Weight Loss Blues---Don't Give Up Yet!

 Just when it seems everything is going well, it happens. That dreaded period of dieting sabotage know as hitting a plateau.
 It may seem that you have done all that you can do and giving up is the only plausible solution. Before you take that step, remember it happens to everybody that is actively trying to lose weight. At this time, it is best to reflect on your current diet and exercise plan. It is possible that you only need to tweak it up a little bit. Maybe try to add an extra day or two to your workout. Maybe you are getting a few more calories per day than you originally thought. Keep in mind that you need a 500 calorie deficit each day in order to lose one pound per week.
  A great solution is to try interval training in your cardio workout. With interval training, you start out with low intensity cardio for a few minutes then you switch to high intensity for a few minutes.You alternate between low and high intensity. This goes a long way at speeding up your metabolism. It will assist you in becoming a calorie burning machine!
  A trick that I stumbled upon is the zigzag diet. Different people do it different ways. I personally do 1500 to 1900 calories each day. One day I may do 1500 calories then do 1800 the next day, followed by 1600 and so on. Just don't ever go below 1200 calories per day.
  Also remember that sometimes you are losing inches even if the scale doesn't seem to move. Recording measurements daily will help you keep track of your true fat loss.
  Just remember it is a lot easier to put the weight on than it is to lose it. It does take time. But with patience and discipline, you will soon be back on track and looking like a million bucks.

Weight loss

I have researched many different diet and exercise plans. Finding the right one takes a lot of time and effort to maximize fat loss.
First of all,you have to consider a few factors. I learned that you should pick a diet that you can stick with from now on. It truly is a lifestyle change, not a diet. It is easy to gain the weight back as soon as you come off of your "diet". For me, the zigzag diet has been very good. On this diet, you can pick and choose the foods you eat. All you have to do is alternate the number of calories you get each day. One day you may eat 1500 calories, the next 1800 calories and so on.
Another very important aspect to weight loss is exercise. It is important to get in at least 30 minutes of cardio at least 5 times per week. I have found that interval training works well. That is where you add a couple of minutes of high intensity cardio several times during your session. So, you start out doing your low to moderate intensity and add resistance every few minutes and then drop it back down every few minutes. You continue this for the full 30 minutes. Works great!
You also need strength training at least two days per week. I try to do high reps with lower weight on problem areas and lower reps with more weight on areas that just need toning.

Zigzag dieting

I have been doing the zigzag diet for about two months now. I really like it. I have a lot more choices and it is pretty easy to do. I have lost about 10 lbs. since I have been on it. It is really good for people like me that have a hard time losing weight. I have tried Weight Watchers and the low-fat diet several times in the past. They worked okay for a little while, but I could never stick with them. This is a diet I can live with!