I have 4 weeks till I'm supposed to reach my goal weight, and 5lbs left to lose.

[BusyMissIzzy]

DD was born last March. I'd put on about 3st (although over a stone was baby, placenta, fluid etc.) so gave myself till my birthday in October to lose it. That didn't quite happen, so I made Christmas my new goal. That didn't happen either; still had half a stone to lose, so decided DD's 1st birthday was my new goal. That's 4 weeks today, and I've only lost 1 or 2 lbs since Christmas. So 5lbs to lose in 4 weeks. I've been exercising every day since New Year but I'm obviously still eating too much as the weight isn't coming off. So now I'm cutting back to 1500-1600 cals/day and keeping up the exercise, and hopefully I'll lose about a lb a week.

Anyone else struggling to lose the last few lbs, or anyone successfully managed it in the past and got any tips?

When you say exercising every day, what are you doing? And what is typical food to get to 1500-1600 cals?

lower your carb intake

I do aerobics (30 mins Davina McCall DVD) on weekdays and run 4-5 miles at the weekend.

Typical diet would be:

porridge with dried apricots & almonds for breakfast
leerdammer light on toast/beans on toast/soup & bread for lunch, with a piece of fruit
decaff coffee and small chocolate bar mid-afternoon
for dinner, something like chicken & veg stirfry with brown rice, spag bol with wholewheat pasta, sausages & mash. Piece of fruit.

I know the low-carb diet has worked wonders for you custy and it would probably work for me, but I have to cook for DH too and he'd leave me if I didn't do potatoes with 90% of his meals I do eat a smaller portion of carbs with meals then I used to, and I'm sticking to no carbs at all after 7pm.

i know its not for everyone and you have done very excellently already, but you don't have to eat what you cook for him and i think the extra few pounds might come off if you cut out a few carbs - although your menu looks great

I should point out that the menu above is what I'm starting today. Add 2 creme eggs and a handful of biscuits, and that's the reason I haven't lost the rest of the weight already

I'll try and cut the carbs down a bit more, see what happens. 11mo DD is developing a liking for mashed potato, maybe I can persuade her to eat some of my share :)

I just need to be strict with myself, basically. Because it's 'only a few lbs', it's too easy to let my willpower slide.

Have you been doing the same dvd for a while? Trying something completely different may well help. Doing the same exercise routine every week will maintain what you have already achieved but to keep seeing results you need to keep changing it up. Diet wise don't make any changes you don't want to stick to long term, you could slightly reduce your portion of carbs in the evening and add some extra veg, but overall you have a very healthy balance. Out of interest are you happy with the way you look/feel now? If you jumped on the scales this minute and they said you suddenly weighed 5 lbs less would you still be trying to lose weight?

I've just started doing a different DVD a couple of weeks ago LostGirl. Before that I'd been doing the same one for quite a while. Apart from a brief Shredding interlude

As for the way I look, my main issue is that I still have a lot of fat round my tummy. The rest of me isn't bad (although could do with toning). I think losing a the last few lbs will get rid of most of my tummy. Then I might even be able to wear some of my pre-pregnancy tops, rather than having to buy a whole new wardrobe.

how tall are you? 1500 -1600 might still be a little high if you are fairly short (like myself). i'm currently aiming for 1300 a day to reach a goal weight by 4th march. currently on target.

btw i'm 5'2"

try swapping the breakfast porridge for something like kippers or baked beans.

reduce portion sizes as well.

drink more water / herbal tea.

caffeine can actually give you a metabolic boost so a lo call coffee like an espresso might be better than your decaf.

markraynsford.ning.com/
come over here and follow the 4 week challenge - you will easily lose 5lbs

I'm 5'4" kepler. I figure I'm burning at least 250 cals/day through exercise though, so don't want to go too low.

I drink decaff because I find too much caffeine gives me a headache. Might try green tea though. Thanks :)

Hi, your food does sound good, (without the biscuits and creme eggs ) I would keep the porridge, maybe drop the cheese! Also agree that cutting out carbs after 4pm may work wonders, tell DH it is only for a few weeks, stick a baked potato in oven for him and then you should be less tempted, or not allowed (!)to have some.

Cutting out all refined sugar (and wine/beer, drink spirits if you must) is supposed to be the best way to get rid of belly fat.

Finally, snack on protein (small amount of nuts, some chicken/tuna/egg) or veggies, or miso soup is great to fill you up a bit and lift your mood.

Step up the cardio for a few weeks-any chance you can run in the week? It is the best for burning fat and calories. Also try for at least 40 mins.

BTW green tea has lots of caffeine so if you are trying to avoid it then not a choice, unless you get decaffeinated!

I have swapped Mash potato for mashed carrots and swede .. family don't mind at all .. and its a quick way to lower carbs.

I'm 5 foot 4 as well, also loosing 3 stone of baby weight, also down to last 0.5 stone. Have being dieting since October.

I've been doing tesco diets and it recommended 1,200 a day and I go to the gym 3 x a week (training for triathlon), so I am impressed/jealous you've lost as much as you did on that many calories.

I haven't eaten milk chocolate since October, although have had occasional nibbles of lindt 85%.

I have lost 7 pounds in last couple of weeks though low no carbs. I think your diet looks quite high in carbs.

I just make food for me and DH and then I don't eat the carbs, eg tonight just had bolognaise sauce no pasta. Low carb is the best way to reduce tummy fat. I'm sure if you did 2 weeks of dukan/south beach you'd loose the rest.

Try myfitnesspal and it will recommend how many calories a day to loose the weight. It also recommended me 1200 calories taking into account the gym trips.

Good luck !!!

hope you're getting where u want to

Thanks for the advice. Miso soup is a good idea, I love it. Well done for losing so much Forever, sounds like you're on the right track to lose the rest as well.

I've just had lunch; poached eggs with one slice of toast instead of two. I's a start, right?

Yes, good start, if you are going to eat bread make sure it is wholemeal / low GI bread.

I had for lunch - tuna (whole can) salad leaves, tomato cucumber & total 0% yoghurt.

Had smoked salmon omelette for breakfast. Will proabably have chicken for dinner with lots of veggies.

And some cashew nuts (25g) as a snack to sustain me from when I get home from work until I eat dinner.

Foreveronadiet can I just ask how you are finding training for a triathlon on a low carb/low calorie diet? Do you eat more on days you train, still have carbs after workouts to help muscles restore glycogen levels etc? I hope you don't mind me asking but I trained for a half marathon last year (cannot imagine doing a tri, much respect to you) and on my long run days when I added up the calories I consumed including pre and post workout snack and calories consumed by way of gels/sports drinks etc during the run I would often exceed 3000 calories for my days total. I cannot imagine doing the sort of intense training you must be doing on just 1200 calories a day.

Well its only a sprint triathlon, and its not until June. Hopefully I'll have lost the weight by Easter so will be on maintenance diet by the time I need to do the most intense exercise so porridge etc will be back on the menu!

At the moment all training in gym & generally just do one and a bit thing at a time - eg 5km run & short swim, 30 lengths & short cycle, spin class & short run. No problem doing this without carbs. I think a half marathon would be different.

TBH I have always worked out on an empty(ish) stomach as I am very prone to getting a stitch, esp if eat before I exercise - when I wasn't low carbing I just had a banana & maybe yoghurt for breakfast and then would eat properly afterwards.

I was 3 stone overweight & totally unfit when I stopped BFing DS2 and the triathlon was a challenge to help me loose the weight & get into shape!

'Just' a sprint , I don't think you can use the word 'just' when talking about any kinds of triathlon! Congratulations on everything you have achieved, least of all being able to run after doing a spin class

Its only a 15 minute run as spin finishes at 10am and I have to get baby from creche at 10.30am and need to have shower etc!

So far the training is fine, because each gym session is managable. Not sure what it will be like when I try to put it all together!

Hopefully my wetsuit and tri-suit have arrived today which will make it more real!

But no, I don't eat more on days I train. Actually on the low carb diet not really hungry have to force myself to eat the 1200!

I wish I had to force myself to eat :(

I was doing really well yesterday until I ate half a box of truffles in the space of about 5 mins. At about 8.30pm. It's the 'just this once won't hurt' attitude, but it's never just once, I keep doing it. Grr, where is my willpower??

The great thing about no carb diet is that you can't even have one truffle so none of this just one more.

Although before I was doing low carb we got a box of lindor present I rationed them around 3 a week as treat - if I had calories left.