Getting the last 2 inches off

20 years ago my waist was a pleasing (to me) 32". Then it started to expand up to 36", even a bit above. My belts weren't long enough, let alone the trousers/jeans/shorts I could no longer wear - even though I still have some of them kept to this very day - my various-coloured Wrangler chords, for instance. Regular running and reduced food intake didn't take it back to its former level. Then someone suggested I drink more water, partly to stave off hunger when eating less, but also to aid the body's metabolism. To my delight it seemed to work, the improvement being visibly discernible. But for the last few months it's stubbornly refusing to budge right down to the 32" level. I can tell the difference 'cos my old belts can't yet be fastened down to the hole I used a couple of decades ago, and putting on those chords give me an ugly overhanging paunch. I dare say that some will think me lucky at having even a 34" waist - but it MUST be possible somehow to shift it yet further down, mustn't it?