Lose Those Last 10 Stubborn Pounds

You've been eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and are close to your goal weight, yet you can't seem to lose those last 10 pounds. This is a common problem for many people who are trying to lose weight. At some point in your weight-loss program, you will reach a dieting plateau. No matter how hard you try, it seems you can't lose any more weight. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to get those pounds to come off.

Reevaluate Your Current Diet and Exercise Program

Honestly reevaluate how you are eating and how often you are exercising. Sometimes, as you follow the same routine of eating and exercising for weeks or months, it can be easy to move off the weight-loss path without even noticing. Are you drinking an extra latte each day or indulging in a donut or candy bar more often than you did at the beginning of your diet? Are you exercising as often as you did in the beginning? Little changes can add up to big calories and stall your weight loss, so look closely at your habits and make changes where necessary.

Watch for Those Extra Calories

For every tablespoon of margarine you add to your toast, baked potato or vegetables, you are adding 50 calories to your diet. Are you using cream in your coffee? That is another 10 calories for each teaspoon. Small additions add up quickly, so instead try eliminating or substituting other products to flavor your foods. Spices and herbs boost the flavor of many foods without adding loads of calories. Add a sprinkle of cinnamon to your coffee or spice up your potato or vegetables with parsley, sage or cumin. You will enjoy the savory flavor without the added calories.

Choose Drinks Carefully

Everything you drink, except for water, throughout the day add calories to your diet. Juice, low-fat milk, soda and gourmet coffees can be up to 200 calories per cup. Try drinking more water throughout the day and less of other drinks. Drinking plenty of water also helps eliminate that bloated feeling throughout the day.

Skip the Alcohol

According to Madeline Vann, MPH in the article "10 Tips to Get Off the Diet Plateau", alcoholic beverages are not only high in calories but they can also slow down your metabolism. Skip the alcohol so you can get to your goal weight.

Eat More Low-Calorie, Filling Foods

Try eating more fruits and vegetables throughout the day to fill you up without over-doing the calorie count. Bring fruit for your midday snack and for lunch and have a bag of celery sticks or carrots handy for when you have the urge to snack. Not only is this healthy for you, but you will feel full longer and have more energy throughout the day without eating too many calories.

Find Ways to Eliminate 500 Calories Each Day

If you eliminate 500 calories a day, you will lose that last 10 pounds in 10 weeks. It's easy if you divide it between eating less and exercising more. Try eating smaller portions at each meal, eliminate one snack and skip one high-calorie beverage. Add 30 minutes to your walk each day or 15 minutes to your aerobic exercise routine. Once you break it down, it is easy to drop the 500 calories a day. To stay healthy, however, never eat less than 1,200 calories a day.

Shake Up Your Exercise Routine

If you have been doing the same exercise for the same amount of time each day it may be time to shake up your exercise routine. Once your body gets used to a certain level of activity, it no longer responds effectively to the exercise for weight loss purposes. Add 15 minutes to your regular routine or completely change it for another style of exercise. Better yet, do a different style of exercise each day. Swim on Monday, take an aerobics class on Tuesday, use the treadmill on Wednesday and hit the basketball court on Thursday. Shaking up your exercise routine will rev up your metabolism again and burn up those calories.

Don't Get too Stressed about those Last 10 Pounds

Stress can sabotage your weight loss just as much as eating can. When you become too stressed, your hormones surge, your body goes into survival mode and it holds onto stored fat. Eat healthy, exercise and spend some time relaxing. The more relaxed you are, the easier the weight will come off.

With a little extra effort and a few small changes, you can lose that last 10 pounds. By following a healthy diet and lifestyle habits, you will not only lose the weight but will also be able to keep it off for good.

Sources:

Everyday Health "How to Lose Those Last 10 Pounds"

Everyday Health "10 Tips to Get Off the Diet Plateau"