| The
Last Five Pounds – How to Take Them Off and
Keep Them Off |
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Plateau: Merriam Webster
describes it as a usually extensive land area having
a relatively level surface raised sharply above
adjacent land on at least one side. That quite accurately
describes what has happened to you lately. With
months of great results behind you, all of |
the sudden nothing is happening anymore. You can’t
seem to shake those last five pounds! The first 15 came
off quickly, the inches shrunk away and you’ve been
going strong; until now. The uphill battle has really
begun!
The final fateful five pounds, how do you get them
off? Those last few lines on the scale just won’t
seem to move, so what went wrong? Here are some tips
to get your feet, as well as your scale moving in the
right direction.
Goal Setting:
Reassess the goals that you set for yourself when you
first ventured on this road to fitness. Have things
changed dramatically since you began? What new goals
do you need to set for yourself at this point to get
the results that you really want?
Intensity:
How hard are you really working out? If you are able
to read a book while you’re doing your cardio,
it’s probably time to set the book down and crank
up the pace on the treadmill. Are you increasing your
heart rate to your target zone each and every time you
work out? Are you even breaking a sweat? The ability
to push yourself past your comfort zone is integral
when it comes to weight loss, especially if you’ve
reached a plateau.
Diet:
What are you eating these days? Have you started to
slack off in the fruits and vegetables department? Take
a look at some of the caloric values as well as fat
percentages per serving on some of your favourite snack
foods. Also, try keeping a food journal for a week and
re-evaluate some of your food choices.
Motivation:
What’s motivating you to take off those last
five pounds? Keep your motivation close at hand throughout
your day to remind you what you want to achieve. Maybe
you have a picture of how you looked before the baby
or a pair of jeans that you’re dying to wear.
Keep those items close by as a constant reminder to
keep reaching for your goals.
Consistency:
Are you being consistent with both your workouts and
your diet? Yo-yo dieting or training are not going to
get you the results you’re looking for. Training
for 2 hours at a high intensity one day per week is
just not going to cut it. Try to set a schedule for
yourself and stick to it. Eat at the same time of day
every day and work out at appointed times at least 4
days per week.
With these tips to guide you, you should be able to
foible the fateful five that are lingering. Tip the
scales in your favour by setting goals to exercise with
enough intensity, eat healthfully, get motivated, and
stay consistent.
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Nicole Palacios, BSc Exercise Science,
is an ACE and BCRPA certified personal trainer,
BCRPA supervisor of fitness leader, and mother of
two. She enjoys helping people reach their fitness
dreams. You can reach email at: www.perfectfit.ws
Her email is:nicole@perfectfit.ws |
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