How to lose those last few pounds?

Question

Ok, I am about 150-155lbs, I'm 5ft 6in. and I would like to get myself down to my target weight, 143lbs. I have this stubborn belly fat and slight fat in other areas and I would like to know the best way to get rid of these hindrances. I managed to get myself down from 215lbs to 150-155 in 1-2 years, and this last bit of fat is being quite a pain and just won't go away. I've tried everything... that an 18 year old can anyway. Could you please give some sound advice to help on my weight loss adventure!? lol

Answer 1

Well, what's your exercise plan like? Hitting a plateau is perfectly normal, but the only way to get past it, unfortunately, is to add something else to your daily diet or exercise regime. Running and a little swimming really helped me to lose the excess stomach fat and the lovehandles.

Weight lifting builds muscle, which burns more calories. If you haven't tried weight lifting, try it! It's a great way to build muscle and look leaner.

Also, there are certain foods that help with weight loss, which if left alone, can hinder the weight loss process. A lot of dieters try to stay away from the nuts and peanut butter and yogurt because they're higher in calories and, in the case of the nuts, fat. But the fat in nuts is high-energy fuel that will definitely speed up your metabolism and kick-start an energy boost for a workout. I always eat a handful of peanuts before I go for a long run. And yogurt is the same way.

Don't skip meals; it slows your metabolism, therefore making it harder to lose weight. Instead, eat at least 6 small meals a day and make sure to eat more calories earlier in the day than later. Many people make the mistake of skipping out on breakfast and/ or lunch but eating a huge dinner. The logic is simple: you burn much more during the day (especially if you're exercising), so fuel up early! The foods you eat at night usually aren't burned as quickly.

You sound like you've come a long way, and that deserves a pat on the back. Good job, and keep up the hard work!

Answer 2

I agree with Ohthechemistry's answer...keep eating, eat well, keep doing what you are doing.

Running helps me lose weight...much quicker than biking or swimming. If you are running 3x a week, bring it up to 4. If 5x, then make it 6x. Or, increase the mileage slightly on the days you are running. It won't take long to lose 8 pounds or so if you focus on the combo of eating right and running.

Also, watch the sugars in sport drinks, and also the beer (I know, 18....but I don't want to make any assumptions!) Both can be kinda high in calories. An extra 200 or 300 calories a day could be what is holding onto those extra 8 pounds or so.

Answer 3

The following healthy living recommendations will help you if you’re trying to lose weight, tone up your muscles, have aspirations of building lean muscle mass, are attempting to get a wash board stomach, or just want to feel better:

*1) Burn more calories then you're consuming everyday and measure your results using the following formula: Calories Consumed minus Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) minus Physical Activity. Get a fitness calculator that you can put on your cell phone and computer. This will allow you to easily calculate this formula, log your daily calorie consumption, and register your physical activities.

*2) Eat natural and organic foods found on earth versus something created by a corporation to make money. Eat meals in small portions throughout the day and take a good multi-vitamin supplement.

Avoid “High Glycemic Load Carbs” (sugar, pastries, desserts, refined starches such as breads, pasta, refined grains like white rice; high starch vegetables such as white potatoes) and drink lots of water.

Do not try fad diets or diet pills. Here is an excellent food pyramid that anyone can follow: http://www.rayandterry.com/html/images/PyramidLRG.gif?osCsid=26a424be471d1337e7c2f105d5c64d9d

*3) Exercise on most days by doing cardiovascular training and/or resistance training activities.

Read a book or find a certified trainer to make sure your doing all resistance training exercises correctly. A great book to buy that teaches you the resistance training basics is “Weight Training for Dummies”. A superb magazine to buy with excellent resistance training routines that will not get you bored is "Muscle and Fitness". Signup for the free newsletter.

A good book to buy that teaches you the cardiovascular training basics is “Fitness for Dummies”.

*4) Get plenty of sleep. Sleep experts say most adults need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night for optimum performance, health, and safety.

*5) Educate yourself continually on health issues and make a life long commitment to good health. A great free publication is “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005”. A superb book to read is “You The Owner’s Manual”. An excellent periodic publication is the “Nutrition Action Health Letter”. A reputable test you can take to measure your biological age is at http://realage.com

Look at all areas where you can enhance your health. For example, make improvements in the quality of the air you breathe. Review outdoor air quality forecasts where you live and get an indoor air purifier. Email me if you want a good indoor air purifier recommendation and if you have other questions.

*Click on all the source links below to get the full benefit of the recommendations. The answers presented to your health questions are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Answer 4

If you have plateaued, try adding some extra good fat (like nuts) to your diet. A handful a day should help. Also, if you're not excercising already, focus on those problem areas.

Answer 5

A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER:
The correct way to burn fat and stay healthy is to burn more calories than you consume
You need to make sure you are eating healthy foods while still excercising
If you have a big appetite drink plenty of water so that you will feel full but not consume calories
But you should always eat
If you start to skip meals you will only be more hungry at your next meal and probably eat way too much
Remember, the average persons stomach is as big as a slice of pizza scrunched up into a ball
So you shouldnt be putting more food into your stomach than what fits
Also, it takes aproximately 15-20 minutes for your brain to realize that you are full
so eat slower and you will realize sooner when you are not hungry anymore

ALSO....
i found this artical called "50 Habits of "Naturally Thin" People
How to get Started:Decide how much you want to loose and see how many calories a day it will take to make it happen by year's end.Then, work into your routines however many of these eating tweaks and exercises you need to achieve your goal.
Slash 250 cal.s a day to lose about 25 lbs. in a year, Slash 500 cal.s to loose 50 pounds.
This is based on a 150-pound person: you may need to cut more/ fewer calories depending on ur weight, age & gender. It also assumes your normal calorie intake essentially stays the same and your weight is stable.
* I'm only going to give you the ones that are most helpful and burn calories. If you want more then email me*
1.Wake-up Workout - When your eyes open, sit up slwoly w/out using ur hands. W/ legs straight out, lean forward until u feel a gentle stretch in ur back & hamstrings. Hold. Then, Using ur abs, lower urself flat. Rest & repeat 2 more times. BURNS 10
2. Balance Booster - While u brush ur teeth, alternate standing on 1 leg as u switch mouth quadrants(every 30 seconds). BURNS 10
3.Be a Ballerina - As ur coffee drips, stand sideways, put 1 hand on the counter, and lift the outside leg straigh out in front of u, keeping it extended. With upper body straight, hold for a few sec.s and move it to the side: hold and extend it behind u. Do 5x on each leg. BURNS 10
4. Talk It UP - Every time u grab the phone, stand up & pace around. BURNS 50
5. Carry Some Weight - When ur grocery Shopping/ running erands, wear a backpack with 5-10 lbs bag of sugar inside to increase resistance & burn more calories. Add purchases to ur load as it becomes easier. BURNS 20 (FOR AN HOUR OF ERRANDS)
6.Pump at the Pump - While ur getting gas, With 1 hand on ur car, Stand on the balls of ur feet & slowly rise up & down for as long as it takes to fill ur tank. BURNS 10
7. Shop till the Pounds Drop - at the mall try on at least 10 outfits- pants and shirts.BURNS 60
8. Jog for Junk Mail - For every piece of junk mail u get each day, do 1 lap around ur house/ building, / up & down a flight of stairs. BURNS 35-140
9. Play Footsie - After Dinner, while u are sitting at the table, extend your right leg out & slowly bend it up & down, squeezing & holding in the up position for at least 5 sec.s. Repeat 5x for each leg. BURNS 10
10.Ease into Evening - sitting with feet uncrossed, grab ur wrists & raise ur hands above ur head to lengthen the spine. Take a deep breath in as u reach & hold the position, breathing slowly in & out for 20 sec.s, taking longer on the exhale. BURNS 5
11. Sing a Song - Spend sunday morning belting it out in the church choir. BURNS 70 PER SERVICE
12. Catch This! -
Spend 30 min tossing a ball or a frisbee with ur kid/dog BURNS 90
13. Make Whoopee - Instead of a bowl of ice cream as a bedtime snack, have a robust tussle with your spouse. BURNS 300

Good Luck!!

Answer 6

Drink lukewarm water slowly early in the morning. that warm water will help in reducing fat.

Answer 7

there is no other way than to no supper to lose your weight.
i have tried for only once and it really works!! and its painless as long as u eat enough food in the morning and noon

Answer 8

in 1-2 years... which was it?... one year or two?... 215 - 155 yeah right.

Answer 9

when you eat celery you lose calories because it takes more of your calories to eat it then it has in it. so eat alot of celery.