Saturday, May 16, 2009

Relapse Mistake #4: Returning To Previous Caloric Levels Without Increasing Activity

After a large weight loss, your caloric maintenance level is now lower than it was when you started. If you return to your old maintenance caloric level, you are guaranteed to regain the weight you have lost. The math equation has now changed.

Even if you are aware of this potential pitfall, permanently reducing your calories to accommodate your new energy requirements is one of those "easier said than done" propositions. If you have gotten accustomed to eating a certain volume of food for years or even a lifetime, it's not always an easy adjustment to make. You really have two choices. One, you can get used to eating less than you did before your weight loss. Two, you can get used to exercising more. Ideally, you'll do a bit of both and that will make your life easiest!

This reduction in calorie needs after weight loss explains why increasing exercise has always been the single most cited success strategy for long-term maintenance. The increased activity offsets the lower maintenance level and it's easier for most people to stay active than it is for them to eat less than they were previously used to.

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