Top NavTop NavTop Nav

Why are those last 5 lbs so hard to lose?

Sue Rodearmel

Sue Rodearmel

  • January 10, 2011 5:17am

Sue Rodearmel, an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Cal State East Bay, explained to Contra Costa Times reporter Jessica Yadegaran that “from a research perspective, we know how to lose weight.  It’s actually very simple.”  Rodearmel was interviewed for the news story, “How to conquer plateaus at any stage of your weight loss plans.” Read article.

"Your energy expenditure must be more than your caloric intake," says Rodearmel.  "Now, when you get down to a pretty healthy weight and you only have five pounds to lose, that becomes a larger percent of what's left of you."

“In turn, those five pounds become harder to lose because the human body defends its weight fiercely,” she explained. “So, when and if you do plateau, the first step is to increase your exercise.”

The article provided several tips on how to break through a diet plateau, including eating a protein-rich diet and increasing the intensity of workouts.

KL

© California State University, East Bay. All Rights Reserved.