There are many reasons why your progress can stall when you’re trying to lose a lot of weight, but there’s no clear solution for the issue. However, if you’ve been working hard to replace fat with muscle and lose unwanted weight, there’s still hope.
Find out how to lose the last 10 pounds and increase your chances of reaching your ideal weight. From staying on top of your diet and workouts to trying more extreme solutions, here’s what you can do to lose the last few pounds.
Reevaluate Your Calorie Intake
If you’ve already lost more than 10 pounds, you can’t expect to keep losing weight without adapting your calorie intake to your new weight. Make sure that you’re getting the numbers right and keep a food journal. You might have become more lax with your diet as time went on, so reevaluate your goals the way you’re trying to reach them.
Focus on Weight Training
Exercise is a big part of the answer to the question of how to lose the last 10 pounds, since you need to burn more calories than you’re eating. Weight training with heaving weights is one of the most effective ways to get a boost in your workout routine to get rid of the last few pounds that you feel need to go.
Eat More Protein
Fiber is filling, but so is protein and having some of it for every meal can make a big difference, especially when you’re exercising regularly and pushing yourself. Vegetable protein, from beans and lentils, should be at the top of your list of healthy choices, but low fat Greek yogurt, fish and eggs are also great sources. Make sure that you’re not adding any saturated fat to your protein.
Keep Changing Your Workout
Once your body gets used to the restricted calories and the regular workouts, progress slows down. Make an effort to keep your workouts fresh in order to avoid the dreaded weight loss plateau. Sticking to the same plan will keep you at your current weight, and that won’t help you lose the last 10 pounds. Try interval training, increase the difficulty of your exercise regimen, change the time of day when you exercise to keep things on the move.
See also: Skinny People Eating Habits
Drink More Water
Even if you’ve learned the importance of staying hydrated, there’s always a little more wiggle room. Cut back on sodium as much as you can and drink more water. Don’t go over 1,000 mg of sodium per day and increase your water intake slightly. These might seem like small changes, but they can make a big difference for those last few pounds.
Sleep
If you’re not getting enough rest, your weight loss efforts are curbed by stress hormones and your metabolic rate will stay put. When you’re wondering how to lose the last 10 pounds, make sure that 8 hours of sleep become a habit and pay attention to the quality of sleep as well by making sure that light and noise don’t bother you through the night.
Cut Out Processed Foods
When you’re not giving up on your target weight, cutting back on processed foods completely might be your best bet. Eat fresh and say goodbye to alcoholic beverages, at least for a week or two. It’s not just the liquid calories that are holding you back, it’s also the impulse control issue.
Stand Up for Your Goal
Once you’ve reached the end of the line with dietary restrictions and exercise, making a small change like standing up more can take over and get you to your target weight. When you’re figuring out how to lose the last 10 pounds, don’t ignore the fact that standing helps you burn 100 calories per hour as opposed to sitting.
More: Most Toxic Foods That Impede Weight Loss
Fight Metabolic Adaptation
When you’re not making any more weight loss process, accept the fact that your body has simply gotten used to everything you’ve tried. It might sound counterintuitive, but increasing portion size and your daily caloric intake for a couple of weeks can actually help you reset your metabolic rate, and your weight loss efforts will be a lot more effective after that.
Focus On Keeping the Weight Off
If every fails, even tricking your metabolism to reset, it might be because you simply shouldn’t lose the last 10 pounds. As you age, your body wants to store more fat, and if you’re healthy and happy with the progress you made so far, you’re better off spending your energy on keeping the weight off.
