Weight Loss Plateau

The Weight Loss Plateau - and how to overcome it

Hitting a weight loss plateau is a common experience for most dieters. It can be one of the most demotivating things to happen during a diet. Initially you start off full of determination and see the pounds dropping off over the first few weeks, then the weight loss slows and may even stop - the weight loss plateau.

People may give you reasons such as "initially you just lost water" or "you're now your natural weight" - however more often than not it is due to your body adjusting and preparing itself for a period of famine. The body lowers your metabolism in an attempt to slow the use of your fatty energy reserves.

Don't let yourself become demotivated - or quit your diet - the trick at this point in any diet or weight loss program is to up your activity level which will boost your metabolism level - and your body will continue to burn energy reserves.

Some hints on how to boost your metabolism

Strength training - Muscles require energy to function - if you increase your muscle mass you'll increase the amount of calories you burn on a day to day basis. This is perhaps one of the reasons why low carb diets, are initially very successful for men, as on average, men have a greater muscle mass.

Change your workout - Similar to the point above, even if you're happy with you current workout, it may be a good move to change it. Following the same workout for a long time results in the set of muscles you workout becoming used to the exercise. Try changing to exercise a different set of muscles, even with a normal workout, these muscles will work harder and increase the calories you burn.

For weight loss support have a look at our forum: weight loss help forum.

If you don't find the information you were looking for here, a couple of sites we'd recommend are:

Weight Loss Plateau and Diet - ivillage.co.uk

Crossing the weight loss plateau - dukehealth.org