You may have noticed your weight has increased after some changes in your life. This may be a new job or change to your working arrangements, starting a family, relationship changes, a health diagnosis, or a stressful or challenging time.
These experiences may have affected how you eat and the amount and type of food you eat. You may be eating or drinking more or choosing higher-energy foods.
They also may have affected your activity levels, for example, you may be in a job where you are sitting and moving much less often. You might not be active on your journey to work and you may be burning off less energy than you were previously.
If your recent life changes have meant you are taking in more energy than before via the food and drinks you are eating, and/or you are using up less energy in activity than you were previously, then the extra energy will be stored as fat. This is known as energy balance.
A shift in your energy balance can lead to your weight increasing
You can get the balance back and lose weight healthily if you make some healthy changes and burn off more energy than you consume. On the other hand, if you are less active and eat more than your body needs, your weight may increase over time. Of course, we are not talking about that occasional food celebration; the balance over the long term is what matters.
What next?
Thinking about the factors affecting your energy balance can help you take the first steps toward achieving a healthy weight.
Ask yourself - What changed in my life?
Then delve a bit further and ask:
- How has the food I eat and/or my food patterns changed?
- Have my activity levels changed?
- How can I make changes to get the balance back?
What is right for you now?
Think about healthy lifestyle changes that are right for you to make in your life now.
Keep goal setting realistic and achievable for you.
Remember small steps that fit your life can make a big change
Think about the reasons that might have led to gaining weight and set an activity and healthier eating goal that is right for you.
Continue your journey
Click on the next page Long-term healthy weight management to continue your journey.
