I've hit a 2.5 month weight loss plateau. Any tips, advice, or encouragement you can give me?

[Anonymous]

I've been losing weight "the right way." Eating a clean diet, exercising 5-7 days a week, and avoiding fast food/junk since January of this year, but in April, the routine of "having to" eat right, just started to get to me. My exercise has not suffered because I enjoy it and I find myself continually motivated on that front and have actually only not worked out some 15 days since January of this year (HIIT, Zumba, Running, Walking, Step, Weight Traning), but the diet... I have a bad sweet tooth. I will go through a box of fruit snacks, or eat a whole 6 pack of mini candies like that. I also started a new job that has wreaked havoc on what was my routine schedule of eating, so its been hard to carve out a nice lunch hour or to get quick access to healthy snacks instead of vending machine fair for cravings. I'm starting to get frustrated because tor 2.5 months now, I have remained at the same exact weight + or - 2 lbs, not gaining, not losing any more or less than that.

Any advice, tips, or encouragement on how to get over this hump and how to rid myself of the sweet tooth?

[Anonymous]

Sometimes when you hit that plateau you need to adjust your caloric intake a bit to sort of jump start your metabolism. Watch how many calories you are eating and try to stay within 1200-1500 calories a day. If you have a sweet tooth, I suggest trying Lenny and Larry's cookies or Arctic Zero ice cream, they are both packed with protein and nutrients and don't skim on the taste. You can have half a cookie or half a pint of ice cream and you won't have to feel guilty after a workout or at work. be sure you exercise for at least 30 mins a day and drink plenty of water.

[brianna_b]

Do fruit instead of sweets. This is easy in the summer. Buy whatever's on clearance or markdown. Here I get grapes, blackberries, raspberries, oranges, apples, plantains, etc, all at steep discounts, and they're plenty sweet enough to cure a sweet tooth. You're also getting vitamins and fiber, so it's win-win. Good luck. :)

[mberrie]

Try replacing the refined processed sugars for fruits, your body is asking for sugar for some reason, but give it the natural healthy kind, and eventually wean off of those to one or two a day. Good luck!