Understanding Weight Loss Plateaus

A weight loss plateau is a common experience that individuals endure when beginning their journey to shed off some extra pounds. Plateau: The stage where one reaches a point of minimum weight loss, though he/she is working hard enough in diet and exercise. This is something all of us need to know more about when we try and want the best chance at losing weight in a healthy manner long-term.

The Problem with Weight Loss Plateaus

Weight loss can plateau for a number of reasons, including:

1. Reduction in Metabolic Rate: Your body may burn fewer calories as you shed weight. Simply put, the deficit that was created with fewer calories now doesn’t work.
2. Weight Loss – It is a common knowledge muscle loss can happen if dieting alone because you are losing body fat as well. You lose muscle, as mentioned above, has a lower resting metabolic rate due to tissue gaining more calories burned than say fat.
3. Homeostasis Of The Body: The body is taking care of itself continuously. This can result in the body wanting to go back to its previous weight, and as a result you may then experience greater resistance when it comes to losing more.
4. Diet Break: Weekly, people start to loosen up on their diet by habitually eating at maintenance calories or even above that which will slow down results.
5. Adaptation of Exercise: As you become fitter your body becomes more able to perform exercises i.e. it may take less calories doing the same activities which in turn reduces overall calorie expenditure at PT.

What do you need to push past a weight loss plateau?

When you get stuck, don’t be a defeatist. Ways to break the weight loss plateau

1. Revaluate Your Calorie Count: You are shedding off those pounds lead you to a reassessment of your caloric intake. How to calculate your new maintenance calories.
2. Vary Your Workout Routine: Add some diversity to your workout routine. This may involve simply changing up the workout, intensity or duration to help your body adapt in new ways.
3. Weight Training: Resistance training is a great way to help you build muscle which will actually increase your metabolism making it easier for you bust through the plateau.
4. Track it: Write down what you eat and workout to find any patterns or habits holding back your progress.
5. Hydrate & Sleep Hydration is key (and tied to inflammation), and getting proper rest can both impact physical health in general, as well as weight loss.

Conclusion

These weight loss plateaus are normal and grows out of personal realizing frustration. As long as you know why and what to do about it, then this will only be a hiccup in your journey of reaching that desired weight! And always keep in mind — I mentioned this already above as well, the key to long lasting results is patience and just doing it day by bay without hoping for fast changes. You are not afraid to go, and you will lose weight.