After months or years of hard work, you’ve finally achieved your weight loss goals. You feel amazing, you look amazing, and your confidence has skyrocketed. However, the hard work isn’t over just yet.

The unfortunate truth is that many people who lose weight eventually gain it back. Some even gain back more than they lost, leaving them feeling frustrated and defeated.

So, what can you do to keep off the weight you lost? The key is to make sustainable lifestyle changes that you can maintain for a lifetime. Here are some tips to help you do just that.

1. Don’t Go Back to Old Habits

One of the biggest mistakes people make after they lose weight is going back to their old eating habits.

If you were able to lose weight by cutting out processed foods, sugar, or excessive snacking, don’t go back to eating like that just because you’ve reached your goal weight. Going back to old habits will likely lead to weight gain. Continue to make healthy food choices and practice portion control.

2. Keep Moving

Physical activity played a role in your weight loss, so keep it up. This doesn’t mean you have to keep up the same intense exercise routine you had while losing weight, but find ways to keep moving.

Continue to incorporate daily physical activity into your routine, whether it’s walking, swimming, or yoga.

3. Stay Accountable

Accountability is essential for maintaining weight loss. This can come in the form of tracking your food intake, staying in touch with a support group, or checking in with a friend who has similar goals.

Knowing that you have someone to answer to can help keep you on track when you’re tempted to make unhealthy choices.

4. Don’t Skip Meals

Skipping meals may seem like a good way to save on calories, but it can actually backfire. Skipping meals slows down your metabolism, making it harder to burn calories later in the day.

It can also lead to overeating later on, as you may become overly hungry and make poor food choices. Instead, eat small, frequent meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism humming.

5. Practice Mindful Eating

Mindful eating means paying attention to what you’re eating, when you’re eating it, and how you’re feeling as you eat. This helps you become more aware of your body’s hunger and fullness cues, which can prevent overeating.

Instead of eating in front of the TV or while scrolling through your phone, sit down at the table and focus on your food.

6. Get Enough Sleep

Getting enough sleep is essential for overall health, including maintaining a healthy weight. When you don’t get enough sleep, you’re more likely to reach for high-calorie, high-sugar foods to give you an energy boost.

Aim for 7-8 hours of sleep each night to give your body the rest it needs.

7. Don’t Let Slip-Ups Derail You

Everyone slips up from time to time, whether it’s indulging in a piece of cake at a party or skipping a workout. It’s important not to let these slip-ups derail you. Instead of beating yourself up, acknowledge the slip-up and move on.

Don’t let one mistake turn into a pattern.

8. Find Healthy Ways to Manage Stress

Stress is a common trigger for overeating and making poor food choices. To avoid falling into this trap, find healthy ways to manage stress. This can include exercise, spending time outdoors, practicing yoga or meditation, or talking to a therapist.

9. Stay Hydrated

Drinking enough water is essential for overall health, including weight management. Dehydration can lead to decreased energy levels, making it harder to stay active, and can also cause cravings for unhealthy foods.

Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water each day.

10. Celebrate Your Successes

Finally, don’t forget to celebrate your successes, no matter how small. Maintaining weight loss is hard work, and it’s important to acknowledge your progress along the way. Set mini-goals for yourself, and celebrate when you achieve them.

Maintaining weight loss is a journey, not a destination. By making sustainable lifestyle changes, staying accountable, and practicing self-care, you can keep off the weight you lost for a healthy, happy, and confident life.