Anyone who’s ever lost weight knows that the biggest challenge is often
keeping it off once you’ve lost it! Most of the research has been devoted
to identifying the habits of successful people in the weight loss game.
However, a new study from the Centers for Disease Control adds to this
literature. It turns out that following a few very simple rules vastly
increases your chance of keeping weight off once you’ve lost it.
Researchers examined data from a mailed survey of US adults aged 18 or
older and analyzed data on:
*The number of daily fruit and vegetable servings
*Minutes per week of physical activity
*Dining out behavior
*Confidence in one’s own ability to successfully follow healthy behavioral
strategies.
Here’s what they found: Eating at fast-food restaurants — even as little as
two times per week –was associated with significantly less success in weight
maintenance.
And adults who consumed five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day
and racked up 150 minutes a week of activity were more successful at keeping
weight off than sedentary folks who ate less than 5 servings of vegetables
and fruits.
Here’s the take-home point. The combined approach of staying out of fast-food
restaurants, consuming five or more fruit and vegetable servings per day, and
attaining 150 minutes (or more) of some kind of physical activity per week was
a common successful strategy among those keeping weight off.
That’s a strategy that’s doable, health supporting, and obviously — eminently
successful.
Try it out. I’d be willing to bet you see some great results. Make sure to let me
know if you need any help, coaching, or questions answered. I’m here to serve!
Have a great day!
Dr. Chris Frykman
Shakopee, MN