[Meg]

Recently I grabbed a tablet of paper and wrote at the top of the page: “Things That Work” (not a great title, but the best I came up with ). My goal was to focus on all the positive actions that I’ve learned over the past few years that help keep the weight off. Personally I hate lists that are all “don'ts” — don’t eat this, don't do that, no, no, no … I wanted to come up with a list of things that I can do to make weight maintenance as easy and natural as possible.

My goal — and I’m guessing a lot of yours too — is to move my weight from the center stage of my life to the background, where maintenance becomes part of the normal, everyday pattern and rythmn of my life. I know myself well enough to know that I’ll have to eat thoughtfully for the rest of my life, but I’m looking for a list of actions that — if I follow them on automatic pilot — guarantee success.

So my question to all of you is: what have you learned to do in your everyday life that makes weight maintenance easy and natural? What things work for you, day in and day out?

Here's my Top Five Things That Work:

• Plan menus in advance
• Have food prepared in advance
• Never let myself get too hungry
• Exercise every day
• Monitor my weight regularly

How about the rest of you?

[toothfairee]

Thanks, Meg.

I too have found a few things recently that help. I have been meditating, relaxation is crucial for me. I like your exercise everyday. I have been doing it 2 or 3 times a week and it's not quite enough. I also have to not get into victim stance, poor me, I can't have that and remember it is a choice I am making. The planning ahead is important for me too. Variety is something I need, I make a new recipe every week.

Thanks
Tracy

[vmelo]

Great thread, Meg. Here are some of mine (some are repeats of yours):
1) Journal my food (in advance, i.e., write down what I'll be eating for the next day the night before)
2) Make exercise a must, just like brushing my teeth
3) Have plenty of good, whole foods around the house to eat
4) Experiment with different recipes

Can't think of any more right now, but I'll add as I do.

[3fcuser1058250]

Things that work for me :

1. Forgive myself when I slip up,
1a) The next meal is a clean one...
2. Exercise every day...
3. Reading all I can about nutrition and new exercise, from books, mags, the forums here and elsewhere...
4. Positive self talks ...
5. Planning meals ahead of time...
6. NOT let myself get too hungry!
7. Plenty of rest...
8. Avoid sugar!

Great idea Meg !

[dowsx4]

All the listed above plus:

Make it a family/friend thing so that you do not feel you are doing it alone if you can.

Make fun active things like playing with your kids or something you werent able to do before a normal part of your life.

[Joiseygoil]

Portion control is key for me --

Bagging all my snacks in one-point WW bags

Cutting my restaurant entree in half and immediately pouring lots of salt on the half I'm not going to eat (or ask the waiter to only bring half and bag up the rest before I even see it)

Also:
Having a salad and a healthy variety of what the family is eating first (e.g., they've having shrimp parmigiana, I have grilled shrimp) then have one piece of theirs when I'm finished (by then it's usually cold and there isn't too much left anyway!).

Never eating something I can get anytime that I know I shouldn't have -- like a plain old candy bar while I'm at the pharmacy check out -- and finally realizing that I really don't like, say, Kit Kat bars -- that cheap chocolate is really kind of waxy and overly sweet.

Exercise -- On nights I don't, I hang out in nice work out clothes, makes me feel like stretching and somehow gives me energy (even makes me feel sexy).

Always bring my lunch and snacks to work. NEVER go to the vending machine, there is NOTHING in there (except maybe pretzels) that is good to eat!

[Mel]

Lots of good ideas here. Here are a few of mine:
1) Try on clothes contantly, usually the ones that fit me at my absolute lowest weight a year ago.
2) Put on a bathing suit and flex in front of a mirror.
3) When I feel like I'm still a fat slug, I go put on the 1 pair of big pants I have left and realize I'm not that person anymore.
4) Have a job that kind of depends on staying in shape (I'm a personal trainer).
5) Think about how dreadful I'd feel mentally and physically if I actually ate a 4 pack of cinnabons and how long it would take to flush the mess out of my system.
6) Exercise everyday.
7) Keep the fridge stocked with clean food.
8) Have a couple of great cyberpals to share all this with!

Mel

[MrsJim]

Man you guys took all the good ones!!!

Okay here's mine...

1) Practicing environmental control - the stuff that 'calls my name' doesn't live in my kitchen (or if Jim wants it, he buys it and hides it from me!)
2) Mindless good habits - i.e. waking up and going to the gym every day without question instead of lying in bed trying to talk myself out of it.
3) Taking up a non-food hobby - for me that's been horseback riding - I can spend HOURS at the stables away from food!
4) Treating myself to a non-food thingy - like the massage I indulged in last week fer instance
5) Thinking positively about myself (or what Dr. Phil calls "right thinking").

[katia]

Things that work for me (even if don't quite have my goal body yet)...

- Actually measuring out my portions to keep myself honest about what I'm putting in my mouth
- Consistently trying new recipes and foods to make healthy eating fun
- Planning my meals for the week before going grocery shopping
- Packing my lunch and healthy snacks every day
- Only expecting myself to eat well 90% of the time, but making sure that the 10% is really worth the splurge (example: I don't eat fast food, I save my money and calories for the occasional dinner out at a really nice restaurant)
- Identifying specific fitness goals to keep myself motivated about exercising (I'm training for a half marathon right now to take my fitness to the next level and lose those last few pounds)