Time to check your progress

Since your goal is to lose weight gradually, I advise you not to step on your scale every day. Once a week is fine - usually first thing in the morning, after you go the bathroom, when you will weight the fewest pounds that you will all day.

So - have you lost a pound or two? Holding steady? Gained weight?

If you've gained weight, don't panic, evaluate. How much have you gained? Why? Have you been working out - so that you've gained a couple of pounds of muscle? This is good. When you're working to increase your muscle mass, you will gain weight before you lose it. And since muscle looks so much better than flab - as long as you aren't over-muscled, like super-body builders rather than body sculptors - what does it matter if you haven't lost weight.

If you're holding steady, this is also not a reason for despair. It just means your body is at an equilibrium. Add an extra few reps on weight training days, cut back another portion of food, or another can of Pepsi or Coke or whatever, and you'll be on the downward trail.

And if you're losing weight - keep on doing what you're doing.