That wicked plateau....

You're doing good...eating healthy, walking or some other form of exercise...and all of a sudden, there it is...the weight loss plateau!

Everyone hits a plateau at one point or another.  You could lose consistently every week and with only a few more pounds to go, you stop.  This doesn't just happen when you're in menopause.  It's a weight loss fact of life at any age.  Those last few pounds are killer!!!

How do you get over it?  Most times, changing up on your exercise routine will do the trick.  If you walk every day, change that to every other day.  On the walk days, instead of just walking, mix in a run (walk 10 minutes, run 5 minutes, repeat).  On off days, work on your arms with some light weights (holding a pint bottle of water in each hand will work if you don't have dumbbells).  Jump rope, use a hula hoop (or pretend you're working a hoop and rotate those hips), rollerblade, dance...just do something different from what you normally do.  The body gets used to things, so shake it up.  Confuse your metabolism with variety.

Your body also gets used to food.  Chicken and fish are good, but if you constantly eat chicken and fish prepared the same way every day, your body will get used to it and just stop burning the fat.  Instead of plain, grilled chicken, make a chicken parmasean dinner (I think I feel a recipe coming on).  Instead of grilled or broiled fish, try poaching it, or baking it.

This is a good time for a cheat, too.  Sometimes, your body is just screaming for an ice cream sundae.  Have one (notice the word "one").  It won't kill you, and it'll give your body something different to burn off.

It doesn't happen in a day.  Don't get discouraged.  Keep at it and soon, you'll be over that plateau and lost that last 5 or 10 lbs.