In a perfect world you could eat a fairly healthy diet (cheating only on weekends) and workout 3-5 days a week and you’d reach your goal weight. Like I said, that would be in a perfect world. In reality, some of us have had those last 5 to 10lbs to lose for years and they just aren’t budging.
Believe me I understand the frustration of those last few pounds ladies. You feel like you’ve done everything you know how to do yet you are in purgatory (the unwanted period fitness professionals like to call your plateau).
What’s a gal to do? I’ll tell you how to lose those last 10lbs at last so you can shout hallelujah!
If you are like me, you may be a creature of habit. Maybe you like to do a few things at the gym or at home, and you’ve been doing those same things since 1999. I have a friend that only likes to run. She runs for miles, more than I ever would, but she still has unwanted belly fat. How is this possible when she’s run a half marathon? Her body is used to it.
The more you exercise, especially when you do the same types of exercise, your body gets extremely efficient at doing that one thing, thus burning fewer calories. In order to mix it up, you may need to add more time onto your workout, or push harder. You can do this by adding sprints to your jog, or doing a walk-jog-walk instead of just a walk. Adding on pushups and sit-ups and burpees to the end of your normal workout can help. Even increasing your weights or reps.
Another great way to mix it up is by doing something completely new. Instead of running, try a spin class for a few weeks, or a MMA video like I’m doing. Personally every 60-90 days I start a brand new workout program, and after a month on that routine I kick it up a notch! This way my body never has time to get into a mode were it’s used to my workout, and I am always burning a ton of calories because of this.
I can’t tell you how many times my clients think they are eating a certain amount of food but really aren’t. How do we find out? We track it! If you are not seeing the results you think you should be getting you may be inadvertently sneaking in more calories than you realize. You know a scoop of mac and cheese that was in the pot before you cleaned it. Even licking the spoon after making a pb&j could add an extra 100 calories to your daily count! Use a calorie tracker or an old fashioned note pad and pencil and track every thing you eat during the day to make sure you aren’t exceeding your calories allowed for that day. Remember to lose you need a deficit.
Most Americans have an issue with portion control because they just don’t know what a correct portion looks like. If you are eating a full bowl of pasta you are probably eating too much of it. If you are eating an entire regular bagel you are actually eating 2 servings. Check your portion sizes, and measure your food by weighing it our measuring to make sure you are not overeating.
Probably the easiest way to drop those last pounds is to stop drinking sugary juice, soda, and sugary coffee. Instead start drinking water. For most of us, over 20% of our daily calories come from beverages! Most drinks sold are full of unwanted sugar, which helps to keep the pounds on. Stop drinking your calories, and switch to good old fashioned H20. One client of mine lost 5lbs in a couple weeks by doing this alone!
Happy Wives, you have the tools, now use them! Let me know how you do.