You Will Lose the Last 10 Pounds
Getting the Scale to Budge
If you still feel you could stand to lose the last 10, experts agree you need to change things up (and not, as I did, optimistically stay the course). Here are four strategies.
Scrutinize your diet. It's likely you've become a little loose with your program, Beck points out. To correct this, she recommends writing down what you plan to eat for the day and checking off each item as you go. "Just doing this will often make people more conscious of what they're eating and help them to regain control," Beck explains.
Slash 100 calories from your daily intake. You may need to cut back more than before, since the lighter you are, the fewer calories you may need. "When you're on a trajectory of losing weight, you've got to continually reduce intake," says Finegood.
Increase the number of calories you burn. Longer workouts aren't necessarily the solution, says Ryan Andrews, RD, an exercise physiologist at Johns Hopkins Weight Management Center. Try a new activity to work different muscles. "Or bump up your speed or intensity level, or do intervals," Andrews suggests.
Switch your workout to a different part of the day or go to a different gym. This will make your routine feel fresh again. "Change is stimulating, and it can motivate you to exercise harder," Ball says.
Personally? I'm taking my run outside for a change of terrain and scenery; I've had enough of staying in one place, both body and weight. And now when I get on the scale, I remember it's just a number -- not the only reflection of my health.
Originally published in FITNESS magazine, March 2007.
