1. Learn From Phase 2
When you reach your ideal weight, you must then work to maintain it. While the South Beach Diet calls this Phase 3, it is really your new lifestyle of healthy living and eating. One of the most important aspects of maintaining the weight you lost on the plan is avoiding trigger foods. As you reintroduced foods in Phase 2, you should have monitored which types of food caused your weight to fluctuate. Simply avoid those foods. You may indulge in a trigger food from time to time. For example, you may splurge a bit at a party. However, you may need to fall back into Phase 2 if you find that you are indulging too heavily. You can also try cutting out just a serving or two of starches to get back on track.
2. Control Portion Sizes
Eating healthy is the first step to maintaining your weight, but you should also continue to eat proper portion sizes. Don't eat when you aren't hungry, which means starting with the minimum amount of proteins, vegetables and starches and only going back for more if you are still hungry. By piling excess food on your plate, you may eat too quickly or fill up on unhealthy carbs without thinking. Start with just 2 or 3 oz. of protein for each meal and stick to three to four starches per day. If you start to gain weight, cut back on a serving of starches or fruit each day.
3. Create a Fitness Routine
Along with following the South Beach nutrition guidelines, you should have started an exercise routine. To lose those extra few pounds or maintain your weight, you should continue exercising. Try to schedule 30 minutes to one hour a day for some sort of exercise. If you find your weight moving up, increase the length or intensity of your workout.
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