The Dreaded Weight Loss Plateau
February 10, 2009 by John Neyman
Filed under Weight Loss AND You
During any concerted effort of weight loss, most dieters find that they will reach a plateau at some stage. This is when, after a steady period of weight loss has been going well, you reach a weight in which you don’t seem to be able to lose anymore. Suddenly, despite continuing the exact same good habits established in the first few months, you don’t seem to be able to lose any more weight. At this stage, most commonly, people are a couple of stone from their target weight.
This stage of weight loss is known as a plateau and is a recognised medical part of weight loss. It happens because your body has now had time to adjust to less calories and the sudden change has stopped shocking your metabolism into action. So while frustrating, when you hit the plateau do try and remember it’s actually just your body adapting to the changes it’s been through, and is completely natural. It is also because the lighter you become, the less calories are burned by exercise.
This does not, however, mean it is unbeatable. It simply means you need to tweak your eating or exercise habits a little to combat the plateau. Try decreasing your calorie intake by around 150 calories per day, or do 20 minutes more exercise than you usually would. This should mean you begin to lose weight again, until you reach your goal. Be persistent and keep working at it; the plateau is irritating, but ultimately manageable. Don’t fall into the trap of giving up and wasting all that earlier work – see this as the final push before you reach your dream.
