What did you do to lose the last pounds?

[beatchica]

Impressed with the excellent advice here, but thought I would add my two cents too.

As a personal trainer I can tell you there are a few things that you will have to be vigilant about to lose the last few pounds.
- As a few folks already mentioned, I know we are not supposed to say this... But what you eat is about 75% of the equation, not so much the actual calorie count, but the types of calories. Keeping a food journal can be helpful.
- Also as others mentioned, mix up your workouts. Add intervals to your routine, this can really help get the metabolism going.
- Cut salt. Make sure you are sticking with a whole foods based eating plan. Salt can cause the body to maintain water, which makes it hard to shed pounds. Salt is sneaky, even things like organic breakfast cereals and organic pasta sauce are loaded with sodium. Go with whole oats, fruits, salads and veggies. Try to get the majority of your carbs from fresh vegetables.
- Adequate sleep and stress reduction, it is hard to lose weight, even when exercising, if you are stressed and not getting enough Zzzs!

Most important... You have done a wonderful job thus far, be sure to give your self credit and take pleasure in where you are at in this very moment, and be proud of your excellent accomplishment!

[CarlaVeg]

Originally Posted by lucia

Someone posted some great links about metabolism/food chemistry here a while back and I took them to heart and have been doing great ever since. I eat WAY more calories than I expend.

Good luck!

Do you have the link? Thanks!!!

[neatski]

Originally Posted by lucia

That said, I respectfully disagree with the strict calories-in calories out thing. I know we can't discuss diet here but I seriously wonder if some people are not eating enough when they are trying to lose weight...it is all about quality of food for me.

Good luck!

Agreed.

[Lucky Star]

Originally Posted by beatchica

Impressed with the excellent advice here, but thought I would add my two cents too.

As a personal trainer I can tell you there are a few things that you will have to be vigilant about to lose the last few pounds.
- As a few folks already mentioned, I know we are not supposed to say this... But what you eat is about 75% of the equation, not so much the actual calorie count, but the types of calories. Keeping a food journal can be helpful.
- Also as others mentioned, mix up your workouts. Add intervals to your routine, this can really help get the metabolism going.
- Cut salt. Make sure you are sticking with a whole foods based eating plan. Salt can cause the body to maintain water, which makes it hard to shed pounds. Salt is sneaky, even things like organic breakfast cereals and organic pasta sauce are loaded with sodium. Go with whole oats, fruits, salads and veggies. Try to get the majority of your carbs from fresh vegetables.
- Adequate sleep and stress reduction, it is hard to lose weight, even when exercising, if you are stressed and not getting enough Zzzs!

Most important... You have done a wonderful job thus far, be sure to give your self credit and take pleasure in where you are at in this very moment, and be proud of your excellent accomplishment!

As always, I find myself agreeing 100% with your posts, beatchica. Nicely written!

[lucia]

Originally Posted by CarlaVeg

Do you have the link? Thanks!!!

Well, I've tried searching for the thread...can't find anything. The link was to a really good website with articles about fitness and body chemistry. I think they were all written by one person (I think he is a doctor). Some of the articles were really detailed & scientific. It may have been when we first had a lot of discussions about HiiT workouts here?? Maybe around when CLX came out?

[rede2bfit]

Lyle McDonald? http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/

[CarlaVeg]

Originally Posted by rede2bfit

Lyle McDonald? http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/

Thanks!!!

[marmalade]

I was going to guess Lyle McDonald too.

Here's a link to one article in particular that I have recommended in the past to people (not on VF) and that they found very helpful -- it explains the calories in-calories out thing, and why it sometimes seems to people like it's not working for them:

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat...-equation.html

[poohpeggy]

My personal experience is, if I eat more calories then I burn I get fat. Peggy

[Sue B]

Originally Posted by marmalade

I was going to guess Lyle McDonald too.

Here's a link to one article in particular that I have recommended in the past to people (not on VF) and that they found very helpful -- it explains the calories in-calories out thing, and why it sometimes seems to people like it's not working for them:

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/fat...-equation.html

That's a great article. I wish other trainers would explain the energy balance equation so well. There are other good articles on (more science-oriented) sites that talk about the importance of things like sleep and NEAT when it comes to weight loss.