Dieters dread the plateau. You're on a roll, losing weight steadily and happily for weeks. Your confidence is high, and your goal is in sight. Then suddenly, your scale freezes. No matter how hard you try, those extra pounds refuse to budge. You've hit a wall, and you know the frustration of seeing no progress could easily lead you to gain back what you've lost. So how do you break through the plateau? It's perfectly normal for a dieter to reach a plateau. The trick is to use it as an opportunity to double up your efforts and get clear on your strategy to carry you through to the finish line. Below you'll find suggestions that can help you recommit to your program and re-ignite the weight-loss process when you feel challenged. 1. Get clear on your ultimate weight-loss goal Be sure that your weight-loss goal is realistic and that your expected rate of weight loss is reasonable. If you are on a heath enhancing, nutritionally rich weight loss program, you can expect to lose one to two pounds a week. Each body has its ideal weight and size. Don't compare yourself to anyone else, but listen to your body and notice what feels best for you. A simple way to approximate your ideal weight is by referring to a Body Mass Index chart. 2. Go high-protein, low carbs Unless you are eating enough protein to maintain your lean muscle mass, you are likely to have lost weight already from both your fat stores and muscle. Women need to consume approximately 100 grams of protein a day and men 150 grams to preserve their muscle tissue during a weight loss program. If you have lost some muscle during your weight loss program so far, you will need to focus on protein so your body can build muscle, which requires more calories to sustain, which will, in turn, kick start your weight loss again. Any weight loss program you choose should preserve your body's muscle, and this does not happen!
3. Add resistance training to your program An excellent way to boost your metabolism and breakthrough to the next level of weight loss is by incorporating aerobic exercise into your program, such as 30 minutes of walking three to four times a week. (If you are 35 years or older, or haven't exercised regularly, begin with 10 to 15 minutes two to three times a week.) Also, weight training with free weights or machines several times a week can help increase muscle mass, allowing you to burn more calories faster. Studies show that weight training can increase your metabolism overnight by five to 10 percent. Working out can increase your metabolism for up to 21 hours after an intense workout. 4. Look out for hidden carbohydrates If your weight loss progress seems slow, look out for carbohydrates that might be sneaking their way unnoticed into your diet. Sugar can lurk in the most unexpected places, such as ketchup, salad dressings, teriyaki, and barbecue sauces. Watch out too for cornstarch, sugar, or milk solids in processed foods such as gravies or sauces on frozen vegetables. Be especially careful about "low-fat" foods where the flavor is enhanced by sugar and other carbohydrates. Try keeping a diet journal for a couple of days of EVERYTHING you eat and drink. You may quickly discover the hidden carbs that keep your weight-loss progress stuck and be able to eliminate them and move past your plateau. 5. Take the "refinement" out of your diet Try eliminating all refined sugar and refined grains from your diet. This includes white bread, pastries, pasta, white rice, white flour crackers, sugar-coated breakfast cereals, cookies, and cake. This simple step can encourage a huge weight-loss breakthrough and leave you feeling more healthy and energized in the process.
6. Don't go hungry Cutting back on how often you eat can have a negative impact on your diet plateau. Many studies show that small, frequent meals are more satisfying and produce better weight-loss results than the same number of calories consumed in three large meals. Take advantage of healthy snacking and crunch on fresh slices of raw vegetables like celery, peppers, cucumber, and jicama when you're hungry. 7. Drink to burn up It's vitally important to replenish your fluids by drinking plenty of water on your weight loss program. An inadequate supply of water in itself can slow down your weight-loss. Carry water with you wherever you go throughout the day. For additional weight-management benefits, add a high-quality aloe concentrate to your water to help keep your digestion in top shape. Also, a probiotic supplement can help us maintain healthy intestinal flora. Keeping well hydrated not only helps you burn fat efficiently it also helps control hunger. 8. Keep your incentive strong Remember the determination you felt when you first began your weight-loss program? Remember the excitement of watching the pounds drop one by one? Go back to whatever your initial motivation was and see whether it still works for you. It may have been the desire to lose weight for a particular event or regain your figure after pregnancy. You may have been motivated by poor health or by the shock of just how much weight you had gained. See whether the same motivation still has juice for you. If not, choose a new one. Keep a picture of yourself looking great (or bad!) on your refrigerator as a daily reminder of where you are heading.
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