Weight Maintenance: A Flexible Approach
You’ve reached your goal weight and you’re ecstatic… but now what? Tracking meals and BITES for the rest of your life may seem daunting. During your journey, you’ve likely heard that this process is not just a diet but a lifestyle change. When you hit maintenance, those words become crucial. Using the strategies you learned while losing weight will help you maintain it.
But I get it, tracking everything forever isn’t appealing. Here’s a plan to ease the burden! First, switch your Healthi app to maintenance mode and get some extra BITES. Use those extra BITES and observe your weight. If your weight remains stable, great! If not, adjust until you find your sweet spot.
To adjust your BITES, click your profile picture, go to the gear icon, and select Weight Loss Plan. Scroll down to Manual Allowance and change the default. Write down your ideal maintenance BITES, as you’ll be making many manual adjustments. If you feel lost, refer back to this information. Stay on this maintenance plan for a few months to get a good idea of how much more you can eat to maintain your weight. During this time, listen to your body and assess why you’re eating. Are you hungry? Does the food taste good? Are you compensating for something? If you haven’t asked these questions before, now’s the time.
An alternative option is to slowly introduce more freedom. If you’re already on Better Balance, you’re ahead. If not, switch to it. Better Balance offers the biggest no-count list, giving you the freedom to eat without tracking. As you use the Zero BITES list, be mindful of eating when hungry and stopping when satisfied. Stay on this plan for a few months to see how you handle this added freedom.
After a few months, you should be maintaining your weight while enjoying less tracking. If you want more freedom, it’s time to get creative. This idea may not be for everyone, and that’s okay. You can try expanding the Better Balance Zero BITES list to include other healthy whole foods like whole grains and potatoes. As you add more Zero BITE foods, lower your daily BITES. A good rule after adding whole grains and potatoes is to use 80% of your current daily BITES. Adjust as needed based on your experience in the first step.
Stay on one list for a while and add more healthy foods if you wish. The goal is to have a Zero BITES list for most foods, using your daily allowance for splurges and treats. Keeping some BITES for splurges helps avoid overdoing it. This control allows freedom to choose main foods without tracking, listening to your body, and treating yourself without excess. Additionally, scan any new foods to decide if they’re worth tracking. Again, this plan may not be for everyone, but for those who are looking to maintain without tracking every single item, give it a try!
Incorporating these strategies will help you maintain your weight and enjoy a balanced, flexible approach to eating. Celebrate your journey and enjoy your newfound freedom!
