The last 10 lbs.

Honestly, the first 10lbs are harder. Think about it - you have to pick your *kitten* up off the couch and change the way you're eating. It's a lifestyle change.

You've already lost a good amount of weight, so you have the keys to success. Be very strict with your diet, and very intense with your exercise - and you'll do it!

It's fact (IMHO). The margin of error is just so much smaller when you're working on those last few pounds (or at least it should be if you're trying to lose them at an appropriate rate, say, 1/2 pound/week. My advice is to consistently weigh and measure everything you're eating and accurately log your exercise for 4-6 weeks, evaluate your progress (or lack thereof) over this time, and then make appropriate adjustments. The trick is, it's tough to make the appropriate micro-adjustments without solid data.

Alternatively, resolve that the last 10 pounds don't really matter (because they likely don't, at least for health) and focus on the quality of your diet/exercise.

Being very analytical, my personal approach is primarily the former...but in a recent cut, used the latter as an excuse to get back to maintenance+.

I was 5lbs 1.5 months ago and now 10lbs, it's very very hard. The last 5lbs before took about 2-3 months to get rid of and now have to do it again haha. Stay extremely persistent

Edit: The key to getting my last 5 out 10lbs was to really start eating more.

I keep losing and gaining back the last 10. I can get them off but them maintaining it is rough for me.

Totally true. Think about it - every step of the way you have improved your diet and your workouts to continue to achieve your goals. You a lean, mean, MFP machine. In order to get those last 10 lbs off you will have to be even more dedicated and know that it will take more time than the first 10.

@LeadingMuscle has some great suggestions, I second Intermittent Fasting as a way to push to the next level.

I'm down to my last 4 and yes it's slow going. I recently started eating at maintenance for my goal weight and I feel amazing. It's much easier to be more active now that I have more energy due to my increased calories so even though the scale is going down slowly, it's still going down. Additionally, my body is firming up & clothes are fitting better and I've dropped another pant size recently. I wish I tried this earlier because it's so much easier than before, I feel like I can have a normal life now. Best of luck with those pesky last 10!

Not to be pedantic, but if you're losing, even slowly, you're not actually at maintenance.

That said, I completely agree with your approach. Reducing your calorie deficit (by increasing your calories) can have all kinds of benefits to your overall plan, the most awesome of which is the increased energy which lets you do more. Also, compliance is soooo much easier.

Unless you have a pressing need to lose the last 10 for some major reason, why not start eating at your goal weight maintenance and let your body do the rest?

It's not quite the same but I have the last 5 pounds to lose. After working on it for months, and the scale not budging, I finally gave up. I started eating at maintenance and I started weight lifting. I'm not losing weight but I'm losing inches! Just lost another inch in my waist and my hips this week. And I've gone down another pants size. So while the scale says I weigh the same, my measurements say otherwise and people are noticing.

I'm down to my last 4 and yes it's slow going. I recently started eating at maintenance for my goal weight and I feel amazing. It's much easier to be more active now that I have more energy due to my increased calories so even though the scale is going down slowly, it's still going down. Additionally, my body is firming up & clothes are fitting better and I've dropped another pant size recently. I wish I tried this earlier because it's so much easier than before, I feel like I can have a normal life now. Best of luck with those pesky last 10!

Not to be pedantic, but if you're losing, even slowly, you're not actually at maintenance.

That said, I completely agree with your approach. Reducing your calorie deficit (by increasing your calories) can have all kinds of benefits to your overall plan, the most awesome of which is the increased energy which lets you do more. Also, compliance is soooo much easier.

No I'm not at maintenance, I still have a few lbs to lose. I said that I am eating at maintenance for my goal weight which is less than what I weigh now. Hope that clears up the misunderstanding

Ah, yes, that certainly clears up my misunderstanding...and seems like a solid approach for those who are near their goal.