#transformationtuesday (Scale) Tipping Tips

A recent study showed that if you can maintain your weight loss for one year, your body may stop ramping up the hunger hormones that typically make the pounds return. Here are some crucial checkpoints that you'll encounter (and pass) on your weight-loss journey.

Day 1:

To lean out for life, set a realistic goal. You can see great improvements in heath by losing between 5 and 15 percent of your body weight and you're more likely to keep that off.

Week 5:

Ghrelin, a hormose that revs appetite, begins to spike after you start cutting calories, making it hard to stick to your plan. Stay satiated by keeping low-calorie foods around, like fruits and vegetables, to snack on when your stomach growls.

Month 6:

Bored with eating the same foods? It's bound to happen by this point. Mix up your meals (add back brown rice to lunch if you've been low-carbing) - the wiggle room will make you less likely to bail.

Month 9:

By this point you're settling at a manageable weight. Shift your focus from cutting food calories (tough to maintain forever) to burning the calories you consume by upping exercise. The ideal would be 30 minutes to an hour each day, six days a week, to keep the weight off long term.