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One of the primary things that you're going to do once you plan to reduce is to line a goal weight. For most, that goal are going to be their 'ideal weight', except for many, that 'ideal weight' could also be precisely the wrong weight for them to be aiming for.
Years of dieting or being overweight have the physiological effect of moving the body's concept of the 'ideal weight' from what's truly considered ideal. The 'set point' is that the weight at which your body naturally feels most comfortable. If you have been overweight for a really while , or if you've consistently 'yo-yoed', your body may answer your initial weight loss by lowering its metabolism because it believes that you simply are starving to death. This slowing results in discouraging plateaus that always knock people off their diets entirely, and cause regaining all or a part of the lost weight.
Instead of aiming for an 'ideal weight' that involves you to reduce steadily for months or maybe years, many experts recommend aiming for shorter-term attainable goals. Since the majority of diet research shows that the majority dieters reduce steadily for about 12 weeks, then hit a plateau, that is the number that they suggest you aim for. The strategy that a lot of have found works best for them is one among alternating periods of weight loss and maintenance, each lasting 8-12 weeks.
Choose a sensible amount of weight that you simply can lose in 8-12 weeks. Figuring that the foremost reasonable and healthiest weight loss rate is 1-2 pounds per week, 30 pounds in three months isn't unreasonable. Diet until you reach that goal, or for 12 weeks, whichever comes first, then switch to a maintenance diet.
Why switch to a maintenance diet at that point? partially , you're giving yourself a 'breather', an opportunity from more restrictive eating. the opposite part, though, is that you're re-educating your body and letting it establish a replacement 'set point'. Once you've maintained your new weight for 8-12 weeks, set another weight loss goal, and withdraw into weight loss mode. By giving your body an opportunity from 'starvation', you will have overcome its resistance to losing more weight, and be back to dieting for 'the first two weeks' - the weeks that the majority people reduce sooner .
You'll even be giving yourself an opportunity to 'practice' maintaining your new, healthier weight. Researchers have found that quite half the dieters who begin significant amounts of weight don't maintain that weight loss once they are going 'off' their diet. By practicing weight maintenance piecemeal , you will be proving to yourself that you simply CAN roll in the hay , and removing a strong negative psychological block.
This will work with any long-term weight loss diet, regardless of the main target . you will find it much easier to try to to if you select a diet that has concrete 'phases', just like the South Beach or the Atkins, since the load loss and maintenance phases are clearly laid out for you to follow. no matter the diet you select , though, by alternating between weight loss phases and maintenance phases, you'll teach yourself and your body the way to maintain a healthy weight.