It has happened to the best of us. We are cheerfully cruising along on our various weight loss journeys, weight dropping off consistently for the first few weeks or months, when suddenly everything comes to a screeching halt. You think, "Why even bother?"
First of all, the worst thing you can do is give up on yourself. Just because you haven't seen a loss on the scale doesn't mean you haven't been making progress. The scale doesn't measure body composition (muscle versus fat, or water weight), it can only tell you your body's relationship with gravity. Also, you've hopefully been making progress with lifestyle changes (like exercising and eating vegetables), which means that even if you're not losing weight right now, you're still making better choices for your body.
5 Ways to Break Through a Weight Loss Plateau:
1. Be Honest With Yourself
This is perhaps the most important rule. You may have started off measuring your food and meticulously counting calories, but now you feel you know yourself and can eyeball portion sizes. You also may have started out sweating vigorously on the elliptical machine six days a week, and now take a few days off every couple weeks (or every week). Or maybe you've been going out to eat a little more often, not realizing that those "exceptions" are now becoming the norm. Getting too comfortable can happen slowly and we may not even notice the extra calories or decrease in effort at the gym. Take a look at your habits objectively, and be honest. We are only hurting our own progress by making justifications or trying to cut corners. If you feel that maybe you've been letting things slide a little bit too much, forgive yourself, refocus, and renew your dedication to your goals.
2. Try Something Different
If you keep trying the same thing over and over, you'll most likely get the same results. With weight loss plateaus, it's all about surprising your body. If you walk half an hour every day, try biking instead. You can also try high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. This is where you incorporate sprints into your workout at certain intervals that depend on your fitness level. If you're a beginner, do two minutes of your preferred cardio at a moderate pace, then do thirty seconds of maximum effort. Repeat this about ten times. As your fitness level improves, you can increase the "sprint" time and decrease the breaks in between. Trying something new in your work-outs can shock the body and finally tip the scales in your favor.
If you are the kind of person who eats the same thing for every meal day after day, it's time to break the habit. Variety is one of the most important principles of health. We need a variety of foods, especially fruits and vegetables, to get all of the nutrients we need for our body. Try eating new foods and incorporating more variety into your diet.
3. Drink More Water
As it was mentioned previously, the scale doesn't take water weight into account. Your body could be retaining water because it isn't getting enough water every day. The more water you drink, the more the body can let go of those water stores and flush out the "bloat." Additionally, drinking water can help you feel more energized and remain more active throughout the day by keeping blood volume up and therefore supplying enough oxygen to your muscles. Drinking a glass of water can also help with cravings or overeating. When you have a craving or are considering that second helping, drink a full glass of water and wait at least ten minutes. This will help you to determine whether you are really hungry.
4. Measure for Success
If you haven't already started measuring yourself, do it now! Sometimes you won't see a loss on the scale, but you will see a loss of inches. The inches are just as important as the pounds, as they can indicate fat loss. Sometimes you can drop a dress size without having lost a pound! If your workouts are focused more on weight training than cardio, and you haven't been eating at a deficit (less calories than your body expends in energy), then it is very possible to sculpt your body and lose inches but no weight. Check every few weeks or months to see your progress. The standard is to measure your arms, thighs, waist, hip, and neck.
5. Be Patient
I know this is the last thing you want to hear, but sometimes it just takes a while to see progress. If you tend to see your weight jump up after hitting a new low number, don't panic! The body can fluctuate up to ten pounds in one day! Try to keep the overall trend in mind. Don't let the number ruin your progress. Keep making healthy choices and eventually you will see progress. Weight loss is a matter of taking in less energy than you put out. If you do this consistently, eventually the math will add up and you will reach your goals. It's okay to take a long time to reach your goal! Studies actually show that those who lose weight more slowly keep it off better. So keep hitting the gym and eating your vegetables. You will get there eventually, and your body will thank you for it. Weight loss isn't just a destination-- it's a journey.
Note: If you've honestly tried everything and your weight is still stagnant, make an appointment with your provider. There may be medical reasons that make it harder for you to lose weight.
Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/10-ways-to-move-beyond-a-weight-loss-plateau?page=2
http://www.caloriesperhour.com/tutorial_water.php
http://www.uniteforclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Water.png
http://www.redbookmag.com/cm/redbook/images/3s/man-sneaking-junk-food-1-0111-mdn.jpg
http://myweightlossdream.co.uk/images/a-pound-at-a-time-losing-weight-while-keeping-your-patience.jpg
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