Diet and Health FAQ

Tagged As: weight loss diet exercise

Question:
I need some advice on my weight loss diet exercise and how it can be adjusted so that I can lose the last of the jello that hangs 'round my middle. I apologize in advance for this long post, but I've been stuck for a while and I want to be as complete as possible in the hope of getting some truely useful advice. Background: I'm 5'9 183lbs, currently. About 5 years ago I lost 60 pounds to get to this weight. In that time I have changed my eating and exercising habits significantly and have been able to keep this weight off. I work out very regularly and have no problem maintaining my weight at this level. The Problem: I would very much like to get my weight down to around 170. I've been close to that weight before, and it is there that I lose most of the flabbies that belie the good shape I am in. Unfortunately, no matter what type of diet or exercise routine I have tried I can't lose the weight. It comes down very grudgingly, and is difficult to maintain. My body keeps fighting back to the low 180s. As I said earlier, I have maintianed very regular workouts for the last few years. In the last six months I have dieted as well, but to no effect. I work out 6 days a week. I run on all six days on a treadmill at 7.5 MPH. On non lifting days I go an hour, on the three days a week I lift I go 35 minutes. I have been keeping my calories at or below 2000 per day with approximately a 70/20/10 carb/protein/fat mix. Does anybody have any suggestions of weight loss diet exercise as to how I can lose that final 10lbs?

Answer:
Without knowing more specifics about your caloric intake and exercise program, it would be difficult to say. However, I would recommend that you have a body fat assessment done to determine where you are at and then where you want to be. That will give you a good target weight to shoot for. Secondly, perhaps more specific exercises could be found to target those areas where the flabbies are occurring. Around the middle I would recommend simple flutter kicks and various situps. Failing this, you should perhaps consult with your physician to see if there isn't some medical reason for this. Remember, that during any weight loss program, the last 10 pounds are always the hardest to lose. It's sort of like a point of diminishing returns...you have to work harder to get the same gains you made before.