As an expert in weight loss, and with bathing suit season right around the corner, I thought you might like a mini-program for losing 10 pounds by Memorial Day. My clients are averaging 3 pounds per week, so if you work it, you can really lose 20+ pounds by then! Do what you can and be happy with your progress, whatever it is.

1. Start Moving. What are you doing now? If you aren't currently losing body fat plan to add some exercise to your weekly program. For example, if you are walking a few times a week, but the scale isn't budging (this is a timely complaint as I've just signed up 2 walkers who aren't meeting their goals!), try mixing it up a bit. For example, you could add a little jog every minute or so of your walk. Or you might try doing push-ups before your walk, and swinging the jump rope for 50 turns afterward.
2. Watch Those Carbs. Starchy carbohydrates are as delicious and deadly as the bad fats. Do you know that a bagel (a fat-free favorite) increases blood sugar so dramatically that diabetics shouldn't eat them? Processed grains can be totally eliminated from your diet and you will be all the better for it. Or remove a little bit for immediate big results. For example, when I start to get leaner in the Spring time, the 1st thing I do is to remove bread from my diet. That move alone causes me to lose 1-2% body fat in a couple of weeks. Pretzles, popcorn, cold cereal, etc, are mostly processed grains. If it comes in a bag, or worse, in a bag inside of a box, chances are you will do well to remove it from your diet. You will be very surprised how this one small change can add up over time.
3. Failure Is Good. Try Strength Training. I am happy to be involved with the one thing in this world that I can think of, where I strive for failure. I often get asked, but should I be using a weight that is too heavy? The answer is yes, if you can keep your form while you are handling it. If you continue to use weights that are comfortable, why does your body have to change? If it can handle it, then there is no reason for your muscle to change. You will only add/tone your muscle if the exercise is very difficult. Otherwise, you are wasting your time.
4. Skip The Fast Food. Try replacing what would otherwise be a quick lunch with something you carry from home. I spend a lot of time cooking with my clients and they can't believe how easy it is to cook large batches to freeze, and how well they eat when they are eating the fabulous variety of foods we make together. Foods like turkey meatloaf and sweet potatoes, chili, spaghetti, chicken with mango salsa, chicken with red and yellow peppers, etc. We all feel like we're eating gourmet foods that we love, and our body fat is literally melting away as a result.
5. Eliminate Starchy Carbohydrates After Lunch. Your body needs starchy carbohydrates for energy. How many depends greatly on how much energy you expend in any given day. For those of us with desk jobs and who sit in front of the T.V. in the evening, we don't need many. Those of us who are running for exercise, who lift weights 3-4 times a week, and run back and forth with kids, etc, need more. If you are gaining or maintaining your weight and you would like to lose some body fat, eliminating carbohydrates after 12 noon might be a powerful strategy for you. Get some early in the day so that you have energy to keep going, but then make your body use it's body fat stores for fuel in the afternoon. Please allow me to note that I do NOT include vegetables in this "elinate starchy carbs" suggestion. I eat veggies with nearly every single meal. They are filling and filled with wonderful nutrients. Eat them all day long!
6. Do and Eat What You Love. The root word of "diet" is die, isn't it? You can't drink vinegar forever, can you? You must find the lean foods that you like and add to them so that over time, you have many great meals to switch between. Also, if you hate to run and you decide to run to lose weight, as soon as your weight gets where you want it to be, you will stop running, and guess what happens??? Your weight returns. Learn the exercise(s) you love to do and do them regularly. Switch among them often for variety and don't be afraid to try new things.

Small changes really can add up over time. Try one of these suggestions at a time, and when you feel like you've got it, try another one. We'll definitely be seeing less of you in 8 weeks!

For a personalized program, contact The Body Sculptress.