Wicked Wednesday: One-Month Plateau

You've been at it for one month.
You've been exercising, eating healthier, just getting into the groove when BAM! you hit a brick wall.
The One-Month Plateau.

The following excerpts are part of The Joy Bauer Fit Club, found on NBC's The TODAY Show Here's how TODAY's nutrition and health editor says we can break through the one-month plateau:

"The one-month milestone can be particularly challenging as the newness of a diet has worn off and people tend to loosen up on the reins."

Here's how you can boost your metabolism, shake things up a bit and continue on the road to success:

Change Your Exercise Routine
"Try adding an extra 10 to 15 minutes of cardio exercise to your daily routine. You'll burn at least 50 additional calories. Also, add two to three days of strength training. As your weight goes down, you not only lose fat but also a small amount of muscle. Since muscle is critical to keeping your metabolism revved, losing it can reduce your metabolic rate and hinder weight loss."

Keep Your Mouth SHUT
"After following a diet for a few weeks, we often loosen up and begin to grab this and that...try to eat mindfully and consider keeping a food log for accountability. Also, pay attention to your beverages (alcohol included), as well as what’s going into your coffee and tea."

Cut Out The Dinner Carbs
"You'll save a few calories when you omit pasta, rice, bread, potatoes, corn and peas from your dinner. Instead, fill up on lean protein and lots of plain (no fat added) nonstarchy vegetables like broccoli, carrots, peppers, spinach, cauliflower, zucchini and lettuce."

No Nighttime Snack!
When you're through eating dinner, put closure on food by drinking an herbal tea or other decaf tea. You can also try flossing and brushing your teeth... You may even want to try the Crest Whitestrips after dinner —you have to keep them on for 30 minutes and you probably won't WANT to eat after you take them off. If you must have something in the later evening, stick with low/no-calorie options like sugar-free/fat-free Jell-O.

Don't forget to post your daily progress in the comments section!