Whether you’ve lost a considerable amount of weight and want to retain it, or you just want to maintain your current weight, there are several ways you can manage it. Family doctors recommend following a healthy diet and exercise routine to ensure that you don’t gain weight. Below are a few ways you can manage your weight.

How Family Doctors Suggest Managing Weight

1. Plan Your Diet

A healthy diet includes a balance of lean protein such as turkey and fish, vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables including leafy greens like spinach, dairy products such as yogurt and cheese, and whole grains, which are full of minerals and fiber. You should avoid anything with excess fat, particularly saturated fats, and too much salt or sugar. To make it easier to make healthy choices each day, plan your meals in advance. Ideally, you should prepare them during the weekend. Keep an eye on your daily calorie count; the correct number of calories for you depends on your age, size, and activity level. Talk to your family doctor about any dietary restrictions or concerns you may have.

2. Increase Your Activity

Your body gets energy from what you eat, and whatever energy you don't use is stored as fat. Using more energy each day means that less fat will be stored. You should get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week. This equates to about half an hour a day, five days a week of power walking or swimming, or 15 minutes a day, five days a week of running or aerobics programs.

3. Build Lean Muscle

When you're not actively exercising, your muscle tissue burns more energy than your fat tissue does. Having muscle will help you get rid of fat. Do strength training exercises regularly in addition to aerobic exercise, targeting each major muscle group at least twice each week.

If you're looking for a medical clinic to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle, choose Patient Choice Medical Care in Hamden, CT. Serving New Haven County, they believe in forming long-term relationships with patients and offer a range of services, from basic checkups with primary care and family doctors to diabetes care and DOT physicals. Call (203) 535-0262 to schedule an appointment or browse a list of services online.