(Murfreesboro) Beware: Summertime treats can add weight. The scales show that Tennessee is ranked among the top 10 most obese states. You can be a part of changing that trend, by changing some habits.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than a third of U.S. adults are obese, and Tennessee is ranked among the top 10 most obese states in the country. Achieving weight loss is a great success worth celebrating, but keeping it off can sometimes be difficult.

The Wellness Center in the Seton Building at Murfreesboro's Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital is an excellent place to start.

Here are four tips to keeping the weight off for good:

1. Be realistic and consistent with your eating plan and pattern. By following an eating plan and pattern, you are more likely to always have healthy foods on hand, even if your routine changes. Be sure to keep your eating plans fresh with new foods and recipes.

2. Stay active. The CDC reports that people who have lost weight and kept it off typically engage in 60-90 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week. This doesn't have to be all at once -- it can be 20-30 minutes a few times a day.

3. Monitor your progress. As you lost weight, you may have discovered that monitoring your diet, activity and weight can help you stay on track. The same is true for keeping the weight off. Keeping a food and activity journal can help you track progress and identify positive and negative trends.

4. Get support. Your family, friends and coworkers can help you in keeping the weight off. Sometimes, joining with a friend or family member in their weight loss journey can also help challenge you to continue or even further improve your healthy living habits.

For more information about the Wellness Center in the Seton Building at 1840 Medical Center Parkway in Murfreesboro, phone 615-396-5500.