When Fat Strikes Back

You worked hard to lose weight; now for the tough bit – keeping it off. Here’s our guide to the trickiest kilogain traps and how to swerve them.

- Victoria Joy

Finally. You made it to your goal weight. The hard work is over. Isn’t it? Nope. Not based on research published in the American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, which found we’re hungrier and have a stronger desire to eat for a year or more after significant weight loss. It’s not you, it’s science. Despite your best efforts to eat more kale and fewer Krispy Kremes, your body actually wants to go back to its “set point weight” – the one it thinks is correct for you – and will try very hard to push you back there. The good news? You can stay at the size you love with these strategies.

ARGH! MOMENT

Your guns have gone AWOL

Here’s why: A study by the University of Copenhagen found 20-somethings lose 30 per cent of their muscle strength after just two weeks of not training. Yikes!

Do it now: You only need three to five resistance sessions a week to maintain muscle mass – but there’s a caveat. Those muscles of yours must also be continually challenged, so up your weights. According to the late legendary strength and conditioning trainer Charles Poliquin, “Your free weights should be between 65 and 80 per cent of the maximum you can lift – so if you can lift 23kg once, use at least 16kg for rep work.”

Stay-slim tip: A trimmer bod is also made in the bedroom. “Sleep directly affects our appetite and hunger regulation, and a constant lack of sleep leads to increased levels of cortisol [known to increase belly fat] being produced by the body,” says trainer Sam Wood.

ARGH! MOMENT

Cutting kilojoules isn’t working