave to your cravings. Whenever I crave food, I try to imagine eating that particular food with hair to put myself off it! Cravings don't mean hunger - eating when you are actually hungry is way more fulfilling.
• Get enough sleep. Studies show that lack of sleep causes people to eat way more. I've noticed this personally too.
• Don't just stop exercising when you've reached your goal. The whole of July, I did not exercise (due to going on holiday). I noticed a difference in my overall health; I was tired, moody and my body was starting to lose it's tone. Try to make exercise fun for you - I have many work out DVDs but I only do the ones I actually enjoy.
• If you do feel guilty about eating junk food, try to eat healthier throughout the day or even exercise.  
• I love green tea as well as warm water and lemon as a metabolism quick fix.
• If you really want to diet, Weight Watchers have a weight management scheme that is pretty good (and it's free after you've embarked on the Weight Watchers diet).
• As you may know, I used the Paul Mckenna system to lose weight. I still don't follow all his rules, but I do try to listen to the mind programming C.D for some extra motivation (it seems creepy but it actually works) Check out my Paul Mckenna post here (if you're interested)
• Remember, diets are only temporary. If you want to lose weight forever, you must create a management plan that you can do forever. Don't be too restrictive!I've known people who have spent thousands of pounds of losing weight, instead, change your mind set, set a goal, do it for free and spend those thousands a lovely holiday as a treat!
• Think positive, imagine your ideal body instead of focusing on your negative parts. I still want to lose my stomach (my major trouble area) but I know I can do it if I work out enough and avoid eating too much. 
• I was always told that I was naturally big, and there was nothing I could do about my weight. People used to put me down, and they still do. Now I get people making horrible comments such as ' I bet you hardly eat', 'You need to eat more', 'Make sure you don't lose anymore weight, you'll look disgusting'. All I can say is, don't let people put you down. I've noticed a lot of people being very happy for me whereas others were simply annoyed. I felt that I had to justify that I eat by eating more in front of them, but now I've decided that they've probably got their own insecurities and are trying to demotivate me. If I was starving myself, I would look totally different and I find it offensive that people say things like that to me, it's just as bad as calling someone fat!

I hope these tips have motivated you!! Please share your own success stories and weight management tips! I would love to hear them. Sorry again for the posing, it's a reflex action! LOL! 

Love from Rosh xxx

Note: I'm not affiliated with Paul Mckenna. All thoughts and opinions are my own.