https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Mon, 11 May 2026 01:18:08 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50381 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:24:11 +0000 ChristineB 50381@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I lost my weight by eating smaller portions (and measuring those portions), snacking smarter, drinking LOTS of water (if your weight inexplicably jumps 2 pounds one day it's probably water weight from eating too much sodium) and at least 30 min of cardio 3 times per week. I didn't stop eating dessert, or the treats brought in on treat day at work, but I did eat less of those.</p> <p>I'm a stress &#38; emotional eater, but I've found consistent exercise helps TREMENDOUSLY in stress management.</p> <p>I weigh myself every day or every other day, but I don't obsess over the numbers. That's how I figured out how sodium affects my weight. I lost 30 pounds between Jan &#38; Oct of 08 and have kept them off, even during the holiday season, and being unable to run due to weather (I don't have time for the gym so I now jump rope at home for exercise).</p> <p>I retrained my brain as to what an appropriate serving size is, and I can now more readily recognize the signs when I've overeaten, or had too much sodium.</p> <p>Good luck with those five pounds!! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50297 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:07:44 +0000 Maya 50297@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't know if this was mentioned yet or not, but I thought of posting it after dinner: I always drink a ton of water and it fills me up a bit before I even get to my food. Also, before taking a second helping or cleaning your plate, wait a few minutes and see if you're really hungry. Sometimes you just need to wait for the food to settle before you feel full.</p> <p>I also have started to eat much more slowly. I try and put down my fork between bites, and just chew everything carefully. It seems to help. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50294 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 02:05:02 +0000 Kristen 50294@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Great ideas in this thread! I'll second Shiny, it's actually pretty easy to eat out when you're dieting. You'd be amazed at how many healthier, smaller-portioned, reasonable foods are available on a menu when your eye doesn't go immediately to your favorite foods!</p> <p>Case in point: at the Yard House, they have a fabulous mac&#38; cheese dish, with truffle oil, wild mushrooms, chicken, and rich cheese sauce. I thought I could never resist it. I also adored the onion ring tower, and would easily split it with the table.<br /> Since starting my diet in January, I've been back twice. I looked beyond the mac&#38;cheese and ordered the seared ahi sashimi appetizer and a fabulous greek salad entree plate. So good! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50290 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:51:06 +0000 shiny 50290@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gazpacho... I just sorta wing it and make it different every time... </p> <p>Fresh tomatoes from the garden<br /> Cucumbers<br /> Red onion<br /> Green pepper<br /> salt<br /> pepper<br /> tomato juice<br /> fresh parsley from the garden<br /> worcestire sauce<br /> tabasco<br /> Balsalmic<br /> a little olive oil<br /> ... I feel like I'm missing something! Hmm... no, I don't like celery in it. I stick blend it all together and we like it fairly chunky. Less chunky than a salsa, but not smooth. It tastes better as it sits in the fridge. </p> <p>I don't like to overseason things too much - I like the tastes of the veggies to come through. But I shoulda mentioned when I make cauliflower soup I add in cumin. Lots of cumin. </p> <p>Nicole - that's so cute about Maya... did I spell it right? LOL. As for the oil, I have read that many nutrients in veggies are fat-soluble, so it's important to take in just a bit of fat with your veggies. I don't drench my veggies in it, but I do use a few TB's to make the soup. I do not follow a fat-free diet... I have done that in the past, and it just doesn't work for me. I end up overeating because I don't feel full. </p> <p>Instead, I stick to omega 3's - nuts, seeds, olive oil, and make sure I get one serving of added fats with each meal (I may only skip the added serving if I am having a particularly fatty protein such as blue cheese). I limit omega 6's but really it's all about the ratio of omega 3's to omega 6's. So, yes, I will eat butter but very small amounts, infrequently (usually at a restaurant and rarely at home), and only the REAL stuff. :-)</p> <p>Anne - you've got to remember I am extremely short, and also prediabetic, so my caloric needs and need for carbs are quite atypical!!! And I'm not nursing either. Please don't measure yourself against my nutritional needs. I am essentially, practically, already on a diabetic diet, in the hopes I don't develop full blow diabetes, since it runs strongly in my family and with my second pregnancy 13 years ago, I was borderline diabetic then in '06 my blood sugar numbers went crazy on me. </p> <p>Six servings of carbs is perfectly fine for most women, and if you are still breastfeeding you need more than that. Remember your brain only lives on glucose, and uses 70% of your intake each day, so it needs the carbs!</p> <p>Okay here is my nutrition guru - Walter Willett of Harvard School of Public Health. I think he knows his stuff and this is the diet philosophy I follow; it's very balanced, IMO: </p> <p><a href="http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/pyramid/" rel="nofollow">http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nu.....t/pyramid/</a></p> <p>Lots of good info on this site - enjoy! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50283 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 01:27:31 +0000 Laura 50283@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Summer is coming - Shiny, please share your gazpacho recipe!</p> <p>So glad I am not alone in this last five pounds struggle. I am going to post once a month about the status, if that's okay with everyone.</p> <p>What great ideas! First, I'm going to make some veggie soup. If healthy options are on hand, it's so much easier to stick to a diet. And I love Shiny's wine spritzer idea. </p> <p>I'll take Shiny's advice and do this over 5 months. Hopefully less, but okay if it takes that long. Plus I'll keep the calories at an average of 1400. </p> <p>Most importantly, I am going to strictly follow the rule of NEVER saying no to gelato </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50269 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:32:48 +0000 anne 50269@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, I am filled with admiration at you guys for sticking to these diets. When I need to cut down a little I try to keep to *6* serves of carbs a day! I find that hard enough.<br /> Laura, just thought I'd let you know that I have put back a few pounds since I made my announcement a few weeks ago that I had lost all my preggy weight. Hopefully will come off when I get my period </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50268 Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:23:51 +0000 Nicole 50268@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oh for the record, I don't saute or add any oil to my soup. I just throw all the raw veggies into the liquid and simmer abt 20 to 30 minutes. </p> <p>Shiny, I'd love your gazpacho recipe! (Mia had that word in her spelling bee a few weeks ago--she spelled it right, but everyone in the audience thought she spelled it wrong!) ha! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50251 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:26:19 +0000 Patience 50251@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shiny, I have a rule which is I never say no to gelato (assuming it's good quality) Also, on the stress thing-- if I'm so stressed out that I have anxiety then I do lose weight because I find it really hard to eat. The stress I'm talking about is the being hard on yourself stress when you don't need to (like trying to lose 5 pounds which is not anxiety causing for me). And also the stress that makes you want to just eat all the time.</p> <p>I'm another soup person-- they just make me feel healthy. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50249 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:12:24 +0000 Lena 50249@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shiny, excellent tips. Your tip no.3 about zig zagging and keeping your body guessing seems to work well for me. There are days I eat less when I'm very busy (but never below 1200cal), and there are days I eat more because I exercise and get more hungry. I know I should aim for more than 3 meals a day, but there are times I can't even fit in snacks. I never ever skip breakfast, though. </p> <p>Nicole, I'm a big fan of soups, too. I also add a lot of ginger, I love that spicy taste. </p> <p>Interesting about milk. I don't do well with raw milk, but tolerate fermented dairy products. However, I lost those stubborn last 5 lbs when I *stopped* eating dairy, even yogurt (I did take calcium supplements and soy milk and etc). </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50248 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:10:16 +0000 shiny 50248@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Patience - I wish I could eat chocolate, I've just learned the hard way I can't! But I will always, always order hazelnut gelato if it's on the menu, no matter how full I am. It's my favorite!</p> <p>Stress connection is a great one, and there's lots of research behind this. Oddly, however, I tend to lose weight without trying when I'm totally stressed out. I've always been that way. I think I just forget to eat. But I will gain weight rapidly if I am not sleeping well. I need adequate sleep or else I'm so tired I eat, eat, eat. I crave carbs when I'm tired. In fact, I don't believe in that rule that says not to eat anything before bedtime. Sleep is so crucial if I'm too hungry to fall asleep, I will have a glass of milk or a handful of peanuts or cheese and crackers. </p> <p>Nicole - I am going to try your soup recipe!!! I also rely on veggie soups. My basic recipe is as follows:</p> <p>garlic<br /> onion<br /> olive oil<br /> .... cook until onion is wilted<br /> add in chopped veggie (any will do.... broccoli, spinach, caulflower, whatever is on hand... but usually I just use one veggie at a time to appease my picky eater)<br /> cover with broth<br /> bring to boil<br /> simmer until fork tender<br /> puree with stick blender</p> <p>When I'm in dieting mode we have one soup on hand every day. In summer, we make huge batches of gazpacho and I eat it all day long... mmmm.... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50241 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:53:13 +0000 Nicole 50241@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>This is a little less low tech....but whenever I reached a plateau with my weightloss, I'd resort to my soup. It's a simple veggie soup that I make regularly and eat before meals to help fill me up, and between meals when I'm hungry.</p> <p>I just use a basic veggie bouillon base (1 cube per cup of water)<br /> 10 Cups of Water<br /> 3 or 4 Carrots, peeled and diced<br /> 1 onion, diced<br /> 4 or 5 ribs of celery, diced<br /> a few handfuls of spinach (fresh or frozen)<br /> a handful of peas, green beans, corn---any veggie really.<br /> 1 or 2 small potatoes diced<br /> 2 or 3 cups of vegetable or tomato juice</p> <p>If you want to add some protein you can beat an egg and drop it in the soup when it's rapidly boiling. You can also add a handful of soupmac or pastina, or my favorite, brown rice.</p> <p>It's amazing how filling a bowl of soup can be. I always jump start my diets with this soup. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50240 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:39:56 +0000 Patience 50240@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Shiny, I LOVE all of your advice. It's about as good as seeing your outfits. It's funny because I think I do almost everything you do but I never researched it. It just seems to work for my body. I also have a target weight range where if I'm under or over I just feel yucky and that range is only a few pounds which I have always found amazing. Although I will add that for me birth control increased the target by 10 lbs.</p> <p>I do differ on one thing which is that I eat a little serving of chocolate every day<br /> instead of other sweets. But I'm in no danger of binging and find it harder to eat smaller portions of other sweets.</p> <p>The only thing I have to add is stress. I believe (and this is gut not research) that just stressing about losing the 5 lbs can trigger your body to keep it on. So I second Shiny's suggestion to give it 5 months and stop worrying about the weight and reduce stress in general. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50230 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:03:44 +0000 shiny 50230@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Laura, I'd recommend you revise your goal and aim to lose 5 lbs in 5 months. I know that's not as gratifying but it's more likely you'll lose real fat and not just water, and the pounds will stay off. </p> <p>Of course, first you have to ask yourself, "Do I *really* need to lose these last 5 lbs?" ... originally my goal was to get down to 103, which is the weight I was in high school when I graduated. I had read somewhere that people should aim for their high school graduation weight. But the thing is, I grew a whole inch in college, and at five pounds heavier I have a chest - at 103 I don't. And at 103 I will be shopping in the kids' department. Also, and most importantly, I feel sickly and weak at anything below 105. </p> <p>Nope, my ideal is above 107 but no more than 112. And that's the other thing: it's good not to have a single number as your goal; you should have a 5 lb range, to accomodate fluctuations. I start watching my diet more closely and moving more whenever the scale creeps up over 110, but I'm comfortable (and my blood sugar numbers are happiest) anywhere within 107-112. </p> <p>How I handle eating out: this was key for me. We eat out constantly and it's like a hobby for us to go to new restaurants. There was no way I could stop eating out. I had to learn how to eat out and still lose weight (and now maintain it). </p> <p>My tricks:</p> <p>1) Don't eat the bread.... unless a) it's served warm and b) they serve it with real olive oil... then it's worth the extra calories (my big rule is that every calorie should be worth the taste)... but just one piece!</p> <p>2) Drink water, no sodas. If you want wine, that's okay. I won't give up my wine so it's worked into my diet - 2 glass maximum. But it has to be GOOD wine. If that first glass sucks, and that's all they have on the menu, I won't have another one. </p> <p>3) I find it helps to order a salad as an appetizer. Esp because my DH often orders an appetizer. I will get too tempted if I don't have something to eat while he's eating his appetizer. So I order a simple green salad, dressing on the side. Then I dip my fork in the dressing to get flavor in every bite. Or I just dole out a TB of dressing, so it's not drenched. (I can't stand drenched salads anyway). Vegetable-based or broth-based soups (such as miso) can also be a good option. Watch out for cream-based soups. </p> <p>4) For entree I tend to choose the entree that has the most veggies. I often order fish because I don't cook it at home. I ask them to double the veggies and skip the starch (especially if I've had some of the bread!). I steer clear of anything crispy or fried or cream-based. I rarely order pasta dishes. At chinese restaurants I look for the steamed vegetable dishes with tofu and then eat only 1/2 cup of rice with it. In other words, I fill up on veggies!!! It's a joke in our house, when DH asks where I want to eat, I reply, "Someplace with lots of veggies." This is no small feat; a lot of chain restaurants and typical american fare has very few veggies. (No, french fries are NOT a vegetable). </p> <p>Also sometimes I will order a side order of veggies, if it's a veggie I really like. Basically my number 1 diet rule is to aim for at least 9 servings of fruits/veggies per day, which works out to about 3 per meal. You cannot get enough fruits and veggies. I find if you can manage to hit 9 or even more, then the rest of your diet takes care of itself. You won't have room for anything else. You will also live long and prosper healthfully. :-)</p> <p>5) Most important rule: I practice portion control. Especially if I order something that I thought was a safe bet but arrives smothered in a rich sauce. Restaurant portions tend to be huge, especially at chains. (That's actually rule #6 - we stay away from chains, even if they publish their calorie counts, I find they have less veggies, less quality ingredients, and enormous portion sizes.... it's too easy to undo a diet at a chain restaurant). At most restaurants, unless the portion size is tiny, I eat only 1/2. If the portion is enormous, I may eat only 1/3. Then I take the rest home and I eat the leftovers the next day (I never waste leftovers!!)</p> <p>6) Bring gum. When you are done eating a reasonable portion, I find it helps to pop gum in my mouth to signal that I'm done eating. </p> <p>7) If you want dessert, split it. Or just have 3 mouthfuls. I have learned that the first three bites taste the best. And I personally steer clear of anything chocolate because once I eat chocolate, I go on a binge and eat it every day for weeks on end. I just have to stay away from it!! </p> <p>8) If none of the entrees look "safe" or if you can't trust yourself to push your plate away and only eat 1/2, then order two appetizers. A salad and something that has protein in it. This strategy will help you naturally practice portion control. </p> <p>One of the hardest for me to figure out was how to eat at our favorite neighborhood pub, the kind of place everyone knows your name. Never going there again was out of the question; my DH has been going there since he was a kid, and it's our favorite place. The menu is chicken wings and fried food and hamburgers. I have worked out a strategy and the waitress already knows what I'm going to order when I walk in now: I get a garden salad, dressing on the side, and their boneless buffalo tenders (I eat only 3 of them, which I have determined with my scale is about 3 oz); I ask them to substitute green beans for the french fries. Then I douse the green beans in salt, and eat them with my fingers ... they are BETTER than fries!! So most of my meal is veggies; I assume the breading on the tenders counts towards my carb allotment for the meal. </p> <p>But mostly I prefer to eat at places that have high quality, tasteful ingredients and lots and lots of veggies. </p> <p>I lost all my weight eating out at least twice a week, sometimes 3x's a week... so if I can do it, you can too. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50197 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:49:38 +0000 Sarah 50197@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, we eat a lot of the same things, shiny. I'm lactose intolerant so I need to avoid milk like the plague. Do I? Ha. Olive oil/balsamic is the best dressing ever, and I also agree with the Japanese Rice Bowls. Perfect portion size, especially for something "bad". </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50193 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:39:11 +0000 Laura 50193@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Wow, Sarah and Shiny, thank you so much for the tips. I did the dietician.com questionnaire and it came up with 1200 cals a day to lose .6 pounds/week. Given Shiny's advice, I think I'll up that to 1300-1400 a day and add some cardio exercise, at least 30 mins. 4 times a week. That means I could be at goal in only 2 months!</p> <p>Five pounds is so hard to lose. Mentally, it's a challenge because you're close to your best weight, so it's not a horrible crisis. I know it sounds lame, because 5 lbs. is not a huge amount, but it means the difference between clothes being snug or fitting well, especially when you have a small frame.</p> <p>Here's my big question: How do you both handle eating out? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50154 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:20:03 +0000 shiny 50154@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yeah, I don't weigh my food anymore, but I was thinking last night - while getting myself a bowl of ice cream - that I probably should do it again for awhile! I have these tiny bowls (Japanese rice bowls) that fit a serving of ice cream (or rice or pasta), as long as you don't overload it. :-)</p> <p>Another tip that worked well for me and falls into the "make small changes" category was switching to wine spritzers. I like a glass of wine every night. So I would measure out a shot of wine in a shot glass, then add crushed ice, spritzer, and a lemon wedge. Very refreshing and low cal!</p> <p>And for salads I'd use a TB to measure out the olive oil, and pour it directly on the salad, then add a TB of balsalmic. It's very easy to go overboard with dressings. </p> <p>Interestingly, I learned by using a scale that I *underestimated* some things - mostly proteins. </p> <p>And for what it's worth, my DD went to a dietitian awhile back (you may recall she was on a med that caused weight gain). She is back down to her usual weight. One tip the dietitian gave her was to drink skim milk with every meal. A great tip for a teen - but also for us too: there are studies that show drinking milk aids in weight loss. I can't tolerate milk all that well, but I can tolerate nonfat plain yogurt, so I have a berry/banana/flax seed smoothie for breakfast. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50147 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:00:39 +0000 Sarah 50147@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Love your tip #4, Shiny. My sister weighs her food and has been encouraging me to do the same. I'm currently waiting for the food scale I want to go on sale. It was a real eye opener to me when she used hers while I stayed with her over the holidays. Wow. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50145 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:57:40 +0000 shiny 50145@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oops I meant 1/4 lb per week... so about 1 lb per month over course of 5 months. </p> <p>Also, I tracked my weight loss and calories on a spreadsheet (you know how I love to spreadsheet everything!!) and what was really intriguing to me was that there was this correlation: when I'd cut calories by more than 400 a day below what my body needed to maintain my weight, my weight loss would slam to a halt. I did best cutting no more than 400 calories per day. I think this gets back to Lee's suggestion to make small changes: just carving out 100-200 calories a day (say, one glass of white wine or one less slice of bread) can add up to true -and permanent! - weight loss over the course of time. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50143 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:51:52 +0000 shiny 50143@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If you cut out all carbs, the minute you eat some, your body absorbs water. It has to do with gylcogen storage in your muscles; your muscles store a lot of water along with the gylcogen. I will probably muck up the explanation, since it's been awhile since I studied stuff like this - but you can google glycogen storage. But the good news is that these 5 lbs are probably water and not fat. </p> <p>Body builders and swimsuit models cut out all carbs right before their competition/photo shoots so that they can drop water weight and look very lean. But it's only temporary - as soon as they eat some carbs (which your body - particularly your brain - needs) they shoot right back up again. Your brain uses 70% of the glucose you eat every day. </p> <p>Best advice for losing the last 5.... </p> <p>1) DO eat carbs. I also prefer low-carb diets because of my prediabetes, but I don't cut carbs out completely. When I was in dieting mode, I ate no more than 1-2 servings a day (a serving being 1/2 cup rice or pasta, one slice of bread, half a bagel). Except on days I would exercise, in which case I'd add a serving or two. Bear in mind I'm really short and my goal weight is around 107-109, if your goal weight is higher you will need more carbs. Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I have upped the carbs just a bit, about one serving per meal. </p> <p>2) DON'T cut calories too low. This is the number 1 mistake dieters make. Google "starvation diet" - it's not a myth. Your body will fight to hold on to body fat if it thinks you are starving because you've cut calories too low. 1200 calorie diets are for only very, very rare circumstances (such as someone very short, over the age of 50, who is completely bed-ridden). I successfully lost 20+ lbs, including the last 5, eating at least 1400, and often 1600. </p> <p>What I suggest is go to this calculator (I think it's the best out there) and fill it out completely - be meticulous:</p> <p><a href="http://www.dietitian.com/calcbody.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.dietitian.com/calcbody.php</a></p> <p>Then take your GOAL weight, and eat the calories it would take to maintain that weight. Eventually you will arrive at that weight. </p> <p>3) Change it up. Don't eat 1500 calories every single day. Eat less on one day, and more on the next day. Alternate to keep your body guessing. For example, I'd diet during the week (meaning eat a little less than my body needed to maintain my weight) then on weekends I'd give myself a pass to eat up to my maintenance calories. On occasion, I'd eat slightly more. This is called "zig-zag" dieting and you can also google it. </p> <p>4) Weigh your food. You may be surprised to discover that what you thought was a serving is actually more than a serving. Minor differences add up over time, and even if you've weighed food before, if you haven't done so in a while, it's amazing how your eyes can slowly adjust and you forget what a serving size really looks like. </p> <p>5) If you are weight training with heavy weights, ignore all this advice. Those 5 lbs may not be fat, they may be muscle, blood, and bone tissue (lean mass). Use a tape measurement instead of a scale. Ignore the scale. </p> <p>6) Don't weigh yourself every day. It's completely normal for your weight to fluctuate 5 lbs (or even more). What you want to look for is a trend month by month - not day to day and often not even week to week, if you are only trying to lose those last pesky 5. </p> <p>7) Be patient! The last 5 lbs takes a LONG time to lose. The closer you are to your goal weight, the slower the weight loss. For the last 5 lbs, I was losing at rate of 1/4 lb per month!! Slow and steady - while being consistent - wins the race. If you lose it fast, it will pop back on just as fast (because likely it was all water, not fat). </p> <p>And as Lee says - make small changes. This may mean eating a little more carbs than you've been eating. Or it could mean moving a little more, or trying a new exercise activity. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50140 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 15:42:28 +0000 Sarah 50140@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm not a nutritionist, but here's what I do whenever I go on a short "burst". (I lose weight in bursts...I lose five pounds over three or four weeks, and then I don't lose anything for a few weeks, and so on.) Reduce caloric intake to 1200 and try to work out at least 1 hour each day. Then when the five pounds are gone, increase your calories. I only do 1000/day for no more than 6 days at a time. Your body needs fuel to burn, so it's best not to starve it. But this is how I've done it.<br /> Jillian Michael's book "Making the Cut" is really good, and addresses the 'stubborn last few pounds' as well. I have 15 to go, and it feels like it's taking forever! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50131 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:56:56 +0000 Laura 50131@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Well, I cut out carbs, and that helped, then I went out for sushi, and the scale popped back up and has refused to drop back down, even when I continued the low-carb plan. That's when I got frustrated. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50127 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 14:36:20 +0000 Lee Hovey 50127@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Might help if you let us know what you are already doing?</p> <p> Usually diet is the best way to lose those last 5 lbs, but by diet I don't mean, "go on a diet", I mean adjust your diet. Try small things, like cut out all soda and sugary drinks, or replaced refined carbs for multigrain/wheat options. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/losing-those-last-five-pounds#post-50120 Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:17:22 +0000 Laura 50120@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am so frustrated with my weight! I've been trying to lose the 5 lbs. I gained at the holidays and the scale just won't budge. My weight goes down a few pounds, then pops back up! Argh! Does anyone have good advice about how to lose 5 lbs.? </p>