The medically supervised phase gets you kickstarted, but lasting success requires making long-term lifestyle adjustments. This guide covers everything you need to know to keep the weight off.
The initial phase of medically supervised weight loss programs provides structure, accountability, and rapid results to help you meet your goals.
However, maintaining weight loss for the long run requires sticking to healthy habits after the supervised period ends.
Weight Regain is Common Without Sustained Lifestyle Changes
Losing weight under medical supervision can lead to incredible transformations in a short timeframe.
However, studies show that the majority of people start to backslide into old habits after the intensive phase ends.
Without continued adherence to diet, exercise, and behavior modifications, weight regain is exceptionally common.
According to research:
- Over 50% of lost weight is regained within 2 years after supervised weight loss
- 75-80% of people gain back much or all of the weight they lost within 3-5 years
Time After Supervised Weight Loss | % Who Regain Weight |
1 year | 30-35% |
2 years | 50-65% |
5 years | 75-80% |
These statistics underline the importance of changing your lifestyle holistically if you hope to achieve lasting transformation.
The medically supervised jumpstart cannot singlehandedly lead to permanent weight loss without deliberate maintenance efforts afterward.
Sustaining Success Requires Comprehensive Lifestyle Changes
The key to keeping weight off lies in continuing to follow the core healthy habits that led to success in the first place. This means maintaining long-term changes to your:
Diet
Sticking to a calorie-controlled, nutritionally balanced diet is essential for sustaining weight after medically supervised programs. Continue monitoring your caloric intake, focusing on lean proteins, dairy, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
Portion control is also key—keep weighing and measuring food to avoid slipping back into bad habits. Utilize smaller plates, eat more slowly, and tune into your body’s hunger cues.
Exercise Regimen
Remaining active for at least 30-45 minutes daily is pivotal to keep your metabolism humming. Continue doing both cardio and weight training tailored to your preferences and abilities.
Varying your routine keeps you engaged. Switch between walking, running, cycling, swimming, strength training, classes, etc. Consider hiring a personal trainer for accountability.
Behavioral Modifications
Tangible lifestyle adjustments enable you to lock in healthy patterns long-term:
- Continue setting SMART goals for diet, exercise, and weight
- Monitor your progress closely using charts and measurements
- Develop routines that seamlessly integrate healthy choices
- Address your relationship with food via counseling as needed
- Get support from family, friends, online groups, or specialists
With sustained diligence to the lifestyle components above—the same changes that fueled initial results—lasting success following medically supervised weight loss is within reach.
Stick to the Tactics That Delivered Results
The medically supervised jumpstart teaches tactics to finally overcome plateaus:
- Meal plans strategically create a daily calorie deficit through nutrition
- Prescription enhancements (like phentermine, Contrave, or Qsymia) boost results by suppressing appetite and increasing metabolism
- Medical monitoring provides accountability to stay the course
- Regular weigh ins keep you focused on measurable outcomes
To maintain success in the long run, continue using the strategies that delivered results in the first place.
Persistently and comprehensively applying the skills and knowledge acquired primes you to sustain transformed health for years. With commitment and accountability, you’ll possess all you need to consolidate your hard-won achievements.
Prolonged application of lessons imparted during supervised intervention facilitates lifelong positive health trajectories, one small choice at a time. You can sustain incredible change long-term through perpetual diligence.
Now that you’ve completed medically supervised weight loss, apply the tactics, education, and support structures that catalyzed initial breakthroughs to lock in phenomenal health for good.