BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Weight Loss I can't seem to go any lower, only higher

I have struggled with my waistline (and other lines) for almost a decade. I have had 2 back surgeries and my weight ballooned. I lost 70 lbs over the last year, but I still have at least as much to go and I can't seem to get past this plateau. I would like to hear about the things that some of you have done to improve your weight loss strategy. I need inspiration!

Hey Athena, the first big loss is always the easiest for those who have lots to lose but then it starts to slow way down and that's when you have to develop major amounts of patience, persistence, and the willingness to try all kinds of new things to get your body to the next level.

If you're not exercising, start now. If you are then start changing your workouts every 4-6 weeks so your body does not have a chance to adapt. If you've been eating the same diet for a while now consider some serious tweaking or try carb or calorie cycling to train your body to start using fat stores for fuel. Most people who don't lose never learn how to do this.

You can read more about that on my site. Start with these three articles.

plateaus and weight loss

crack the fatloss code

calorie cycling diet

Now is when the hard work really begins. If you are willing to learn more, try new things, and make some changes those next 70 lb. will just melt away easily. If you resist change then the plateau will become permanent. Change is a choice most non-losers just can't seem to handle but it's a necessary one if you want the weight off.

Thank you for the information and encouragement.

You can do it!!! : )

Hi Athena!

First, good for you for aiming to eat better and get healthier!

I started my weight loss journey a year ago on Weight Watchers. Now, even if you don't want to join a weight loss program, here's how I've been eating differently the past year. I was almost 200 pounds this time last year. But, by eating right and exercising, I've lost almost 50 pounds, with about 20 more to go. The key is to aim for a slow and steady weight loss.

I now strive to eat more fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, lots of water, etc. Now, that sounds boring on paper, but the key is finding ways to make delicious recipes where the vegetables taste delicious, lol!

And, I'm able to still enjoy the delicious foods in life (pizza, chocolate, etc...) in moderation. I can honestly say I've never been hungry once since joining a diet program.

I don't want to be one to say "Do this program" or "Do that program"--this is just my experience from the past year. I can honestly tell you that by eating better foods, I have so, so much more energy, and feel better than I have in years. I haven't felt deprived once.

Don't try to make a million changes at once. For example, try adding a piece of fruit a day for week. Or, increase your water intake by a glass. The next week, you'll have seven solid days of making a small change behind you. Then, increase it to two glasses of water or two pieces of fruit or vegetables. In as little as four weeks, making a change a week can really add up. Do more if you like, but don't let it become overwhelming.

Hang in there, and if you need help with meal planning or recipes, post here or on one of our food and wine sites. Also, feel free to pm me anytime--I love talking about recipes and food! Good luck to you--you CAN do this!!

And, ditto to everything Monica said!