Increasing physical activity is particularly useful for moving beyond a plateau, because exercise both uses calories and builds muscle. The more muscle you have, the higher your BMR, which is why working out with weights or doing some kind of resistance training can be especially helpful. In fact, increasing your muscle mass as you lose body fat can compensate for the decline in BMR induced by weight loss.
Fat! No fat! Sugar! Protein! Fruit only! Food combining! Enough already! David L. Katz, MD, busts the bogus claims of some of today's best-known weight loss programs.