Congratulations! You've made it this far. You've lost some weight and just have ten pounds to go! You look great, you feel wonderful, and are ready to push yourself a little bit more to reach your goal.
Okay, here's the tricky part-those last ten pounds are often the hardest to lose. You're already eating a healthy diet and getting exercise, but no matter what, those maddening few pounds won't melt off as easier as the first ones did. You've hit the proverbial "diet wall". So what's a girl to do once she's hit her plateau?
You won't hear this piece of advise often, so treasure it while you can: ask yourself if you really need to lose that extra weight. Your targeted (or "fantasy") weight is sometimes a bit overrated because it's difficult to get there and even more difficult to maintain. So you really need to consider if it's a worthwhile goal. But if you really do need to lose those extra ten pounds, don't worry, there's hope!
Since you have already lost a bunch of weight, your body has changed in more ways than just going down a few dress sizes. Since your total mass has reduced, you need to take in less calories than you did when you were heavier. This means you should re-evaluate your diet and fitness regimen to accommodate your body's new requirements. Here are a couple of ways that you can get rid of those last ten pounds for good-
Since your body has become used to burning more calories during exercise, it's time to shake things up a bit. By changing the intensity and type of workout that you're doing, even if it's just adding a 10-minute walk to your routine, you can shave a lot more calories.
Watch those beverages. Juice, smoothies, alcohol, and, yes, even those giant lattes at Starbucks can pack a lot of extra calories. Drink water or low-sugar drinks whenever possible.
Beware of your portions. Considering our national obsession with supersizing everything, it can often be difficult to watch your portions. When eating at home, try to use smaller plates and kitchenware. In restaurants, ask the waiter to put half of your entrée in a doggy bag before he even brings it to the table. Remember, sharing food is always fun.
The best weight-loss advice I could offer you is to try and be gentle with yourself. Remember, you are your own worst critic, so think happy thoughts and be good to your body!
