The Last Fifteen

TopazCutie

Active member
The Last Ten

I want to start this diary to see if it will help keep myself accountable for the last 8 lbs.

HW: 160 lbs (72kg)
CW: 138 lbs (62kg) *edited*
GW: 129 lbs (58kg)

The main things that helped me lose weight:
  • Drinking black tea/coffee (no cream or sugar)
  • Reading 'Wheat Belly'
  • Walking everywhere
  • Making smoothies
  • Bringing my own lunch
  • Reducing sugar

Okay so now I've been in the 140's for months now. I'm not going to call this a plateau because I know I wasn't making the proper effort to lose the last bit of weight. I know it's harder to lose these last 10-15 because my body is getting closer to the ideal weight and doesn't want to let go of the extra. I get it.. but this just means I have to work a bit harder.

My plan to help me lose weight is pretty simple - just keep doing what I've been doing. I'm going to get more strict with myself though with avoiding wheat and walking more especially since it's getting warmer out.

Today was a good day, walked over 13k steps (according to my FitBit, which is a great investment by the way if you love walking). Weighed in at 143. Eating was okay, it was kind of sporadic because it's Sunday and I don't have a set schedule. But as usual I ate most of my calories in the evening.

Thanks for stopping by. I'm looking forward to a new day tomorrow and a new opportunity to get closer to my goals :0
 
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It's just past noon and today's off to a good start. I'm almost done my detox drink (1.5 L of water mixed with freshly squeezed lemon and pure cranberry juice). Planning to take a long walk after work and make a green smoothie tonight using kale. TOM is here which explains the bloating these past few days – dandelion tea should help. Mini goal for this week is to make it into the 130's, that would be awesome
 
End of day 1... went wheat and gluten free today :) just finished drinking my kale smoothie (absolutely delicious! ingredients: kale, strawberries, banana, lemon juice, vanilla almond milk). I walked 15,000 steps according to FitBit. On my way home I stopped by Walmart and got a water infuser bottle, put some fresh lemon and cranberry juice in there to let it steep in the fridge overnight. Today was a great day! Hope day 2 is the same if not better. Night night!
 
Day two: Good morning! I woke up feeling really great today. Dodged a bullet last night as there was pizza but it was late and I already had my last meal of the day so I just went to bed. Today my detox drink is a bit stronger than I would like, it looks like juice but I was going for a more "infused water" type thing. Oh well, the important thing is no sugar! Going forward will keep in mind to add less cranberry juice to the mix. As for exercise, maybe I could get 20,000 steps in today.. Actually you know what?? I *WILL* get 20,000 steps in today. That’s better haha =) I think that’s about 10 miles.

Only three pounds to go until I’m in the 130’s – way too close to mess this up (again).
 
Welcome to the forum! Congrats on the weight you have already lost, that's awesome! And it's great that you know what works for you.

Great job avoiding the pizza too! I have had no will power lately.

Walking can be really great, and with the weather warmer up it's much better. You *WILL* hit that 20,000 steps mark today :)

I too am looking to still lose about 15 lbs more. I have made very little progress but I know it's my bad eating and lack of exercise doing it. Need to step up and get going on this though, no more time to waste! There are just so many temptations out there and I've been super emotional with no will power, especially the last 2 days.
 
I understand completely where you are. I am actually trying to lose my last 6 pounds. I just keep stumbling the last 6 months. I have been training with a personal trainer 5 days per week for the last 6 months. I just keep giving in to my sugar cravings. I just joined this forum today because I have been reading it for a couple of years for support. I think if I write down my food intake and calories it will keep me accountable. I aim for only 1300 calories per day. I am a vegetarian, but I eat eggs if they are cruelty free and free range. I am 5' 3" and weigh 121 pounds. I am petite, but I store a lot of fat in my midsection, so I look odd in clothes. I am 43 years old and I have struggled to stay under 150 pounds since I was 17 years old. I come from a very obese family. No female is under 200 pounds, this includes my immediate family and cousins etc. Two years ago I got stressed out and got up to 148 pounds. I have been working since then to get down to 121. I have to do this! I am so tired of camouflaging this muffin top.
 
Welcome to the forum! Congrats on the weight you have already lost, that's awesome! And it's great that you know what works for you.

Great job avoiding the pizza too! I have had no will power lately.

Walking can be really great, and with the weather warmer up it's much better. You *WILL* hit that 20,000 steps mark today :)

I too am looking to still lose about 15 lbs more. I have made very little progress but I know it's my bad eating and lack of exercise doing it. Need to step up and get going on this though, no more time to waste! There are just so many temptations out there and I've been super emotional with no will power, especially the last 2 days.

Thanks for the welcome icychic! I did end up walking 20,687 steps today! Congrats on your weight loss as well. Good luck getting back on track -- you're already halfway there keep it up :)

I understand completely where you are. I am actually trying to lose my last 6 pounds. I just keep stumbling the last 6 months. I have been training with a personal trainer 5 days per week for the last 6 months. I just keep giving in to my sugar cravings. I just joined this forum today because I have been reading it for a couple of years for support. I think if I write down my food intake and calories it will keep me accountable. I aim for only 1300 calories per day. I am a vegetarian, but I eat eggs if they are cruelty free and free range. I am 5' 3" and weigh 121 pounds. I am petite, but I store a lot of fat in my midsection, so I look odd in clothes. I am 43 years old and I have struggled to stay under 150 pounds since I was 17 years old. I come from a very obese family. No female is under 200 pounds, this includes my immediate family and cousins etc. Two years ago I got stressed out and got up to 148 pounds. I have been working since then to get down to 121. I have to do this! I am so tired of camouflaging this muffin top.

Thanks Bella, good luck with the last few pounds and great job on beating obesity when it runs in your family

I wanted to provide a link to an article on metabolic rate and calories.

Thanks I'll check this out :)
 
End of day 2... another great day! Just finished drinking a green smoothie and coconut water. Today during my walk I kept visualizing what I will look and feel like at my goal weight, the clothes I'll wear, and the weather by the time I reach it (very hot!). Visualization is pretty important to help keep motivated.

Didn't have any wheat/gluten foods today. Also dodged a bullet: half price wing night at the local bar. I would have gotten a pound, plus it comes with fries and a drink. Yikes! One day I will enjoy those, but for now, I'll pass. Too close to the 130's to throw it away for a french fry. I know what you're thinking... portion control, Topaz! You don't have to eat the whole thing at once. Save the rest for later. But sadly my portion control sucks. With certain foods and in certain circumstances, I throw caution to the wind and eat until I'm physically uncomfortable. So I prefer to just avoid the situation entirely until I have things under control.

I'm surprising myself with my reasoning and willpower - keeping this diary is definitely helping so far.
 
Day 3 - Good morning!! I have a feeling that today's going to be a great day. I weighed in at 141.2 – yay! So close to the 130’s I can taste it. If ever there was a time to stay focused, now is that time.
 
I am the same way. I have no portion control. I have to eat until I hurt. I walked 4 miles yesterday. It took every ounce of will power to not buy a white chocolate Kit Kat bar at the checkout @ Home Depot. Last week I bought 4 of them and ate 2 in the car while driving home. So far this morning I have eaten 260 calories and I am on my way to my 1 hour training session. I am going to do what you do and visualize wearing jeans without a muffin top hanging over. I only get a few minutes satisfaction from eating, but not having a fat roll hanging over lasts forever. Good job on discipline, Topaz!! I remember when I broke the 130's mark. Soon enough you will break the 120's mark. It is a good feeling!!
 
I am the same way. I have no portion control. I have to eat until I hurt. I walked 4 miles yesterday. It took every ounce of will power to not buy a white chocolate Kit Kat bar at the checkout @ Home Depot. Last week I bought 4 of them and ate 2 in the car while driving home. So far this morning I have eaten 260 calories and I am on my way to my 1 hour training session. I am going to do what you do and visualize wearing jeans without a muffin top hanging over. I only get a few minutes satisfaction from eating, but not having a fat roll hanging over lasts forever. Good job on discipline, Topaz!! I remember when I broke the 130's mark. Soon enough you will break the 120's mark. It is a good feeling!!

Thanks so much! Kit-Kat Chunky is my ultimate favorite chocolate bar, I used to have one every day. Agreed that the satisfaction is temporary and the results last much longer -- I dodged several bullets yesterday (cookies, chicken wings etc) and don't miss them at all, in fact I probably wouldn't even remember eating them or how good they taste upon waking up today. Until I'm reminded on the scale..
 
Here's a questionnaire I saw in Loch's journal (thanks!). The idea is to do one question daily but I'm currently bored so doing them all at once lol. Think it's a great idea for you to get to know me.

1. Write your current stats: height, current weight and goal weight. Why are you losing weight?
Height: 5'6"
Current weight: 141.2
Goal weight: 129

I'm losing weight to help me look and feel my very best.

2. Describe your dream/goal body.
Pretty much the body I have now, on a smaller scale. Maybe with a little more booty, hehe

3. Is your UGW in an unhealthy range of BMI?
No it will be 20.8 - perfectly healthy :)

4. Have a vegan day today. No meat, no eggs, no dairy, no animal products whatsoever. Give it a try!
Okay why not :)

5. What is your favorite healthy food?
Currently fresh lemon. It helps spice up my water and adds that extra zing to smoothies.

6. What is your favorite unhealthy food?
Candy

7. What is your least favorite healthy food?
Anything modified and marketed as low-calorie, sugar-free, low-fat etc. When they took out the "bad" stuff it was likely replaced with equally bad stuff.

8. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
I lost like 3lbs this week so far and my plans are to continue what I'm doing and stay more focused than ever.

9. What is your favorite type of cardio?
Walking for sure. Next running -- I'll be running a 10K race next month =) Wish me luck!

10. Do you count calories? If so, what is your daily limit?
Nope

11. Today you will be cooking for your whole family. Find a healthy recipe online that they will also enjoy and show them how tasty healthy food can be!

Taken from:

Basic Chicken Quesadillas - Yum!

Ingredients

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese (about 2 ounces)
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 2 ounces)
4 flour tortillas (10-inch)
11/2 cups cooked chicken (shredded, about 8 ounces)
2 tbsps chopped fresh cilantro (coarsely)
guacamole (for serving, optional)
salsa (for serving, optional)
sour cream (for serving, optional)

Combine the cheeses in a medium bowl.
Heat a large frying pan over medium heat until hot, about 3 minutes. Place a tortilla in the pan and sprinkle with half of the chicken, half of the cilantro, and and half of the cheese mixture. Top with a second tortilla and cook until the underside of the bottom tortilla is golden brown in several spots and half of the cheese is melted, about 3 minutes. Using a spatula, carefully flip the quesadilla over and cook until the underside of the second tortilla is crisp and golden brown in several spots and all of the cheese is melted, about 2 to 3 minutes more.
Slide the quesadilla from the pan onto a cutting board and cut into wedges. Repeat with the remaining ingredients to make a second quesadilla. Serve topped with guacamole, salsa, and sour cream, if desired.

12. What is your least favorite type of cardio?
Stairs. They're BRUTAL!

13. What is your favorite type of strength exercise?
Crunches

14. What is your least favorite type of strength exercise?
Push ups. My upper body strength sucks :(

15. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
Doing these questions all in one day so just gonna skip this one haha.

16. Which part of your body do you wish to change the most and why?
Probably my bum because it's too flat

17. Do you have a special event/date you want to lose the weight for?
Doing it for summer 2014 in general <3

18. Try to use as little salt as possible today or maybe even none! Don’t buy microwave meals and don’t eat foods high in sodium.
Easy. I rarely add salt to my dishes and am not a fan of microwave meals.

19. Are you losing weight the healthy (<2lbs/week) or the unhealthy (>2lbs/week) way?
You can be unhealthy and still lose 1-2 lbs per week. I don't think losing more than that should be considered "unhealthy" -- your methods are what should determine whether the weight loss is healthy/unhealthy. Just saying!

20. Who is your biggest weight loss inspiration and why?
Angela Simmons. She went from being the fat sister to the fit one :)

21. Do you focus more on getting lean and mean or tiny and fragile?
Lean and slim for sure. I don't want to be a stick. Ever.

22. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
--

23. How much water do you usually drink in a day?
A ton. 1-3 liters a day.

24. Have you ever had an eating disorder?
Nope

25. Today you will try a new smoothie. Find a new healthy recipe online and mix & match fruits and veggies and enjoy! But it must be totally new and adventurous!
Probably not going to do this today, but I will soon! Today I'll probably make a green smoothie (kale + strawberries + banana + vanilla almond milk + lemon juice). Soo yummy! However I did purchase a Smoothie Recipe book so definitely will be trying new and adventurous ones in the near future.

26. Do your friends know about you wanting to lose weight? Do they support you?
I haven't really been making my weight loss goals public enough to warrant/solicit any support from friends. But those who do know are indifferent

27. Does your family support you in your weight loss?
Same with above. Except my mom, she's definitely sabotaging my efforts lol. She will bring my favourite crappy food into the house and even today she offered to get me a breakfast sandwich from McDonalds. Those things are the enemy lol! They are delicious but I was addicted to them and once I cut them out the weight same right off. But I digress...

28. What is your favorite type of snack?
Tangerines/clementines

29. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
--

30. Are you a vegan or a vegetarian?
Nope

31. What are your favorite workout clothes you own?
Lululemon tights hands down!!! I have a size 10 pair and a size 8. Can't wait to own and fit a size 4.

32. Try a new fruit today. Learn how to cut/eat it and enjoy! How was it?
I did this with papaya when I went grocery shopping on the weekend. Delicious, it's my new fave

33. Are you on a diet or are you making this a lifestyle?
Lifestyle for sure!

34. Do you take your meals from home to work? If so, what do you usually prepare?
No, but I should.

35. Have you ever fasted? What was the reason for it?
Yup I fasted for surgery and fasted when I got my wisdom teeth taken out. Now I do it voluntarily sometimes anywhere from 16 hours to 48 hours but I still get all my calories in for the day, just in a shorter time period. (its called intermittent fasting)

36. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
--

37. Have you ever purged? If so, how did you feel afterwords?
Hell no I can't even remember the last time I threw up

38. Have you ever binged? If so, what is your binge food?
Yeah lol. I ate almost a while box of chocolate chip cookies right before starting this journal actually. My binge foods are typically carbs/chocolate.

39. Try a new veggie today. Learn how to prepare it and enjoy! How was it?
I'll pass on this for today. I already went grocery shopping on the weekend not trying to go back until my current stash is done =)

40. What is your body frame? Small, large or medium?
Small frame. I know this because if I wrap my fingers around my wrist, they overlap.

41. Where are you from? Is your country’s diet healthy or unhealthy in general?
From Canada. Pretty sure our national food is poutine (fries, gravy and cheese) so that says a lot lol.

42. How many meals do you usually have a day?
3

43. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
--

44. Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend? Does (s)he know about you losing weight? Does (s)he support you?
Yeah he knows =) He's indifferent about it. After my workouts and stuff he will be happy/proud of me though. Too sweet <3 I think our relationship is a subconscious reason for me wanting to lose weight as well. We go out to eat sometimes and "relationship weight" is no joke.

45. Do you have a rest day when you don’t work out? Which day is it?
Nah I just go with the flow. I don’t have a gym membership anymore and it's still technically winter so my main form of working out is walking, which at this point just depends on the weather. Solid plan right? Haha.

46. Try changing your routine today. Don’t do the same exercises as the week before, learn a new move to cinch that waist or to tone those thighs!
Hm. Maybe I'll do a Jillian Michaels DVD tonight.

47. Have you forbidden yourself any type of food?
Forbidden is a harsh word. I've finally weaned myself off of bagels, McDonald's breakfast sandwiches, and chocolate bars.

48. Do you reward yourself when you reach your short-term goal? What are your rewards?
Omg! Yes! Besides being a good weight (reward in itself) I also have some external rewards that revolve around self-improvement (and not food!)
Reward ideas: Get my hair done, hair product haul, makeup haul, workout gear, lunch bag, new clothes, a colonic, bikinis, Brazilian wax, mani-pedi, a corset.

49. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Coffee

50. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
--
 
51. Do you have a cheat day?
I don't plan it but sometimes it happens. Meh!

52. What do you enjoy the most in your weight loss? What makes you happier than ever before?
Stepping on the scale to a number I haven't seen in ages excites me. Last year when I got to my lowest adult weight of 138 it made people (especially co-workers) notice, compliment and ask for advice. Being able to inspire people makes me happy.

53. Try to eat nothing but raw food today. No cooking, no baking, no grilling. Eat raw carrots, canned tuna or smoked salmon, maybe even sushi! Just eat fresh, non-termal processed food. It might be weird and unnatural but that’s actually the healthiest way to eat. Enjoy your healthy day!
Lol okay sure why not. So looks like today I'm avoiding animal products, salt/sodium, and cooked foods. I love a challenge lol!

54. What is your favorite weight loss blog?
I don't have one at the moment

55. Will you continue to write your blog after you reach your UGW?
Yes! I also plan to weigh myself regularly for like a year after in order to keep me from ballooning again. I would like to maintain 129-135lbs.

56. Have you ever been on a low-carb diet? How was it for you?
Nope. But I've heard they really work. My problem with them is that awesome things like specific fruits are to be restricted. No thanks.

57. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
--

58. Do you believe in restriction or in moderation?
Everything in moderation. Too much restriction breeds rebellion.

59. Describe your dream outfit, the one you imagine yourself wearing once you reach UGW.
Okay so by the time I reach my UGW it will probably be summer. I can see myself wearing a really cute floral dress/romper with gladiator sandals and sunglasses holding my straightened hair back. Cute!

60. Ditch sugar and ALL sweets today. For just one day promise yourself you won’t eat any candy, sugar, sweets or any similar food.
Okay this is gonna be hard...I have 3 bags of candy sitting at home as I type this..

61. Write your usual meal plan for one day.
This is the PLAN, which means it's not always typical. But working on making it so!
Breakfast: Green smoothie
Lunch: Chicken salad/wrap
Dinner: Fish and veggies

62. watching TV, do you usually watch the "food channels" or movies/TV-shows/series?
Food channel always lol! Or something on TLC/Slice Networks. I rarely watch TV though I'm more of a youtuber.

63. What are your fitness goals? (Splits, hand-stands, push-ups…)
To be able to run 10K in under an hour.

64. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
--

65. Post a picture of your goal body or a person you strive to look like.
I've given up on this idea a looong time ago. It's not healthy to strive for another person's body because it will never happen. Even if you lose weight your proportions will be different than theirs. So yeah, next!

66. Do you have short-term goals too? What are they?
Yup! I own a FitBit and one of my daily goals is to walk at least 10,000 steps.

67. Today is no Internet day. That’s right, you will try just one day to be off the Internet, post your progress/food log/training schedule tomorrow, because today, you are going back to basics!
Nah lol. I need it for my job

68. What is your least favorite unhealthy food?
Processed cheese slices. So nasty!! I also don’t get the type with Nutella.

69. Which part of your body do you like the most and why?
Boobs because they're big so after I lose weight they'll still be around :)

70. Were you ever obese or underweight?
I was considered overweight based on my BMI during University. As a child I was underweight because I loved to run around and was an extremely picky eater.

71. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
--

72. Do you eat the same meal as your family or do you eat specially prepared food?
I eat my own stuff. Sometimes I'll have what they make but they tend to bring home pizza, Chinese etc. so I try to avoid eating that stuff with them.

73. What do you usually order when eating out in a restaurant or at someone else’s house?
Order at a restaurant: some kind of fish + veggie dish.
At someone's house: whatever they have/prepare. I'm not picky as a guest in someone's house. It's not that serious!

74. Today you won’t count calories. You won’t look at food labels. You will try to eat intuitively. What does that mean? Eat when you’re hungry, don’t look at the clock! Eat whatever your body desires! Just make sure it’s healthy. If you crave anything sweet, eat it! But a healthy amount. And remember, today you must forget all about calories!
Been doing this already. It works :)

75. Do you have a trigger food? A type of food that is impossible for you to say no to or stop eating?
Salted cashews are my weakness!

76. Do you drink smoothies? If so, what is your favorite recipe?
Yup love them! My favourite recipe is one I made over the weekend: papaya, banana, strawberries, lemon and vanilla almond milk <3 No exact measurements, I just kind of eyeball it.

77. Do you enjoy eating healthy or do you find it being too expensive or that it takes too much of your time?
I genuinely enjoy eating healthy and grocery shopping for healthy stuff =) I draw the line at organic though, I don't really care that much.

78. Write your current weight. Have you lost anything in the past week? If not, what are your plans for this week?
--

79. What was the most recent compliment/comment about your body?
I can't remember. All I've been wearing is big comfy sweaters this whole winter. Once it warms up it will be just in time to reveal the "summer body" and I'm sure there will be comments then ;)

Wow. This killed a lot of time =) Hopefully you guys know more about me now!
 
Day 3 coming to a close... was another great day. I put mind over matter and barely had any cravings/temptations. We got out of work early due to the crazy snow storm. Currently drinking a delicious green smoothie at home =) Planning to IF tomorrow. Now to get some rest!
 
Morning!! Day 4… Last night I had trouble falling and staying asleep :(

My plan for today is to simply stay consistent and keep up what I’ve been doing the last few days which includes keeping very hydrated.
 
Lunch time check in… so my favourite salad place is increasing their prices next week. Boo!!! I guess now is a good time to start cooking and bringing my own lunch to work. I already have some ideas.. just a matter of doing the grocery shopping this weekend. As for today’s lunch, it’s a salad loaded with chicken, avocado, feta cheese, corn, egg, olives, quinoa and cucumber. All of this for under five bucks! Well the price is going up starting next week so I’ll probably have the same thing tomorrow.

I’ve officially lost 20 pounds. Looking back I was not happy or comfortable at my highest weight of 160 and now I’m really looking forward to losing the last ten because I would love to go shopping for summer clothing based on what looks good, rather than what camouflages my body the most.
 
I saw a relevant article on the Globe and Mail today. Good tips! I bolded the points that really stood out to me.

With summer just around the corner, losing a few pounds is top of mind for many people. And if you've been working hard since the New Year to shed excess weight, you're probably anxious to drop those last 10 before swimsuits and shorts become regular weekend attire.

Ah, those last 10 pounds. Why are they so hard to get rid of? It's a question I'm often asked by clients in my private practice. After successfully losing 15, 20 or more pounds, why do they find it so tough to tackle the last few?

Sometimes it's because they've hit a wall or reached a plateau despite determined effort. But more often than not, human nature is to blame. After achieving most of a weight-loss goal, it's only natural to feel great. After all, your clothes fit better, you have more energy and you're proud of your new healthy eating habits.

But that new-found comfort comes at a cost. As you lose sight of your original target, old habits lie in wait ready to take hold and prevent you from reaching your goal.

There are many reasons why weight loss can come to a screeching halt. If you're struggling with the last portion of your weight-loss goal - and yes, it is the most challenging - take a moment to identify what's getting in your way. Once you've determined the culprit, use the tips below to push you to your goal.

You got off track and didn't get back on

You're human. That means you're bound to go off your plan occasionally. The most important thing to do is move forward. Don't berate yourself. Don't tell yourself "the rest of the day is a write-off." Instead, get back on track and the sooner the better.

One lapse won't make any difference to the scale. But if you let those slips accumulate, they will inevitably show up. Remind yourself of all the positive changes you've made so far. One or two dietary blunders aren't going to undo all your hard work.

Your portion sizes are creeping up

It happens so gradually you don't even notice. Instead of one cup of rice, you're serving yourself 1.5 cups and an extra 100 calories. The chicken breast that not long ago was a precise four ounces now weighs in at six ounces. You're even more liberal with how much orange juice you pour into your glass at breakfast.

A few extra calories here and there might seem benign. But they add up.

If this sounds familiar, refresh your memory about portion sizes. For two weeks, measure and weigh your foods again. That might be all it takes to get your weight loss back on track.

You let too many "extras" sneak in

An extra dessert, a few tastes while making dinner, a bite or two off your kid's plate. Those extra calories can - and will - stall your weight-loss progress.

Twenty pounds ago, you could get away with eating something extra here and there and still lose weight each week. But not any more. As you lose weight, your metabolism naturally tends to slow down a bit. When your body has less weight to carry around, it burns - and requires - fewer calories. That means you have less calorie leeway than you did a clothing size ago.

To follow your meal plan more closely, resume keeping a food diary. Write down every bite and track your portion sizes too. You might be surprised to see how often extra calories sneak into your diet.

You're not consistent on the weekend

I've written about this common phenomenon before. I call it chasing the same two pounds. Straying from your plan on the weekend - larger meals, drinking wine, a few extra snacks - can cause the needle on the scale to jump Monday morning.

But those few extra pounds will be mostly from water. Extra carbohydrate and sodium consumed over the weekend causes your body to retain fluid - a situation that returns to normal in a couple of days. Then, the following weekend, you regain those two pounds. The end result: no progress.

To achieve steady progress toward your goal, be consistent with your eating habits on the weekend. Don't view Saturday and Sunday as vacation days from your diet.

If weekends are your trouble spot, keep a food diary Friday through Sunday. Better yet, make a meal plan in advance for the weekend.

You're less focused on your goal

It's understandable. You haven't felt this good in years. You've steadily lost a few pounds each week and now fit into a smaller-sized wardrobe. It's not unusual to get lax about the last 10 pounds. But a laid-back attitude can backfire in all the ways described above.

Keep your eye on the prize by breaking down those last 10 pounds into smaller short-term goals, such as 3 to 5 pounds a month, that motivate you to stay focused.

You've hit a plateau

When you stop losing weight without changing your diet or exercise level, you've hit a weight-loss plateau. As frustrating as they are, plateaus are a natural part of weight loss. They often occur when you reach a weight that you haven't been below for quite some time.

Eating less food usually isn't the way to break through a plateau. It's far more effective to ramp up the intensity of your exercise to burn more calories. If you've been doing the same workout for months, challenge your body by making your cardio workout harder or adding strength training to your program.

All that said, pat yourself on the back for your success so far. As you're probably learning, it takes the same hard work to maintain your loss as it did to lose those pounds.

So don't get too comfortable. Whether you plan to see it to the finish or hold steady where you are, stay focused along the way.


From:
 
I'm experiencing some serious cravings right now. I know I'm not truly hungry because I just had lunch... gonna stick it out until I'm done work -- less than an hour left. Once I start my commute home I'm sure the cravings will go away.
 
Day 4 winding down.. by the time I got home I didn't quite make it to 10,000 steps, so I walked around the house and cleaned up to get them up to 10,000. FitBit is helping me lose weight and keep organized lol. I hope I can sleep properly tonight despite having 3 cups of coffee earlier. Eating was good today - still going strong in the wheat/gluten-free department. I'm starting to see changes in my body already. Everything is proportionally getting smaller, and I no longer feel/look bloated.
 
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