Posted on Thu, Jun. 19, 2008

Originally published April 30, 2007

I remember the exact date when I reached my weight-loss goal. I don't think I'll ever forget it.

On April 21, 2006, 100 pounds lighter, I tried on a size-8 outfit for the first time since college. When it dawned on me that those clothes really fit, I had to restrain myself from doing a very, very happy dance.

I wanted to buy every size 8 in the store. I wanted to call the fitness director at my gym right there in the dressing room to tell her that all of those lunges, bicep curls and sprints on the treadmill had finally paid off.

But most of all, I wanted to hold on to that accomplishment. I had lost weight many times before, only to slide back into old habits after a month or two and lose all the progress I had made.

Experts say that the biggest challenge after losing weight is keeping it off in the first year. So I was afraid that I would somehow find those unwanted pounds all over again.

Determined not to let that happen, I came up with some strategies to help me stand my ground.

And I'm happy to report that one year later, I've kept the numbers on my scale steady and I'm still wearing single-digit sizes.

How did I do it? Here are some of the things that helped me the most:

• No free-for-all days with food. Hardly a day has gone by without eating some cookies or pizza or another favorite treat, but I never allow myself to eat whatever I want for an entire day - not even on holidays. When I gave myself "free" days in the past, it was too easy for those days to expand into weekends or weeks, making me lose momentum and gain weight.

• Having some backup. Knowing that I had fallen off the wagon in the past, I asked two staff members at my gym to keep an eye on me. They had both guided me toward my goal and helped me cross the finish line, and I trusted that they could encourage me to get back on track if I started heading in the wrong direction.

So I told them to call me out if I disappeared for a couple of weeks or if they noticed me gaining weight. I haven't needed that safety net so far, but it helps to have it.

• Anticipating bumps in the road. I spent three years making gradual lifestyle changes before reaching my goal weight, so most of the time, my good habits are basically on autopilot. But I've had some days with too much chocolate and not enough cardio.

I knew those days would come, and I've learned not to beat myself up when they arrive because being kind to myself helps me get back on track faster.

• Keeping some distance from the scale. Some experts say that to maintain weight loss, it's vital to step on the scale every day. I knew that wouldn't work for me because I would feel like I was on the Diet That Will Never End. I weigh myself about once a month, but for me, the best guideline is how my clothes fit.

• Counting calories. Well, kind of. Other experts recommend that successf ul losers continue to record the number of calories and fat grams they eat each day. I don't count every single calorie anymore, but I have a handle on about how many calories are in the foods I eat. When I know I've gone a little overboard, I cut back a bit for a couple of days to keep things in balance.

Now that I've succeeded at keeping the weight off for a year, I'm more and more confident that I will never go back to my old couch-potato ways.

Did I celebrate my first weight-loss birthday? You bet I did.

In fact, I think I like this birthday better than the day I was born because I worked so hard to earn this one.

So somebody pass me the cake - but just a small slice, please.

My life is sweet enough already.

Reach Kathy Manweiler at 316-268-6266 or kmanweiler@ wichitaeagle.com.