Q: “Why can’t I get off those last few kilos?”

C. Cargo, WA

A: All dieters plateau with their weight loss at some point. It may have been easy to lose the first kilos but it’s well-known that the closer you get to your goal weight, the more effort you need to get there! Sometimes all it takes to kick start the process is to take stock of your diet and exercise plan. Have your portion sizes crept up? Are you having too many treats? Does your workout need to become more intense?

Remember that as you lose weight, your smaller body may need less food to sustain it. This means you may actually need to cut back further on your food portions or bump up your exercise to keep achieving your weight loss goals.

But if you find you’re going to extreme lengths to lose those last few kilos, your weight goal might not be realistic. The ideal goal weight for you is one that you can maintain with regular exercise and a healthy but sensible diet. Excessive exercise routines and overly restrictive diets are unnecessary and too hard to maintain. Ask yourself this: what sort of lifestyle am I prepared to follow in order to achieve the perfect body?