Losing those last 5 pounds can be maddening. You’re eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise, but no matter what you do, you can’t seem to move the needle on the scale. Runners call it “hitting the wall,” and it happens to dieters, too. When you hit the “last 5 pounds” wall, making some simple changes can often help. WebMD talked to experts who recommended steps to power past the plateau.
Weight loss expert Dawn Jackson Blatner teaches her clients how to muscle up using the FITT (frequency, intensity, type, and time) theory to shave 100 calories a day to lose those last 5 pounds. “Most people need to shake up their fitness routines because their bodies become more efficient and burn fewer calories.” Her theory is to modify the frequency, intensity, type or time of exercise to burn off an extra 100 calories that will kick-start the weight loss. “It may mean adding 10-20 minutes onto your walk or if you stroll, push it up a notch and walk at a brisker pace,” suggests Blatner.