Pinpoint what’s keeping you from losing those last few pounds of fat, and come up with a game plan to deal with it.
Many people are at the “I just need to lose 10 more pounds” stage in their fitness journey.
And if you are one of those people, you’re probably already doing these things:
- Eating foods rich in protein
- Staying away from processed carbs
- Skipping sugary desserts and fried food
For many Americans, junk food has become a staple in their meals, much like carbs and protein. The people who avoid junk food and train regularly are much leaner than the general population.
Some people aren’t happy with being “kinda lean.”
Many people want to take their leanness to the next level, and to do so, they need to know what their hurdles are in order to jump over them.
Your Obstacles and How to Overcome Them
While everyone’s setbacks are unique, there are some that many people share. They include:
- Snacking after dinner. Mindless snacking, especially after dinner, is one of the quickest ways to pack on the pounds. To decrease post-dinner snacking, make your meal more substantial either by adding more protein or loading up on fiber.
- Starving yourself. When you starve yourself, your metabolism slows down in an effort to preserve fat stores. Sticking to a pre-planned eating schedule or window will maintain your metabolism, and you won’t feel as hungry.
- Binging on cheat days. While it’s okay to eat more calories on cheat days (if you’re into using cheat days), binge eating is going slow down the progress made from your regular training days. The best way to avoid it is to plan your cheat days or meals in advance.
- Not paying attention to liquid calories. Juices, teas and coffee, sauces, and condiments – all have calories, and if you aren’t careful, you’ll be drinking the same number of calories that you’re eating. Swap out some of your current liquids with water and choose the “lite” variety of your favorite condiments.
By identifying your weak points, you’ll be able to come up with different ways to deal with them. Eventually, they’ll become habits, and what was once an obstacle will become a bad memory.
The Last Piece of Advice
Depending on your current weight and muscle mass, losing that last 10 pounds can be a bit of stretch, but the chances are that you already look good regardless of being 10 pounds over your goal weight.
If you’re still set on improving your leanness, there’s no doubt that by identifying and overcoming your setbacks, you’ll be leaner than you were before.
