You know what it’s like to be overweight. You know what it feels like to be heavier than you’d like to be. You know how it feels to have people look at you and judge you because of your weight, and that’s why you want to lose weight.
It’s not easy, but maintaining an ideal weight is a lot easier than losing weight in the first place.
The good news is that it’s never too late — or too early — to start getting healthy. Here are some simple steps you can take to maintain your ideal weight:
- Eat a balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein sources such as fish, chicken and beans. Avoid processed foods such as chips, cookies and cakes that contain lots of sugar and fat but very few nutrients.
- Get regular exercise by walking, jogging or swimming at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week. Try to get up every morning at least five minutes earlier so you can do some stretching exercises before starting your day’s activities. Regular physical activity helps keep your metabolism up so you burn more calories throughout the day. Choose activities you enjoy such as walking, swimming or dancing. However, even smaller amounts of activity can make a difference in your health if they’re done on most days of the week.
- Watch what you drink — alcohol included! Alcoholic beverages have empty calories that can add up quickly, so it’s important to limit how much alcohol you drink during the week. And remember: Drinking too much has been linked to many serious health problems including cancer and liver disease.
- Eat regularly. Try to eat at least three meals a day and avoid skipping meals. Eat a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat dairy products. It’s also important to drink plenty of water each day.
