Why is it harder to lose weight if you are nearer to your target weight?

January 30, 2007 2:30pm CST
Is it because you are losing motivation because you have been dieting for ages, or because you need to do more exercise now you have less weight to move around or is it a totally different reason. What do you think?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@rosie_123 (6113)
9 Feb 07
I think it's because, when you've been dieting for a while, your body starts to adjust to surviving on fewer calories, so it doesn't burn up so many, and that last bit of weight is therefore harder to lose. I also think ypu're probably right, that your motivation goes down too, after a long while dieting, and maybe we start "cheating" without realising.
@babykay (2131)
• Ireland
9 Feb 07
Its because you are more acceptable to yourself now that you are just a little overweight compared to how you were when you were more overweight. So you don't try as hard. I had 2 stone of baby weight to lose once I had him. First stone, it flew off. I starved myself (well not quite, but I skipped meals and ate NO rubbish). Once I got that stone off...well the whole effort lost momentum. And I am still a stone over what I should weigh! I think that the psychological aspect is very important.
@weemam (13372)
9 Feb 07
I think its because you begin to relax a bit when you get nearer your target and then you plateau and it just sits there but keep doing what you do and IT WILL come off , ( if I remember correctly lol )xx
@MrNiceGuy (4141)
• United States
30 Jan 07
It is also easier to lose weight when you first begin because when you are really out of shape the excess fat comes off easier. Its sad that it works that way becuase its so unfair, but it does.