Maintaining Momentum

·       Pay less attention to the numbers on the scale and more attention to how you feel and how your clothes fit over time.

·        Having more lean muscle will keep your metabolism high so you burn more calories and also keep your bones strong!

·        Remind yourself of your successes.  Celebrate them.

·        Try new activities to keep it fun and motivating.

·       Make sure you have a support system.  Family and friends can be a tremendous help as you strive to maintain momentum.

·        Consider joining a weight-loss group with goals and approaches similar to yours.

·        Reward yourself each time you reach a target, whether it is a short- or long-term goal.

·        Try to establish and stick to an eating routine.  Eating 5 times is day is best and it is important to keep that structure for the long haul.

·       Be prepared for life’s crises. If you now reach for food in times of stress, create an alternate plan so you will be ready to handle the problem without relying on food. 

·       Stick to your plan and refocus when you hit a plateau.  When you hit that inevitable plateau, try something really new and challenging to bust through it.  The same routine will more than likely not get you past it.

·       Ask for help from a trainer – many times a consultation or program design is an inexpensive solution to get exercise programs designed to bust the plateau.