Whether you've just lost a lot of weight or you have been a healthy weight all along, staying slim is important. People who carry around excess weight are at higher risk for developing life-threatening conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. In 2008, 34 percent of American adults over the age of 20 were obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and another 34 percent were overweight but not yet obese.
Step 1
Eat small portions to reduce the total number of calories you eat in a meal. Use a smaller plate or bowl to reduce the amount of empty space surrounding the food. Empty space makes portions appear smaller.
Step 2
Eat foods that are rich in nutrition, and avoid empty calories found in junk food. You will feel hungry less often when you eat good food, because the body gets all of the vitamins and minerals it needs to run efficiently. A balanced diet will increase your metabolism, and you will have more energy.
Step 3
Don't skip meals. The Weight-Information Control Network says that skipping meals may lower metabolism, which makes you feel sluggish. Hunger may drive you to eat high-calorie or high-fat foods at the next meal.
Step 4
Look for hidden dangers. Read the label on the cereal box to make sure you are getting fiber without added sugars. Find out how much fat and calories are in your favorite coffee drink. Learn the different names for sugar, such as high fructose corn syrup, corn sugar, cane juice and malt syrup. Eat fresh fruits whenever possible, but when eating canned foods, choose the fruit packed in water or juice rather than syrup.
Step 5
Drink plenty of water. A big glass of water before and with meals fills the stomach, leaving you feeling more satisfied while eating less food. Avoid drinking fruit juices and non-diet soda pop. Even 100 percent fruit juice has a high concentration of sugar, according to MayoClinic.com.
Step 6
Find a sport, hobby or other physical activity you enjoy and seek out people who enjoy it, too. Physical activity burns calories and builds muscle, both important in staying slim. Join a softball league, bicycle club or hiking group. If something is fun, you'll be more likely to continue doing it.
Step 7
Adopt a diet and exercise buddy -- someone you can play sports with or to share weight-loss stories. Agree to give each other positive feedback when appropriate and empathetic support when one person has trouble maintaining weight.
Step 8
Invite the entire family to stay slim. Eating a balanced diet is essential to maintaining optimal weight. Cooking two versions of the same meal, a healthy one for the dieter and unhealthy foods for everyone else, can undermine the self-discipline of even the most determined person. A household effort also adds a bit of peer pressure so everyone stays on track.
Step 9
Avoid buying larger-sized clothing when you gain weight. Purchase no more than two pairs of "fat pants" or more than three larger shirts or dresses. Don't buy colorful clothing or clothes that you love in the larger size -- get items you don't really want to wear. Donate this clothing as soon as you are slim again so you won't be tempted to grow into the larger size.
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