I have lost over 150 pounds. You'd think I know the answer, but my weight loss has taken about 9 1/2 years time so far. I would like it over and done with. I'd like to know more things I could be doing to get the numbers to move on downward some more. I guess I am impatient, understandably. For many years I had diabetes and did not know that I had it.
I just found out 2 years ago that I have Type II and this is why it has been so very slow and difficult for me to lose. The only good news in all this is that it is not impossible for even someone like me to lose weight and change their life.
Congratulations on your weight loss thus far!
I lost 55 pounds once. I hit a couple of nasty plateaus. Here are some strategies I used to get over them:
- Break out the measuring cups and spoons and food scale again. I tended to get lazy about measuring my food over time. While on a plateau I forced myself to measure everything that went into my mouth that wasn't already pre-packaged and labeled with nutritional information.
- Try a different type of workout. If I'd been doing the exercise bike regularly, instead of pushing myself harder on the bike and getting frustrated, I'd move to a different machine - the stair stepper, elliptical, or rower. My body wouldn't be as used to the other machines - they'd work out different muscles so I wouldn't have to push myself as hard and would get more benefit.
- Re-examine the reasons why you want to lose weight. Cut out some pictures from magazines of how you'd like to look, and also break out pictures of how you looked before your weight loss, and stick them on the fridge and food cabinets. It'll remind you of how you don't want to become and where you really want to be at the time you're making a judgement about what foods to eat.
- Wear a pair of jeans that is really tight around your waist. (around the house probably is best ;-) ). It'll make you think about your stomach more and motivate you to eat less and work out more.
- Limit the amount of times you eat out per week, or if you eat out, have them bring out a take-home box when they bring out your food so you can spoon out half to take home right away so it's not sitting there on your plate tempting you while you eat.