1. Keep Eating From the Same Food Groups
One of the main positive aspects of the Ornish Diet is that is not a calorie-restrictive diet, so you won't have to reduce your amount of food intake at any time, either to lose weight or maintain it. As long as you keep eating foods from the same groups, you should be able to maintain any weight loss achieved during the first few weeks on the plan. The Ornish Diet is more of a lifelong eating plan than a weight-loss diet, so you shouldn't think of it as something to stop following after some time.
2. Follow the Recommended Exercise Plan
Take up some type of physical activity to complement the Ornish Diet. Yoga and Pilates are preferred because they encourage stress management and meditation, two elements that the Ornish Diet considers essential for living a balanced life. Eat small, frequent meals while you're on an exercise program, as this will increase energy levels and help you burn fat easier and faster.
3. Relax the Diet Rules and Restrictions
If you have trouble keeping up with the restrictions of the diet, especially when it comes to consuming the extremely low-fat content, you can try making some small changes. This is also a good idea if you are still losing weight but would prefer to maintain your current numbers instead. To find an appropriate level, start introducing some non-saturated (vegetable) fat into your diet. Nuts, avocados and olive oil make a good start. Up your non-saturated fat content to 20 percent, and see whether you can still maintain your desired weight.
4. Watch Your Carbohydrate Intake
Don't replace your lack of fat intake with high-carbohydrate intake. This is one of the most frequent reasons people on the Ornish Diet regain the lost weight. While there is no need to restrict carb intake while on the diet, you should make sure that the bulk of your meals are made up of raw items, such as fruits and vegetables, rather than processed grains.
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