Slim Fast is a recognized purveyor of diet shakes, and recent additions to their weight-loss line include lower carb and high protein products.

The basis of losing weight with this approach is, you guessed it, limiting your consumption of carbohydrates. If you love pizza, pasta and sugary snacks, this can present a problem. With the Slim Fast low carb plan, however, the challenge is minimized; you simply replace two meals with their wonderful shakes each day and prepare one low carb dinner.

The loss of chocolate can be a cause of great sorrow among folks starting a low carb diet plan. Chocolate is usually loaded with sugar which–until now–makes it an unacceptable choice when attempting to consume less carbs. As luck would have it, the Slim Fast low carb drinks do come in a chocolate flavor. It’s called Lower Carb Creamy Chocolate Shake and for folks who fancy their drinks, it’s perfect. It will satisfy anyone with an appetite for chocolate without adding to their waistline.

Snacks have been the cause of failure for many a dieter. We may have steely resolve in the morning, but by late afternoon, we are desperately seeking sustenance…in the form of a snack. Fortuitously, the Slim Fast 3-2-1 plan has a remedy. Enter, Slim Fast snack bars; they’ll curb any craving. One of the most scrumptious snack bars is the Double-Dutch Chocolate flavor. You’ll be surprised that they only have 100 calories (Total Carbohydrates 16g).

So, if you need to kick your cravings to the curb, the Slim Fast low carb diet plan will satisfy the sweet tooth in just about anyone.

One of the most discouraging events in your weight loss plan is, when you reach–or, almost reach–a certain amount of weight loss, then, no matter how hard you try, can’t seem to get beyond this barrier.

This is definitely the case with my diet; welcome back to (week 28 of) Al’s Weight Loss Plan. I’ve almost reached the 30 pound weight loss mark. Yes, I said “almost.” For the last 6 weeks, my total weight loss numbers have been: 28.4, 28.4, 27.6, 29.4 28.2 and 28.8. It is frustrating.

The reason for this inability to lose more weight is obvious; it’s in the numbers. Reduce your caloric intake and increase your minutes of exercise. Easier said than done?

Okay, here’s what to do: every time you prepare a meal, make just a little bit less. If you eat out, don’t eat the whole thing. As far as exercise goes, add just a few more minutes each day to your workout routine.

Will this plan work? Stay tuned. Next week I will show the answer to this diet plateau dilemma…

This week’s frustrating numbers:

Calories

• Average calories: 2269/day

Exercise

• Avg exercise: 23 mins/day
• Avg “cals burned”: 100/day

Weight

• Last week’s weight: 261 lbs
• Today’s weight: 260.4
• Weekly weight loss: 0.6
• Weight loss 2010: 13.6
• Avg wkly weight loss: 0.5
• Total weight loss: 28.8

Oops, I gained some weight this week (1.2 lbs)! How is your diet going? Getting discouraged? Here’s a little “secret”: persevere. Yes, I know; it sounds simplistic. But, as you can see by my numbers below; overall, I’ve lost 28.2 pounds since I started this diet thing.

Which goes to prove: even if you have some “up” weeks, if you persevere, you will lose weight in the long run. Have patience, and don’t get discouraged if you slip up once in a while.

As a matter of fact, I’ve had 10 weeks of weight gain this year! It’s the 17 weeks of weight loss (or neutrality) that make all this hard work worthwhile.

Lesson for the week: perseverance is key. Keep track of your calories and exercise, then if you have a bad week, find ways to improve your numbers–and lose weight–the next week.

See you next week; hopefully a little lighter and a lot happier…

This week’s temporarily disappointing numbers:

• Average calories: 2315/day
• Avg exercise: 22 mins/day
• Avg “cals burned”: 135/day
• Last week’s weight: 259.8 lbs
• Today’s weight: 261
• Weekly weight loss (gain): (1.2)
• Weight loss 2010: 13.0
• Avg wkly weight loss: 0.5
• Total weight loss: 28.2