Phase #3 of my weight loss is how I keep it off!
That is a struggle for many people out there. Phase #2 of my weight loss lasted for about 3 years. During that time, I did various circuit training workouts that I designed for myself from youtube videos.
As you can see from my weight management timeline, I did very well weight loss wise. But as with a lot of people, you have to have variety so that boredom won't set it!
My #1 Tip for Keeping the Weight off is find something athletic and fun that involves goals, and pursue that! Then keeping the weight off will be a benefit, not something you focus on.
Here are some examples:
- Master's Track & Field (this is what I do, and I will blog a lot about this in Phase #3)
- Triathlon
- Kickboxing
- Marathons
- Iron Mans (similar to Triathlons I believe)
- Power Lifting (a friend of mine does this - after he had lost 40 pounds avoiding sugar consumption & exercising in the gym at his high-tech job)
I started doing Master's Track & Field in March 2010 (which started my Phase #3 of weight loss). Frankly, I don't pay any attention to my weight. I workout with members of a Masters Track & Field Track Club. Our workouts are pre-set: 3x per week (although I'm only able to make it 2x per week).
My focus in track is getting better. I have goals time-wise in the events I run. I typically make it to the gym 1x per week. My workouts at the gym are all geared toward track: getting stronger in my core & getting faster.
So even if I ate too much like I did on my anniversary, no worries: I had a track workout coming up.
Track is also a year around sport, meaning in the off-season, we train for endurance. It's also a sport where if you are inconsistent in going to workouts, it is hard to improve.
So again, do something athletic where you shift the focus to improving in that activity, and not in losing weight!
You are so right about finding an athletic activity and sticking to it. I am a cosmetic surgery doctor from Mumbai, India and I have just started a swimming regimen a few months back and I have realized that just trying to keep up with my coach's training is physically exhausting. I am trying to perfect my technique and form and also improve my stamina in the freestyle stroke and everyday is a challenge in overcoming my own fears of inadequacy as well as battling the limitations of my stroke technique. In the middle of this, I have completely forgotten about the thought of keeping my off and these days I rarely check the weight machine because each session is so exhausting and the results are showing. I have 6 pack abs for the first time in my life and if that sure is an indication of my newfound enthusiasm for swimming and the way it is keeping me trim, lean and fit!
ReplyDeleteDr. - glad I was able to provide some encouragement! When you do any activity that is fun & the byproduct is you lose weight (when you don't pay attention to weight), it's a win-win!
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