The Last Few Pounds: Don't let your target weight slip when there is light at the end of the tunnel.

For people who are looking to lose weight, they are often very pleased to see that they can shed those first few pounds very easy.  Remember though, that it is not always going to be that easy.  The first easy pounds can cheer you on towards the next, but beware of the slowdown and the discouragement that can go with it.

Don't give up, though.  Remember that at a certain level, you will find that initial burst of effort is only getting you about eighty percent of the way there.  The other twenty percent are a great deal more difficult, and when you are looking to get that final twenty percent out there and keep the results you get, there are some important things to keep in mind.

Remember that getting rid of those final ten or twenty pounds can be a matter of will and determination.  Remember that good enough never is, and that if you are looking into settling, you may be letting yourself into a downward spiral.

But beware of long term effects of not sticking on the path to lose stomach fat


Remember that sticking with this goal can give you the stamina to stick with other goals.  Don't get into the habit of being a quitter.  It is way too easy to say good enough, and at the end of the day, you are going to discover that achieving one goal makes achieving the others a lot easier.

The other possibility in giving up too easily and too soon can be a greater difficulty in keeping the weight off. The earlier you let go of your original goal without achieving it, the more likely you are to gain at least some of that weight back. Sticking with it helps keep those hard earned results permanently.

When you are thinking about getting that last twenty percent of your goal met, there may very well be physiological reasons for the slowdown as well.  Perhaps your body gravitates towards a particular weight.  There is no way to tell what happens unless you are willing to keep trying, however.

You may have slacked off of the length of exercises, or it may just require a longer period to get the same results. By analogy, it's easy to scoop peanut butter out of a full jar, but getting those last bits is harder and takes longer.

What's your regimen been like?  If you have been doing something like a good cardio workout three times a week for a half an hour every session, try improving it to four or five times a week, or lengthening a session until it hits forty five minutes.  Don't hurt yourself, but keep in mind that an increasingly intense workout might be what you need.

When you are thinking of upping the intensity of your workout, try some interval training.  Don't overdo it; if you are not used to it, this can be quite strenuous.  Don't risk your health and remember that an injury can set you back further than any plateau.

Try some new exercises.  If your body has become too used to what you are doing, you may find that that last twenty percent stays elusive.  It might be the hardest part of your weight loss plan!

Keep at it until you hit your final desired goal, then keep it steady. Long term results require a permanent lifestyle change.