I bottomed out on my weight loss in the middle of February after having lost a grand total of 27.3 pounds. Ever since then I’ve been a bit lazy in focusing on healthy eating and exercise. I go out to eat a lot more with my friends, and I’ve been busy enough with work that I haven’t made exercise enough of a priority. As a result I’ve seen a few of those pounds creep back onto my body.

I’m working on slowly returning to my more diligent ways of keeping a close eye on what I’m eating and doing a little bit of exercise every day. (I packed a sandwich for lunch today AND remembered to bring my workout clothes for a stop at the gym).

Health.com had a very, very timely article in its e-mail today by Tina Haupert, a writer who had very similar weight-gain and weight-loss experiences to mine. You can read the whole thing here, but I thought her list of weight-loss maxims was too good not to share:

1. Make an appointment to exercise
Every Sunday I jot down my exercise goals in my planner. Sometimes last-minute plans get in the way, but I generally stick to my schedule once I’ve put it in ink.

2. Count calories—at least in the beginning
I didn’t realize just how many calories I was consuming, so writing down what I ate helped keep me aware of what I was putting in my mouth. I don’t count calories anymore, but I track what I eat (and when I exercise) on my blog, Carrots ‘N’ Cake, which keeps me accountable.

3. Meal plan
Every Sunday I sit down and plan a week’s worth of meals. I almost always brown-bag my lunch, which means I have more control over how many calories are in my meal. I’m also able to save money by making sure I use up all of my fresh produce.

4. Keep truckin’
Maintaining your Feel Great Weight is all about balance. If I overindulge at a weekend barbecue or mindlessly munch throughout the afternoon, I don’t throw in the towel. I make sure my next meal is healthy and move on.