Plateaus are Nature's Gift to Us

What do you do and how do you feel when you reach a plateau? When we are trying to lose weight, plateaus are certainly discouraging.  We've been working so hard to reach a goal, and are moving right along to reach it, then all of a sudden our progress seems to stall out.  For example, in my case, I easily lost 12 pounds in a month, but then I haven't lost any weight in the last week, even though I have followed the plan faithfully.

It's hard to not get discouraged when you reach a plateau. It's easy to think that the weight loss program is no longer working, which makes you wonder if you want to keep trying.

It's probably true that if you want to continue to lose weight you are going to have to work a little harder to make progress than you did at the beginning of your weight loss program. So maybe the plateau is just a resting stop for us, nature's way of giving us a time to rest, regroup, and recharge, to get us ready for the climb ahead.

Just like when we hike, or bike, up hill, we get tired and need to rest a bit before moving on. Once we do rest, we often have a spurt of energy, a "second wind", that gets us up the rest of the way. It's like that with weight loss also. Sometimes we need to take just a little break, maybe ease up on the constant counting just a little, to enjoy a little of the foods or drink we've been restricting from our diet, then dedicate ourselves to faithfully follow the plan again.  Sometimes doing so gives us a little push, a little bit of energy to keep going.

It helps, also, to look at the progress we've already made. We already feel better and clothes fit better. Personally, I think even if it takes me 4 times longer to lose 12 more pounds than it did the first 12 pounds, I am going to feel so much better than I do today. I certainly don't want to go back to the way I felt and looked a month ago! Also, it makes me feel good to know I'm doing something to make my future more healthy. Maybe I'll lose more weight, or maybe I'll just be a healthier me at this weight. It's a win-win situation.

If after a brief rest you find you are still stuck on the plateau, or you just can't get over the hump, there are a few things you can do.

- Check to make sure you aren't eating too little. Our bodies will hold on to weight if they feel we are in a starvation mode. It's self-preservation.

- Check to make sure you aren't eating too much by accident. Start measuring and weighing your food again to make sure you are eating proper portions. Even if your program, like Weight Watchers, allows you to eat all the fruit you want, you might be eating too many calories or too much sugar.  Make sure you are eating a variety of foods too. 

- Change up your food habits.  Eat something else for lunch or breakfast. Get out of your food rut.

- Make sure you are getting enough water.

- Change up your exercise routine. Add new moves, try something different. Also make sure you are getting cardio and are doing something to build muscle. We increase our metabolism as we increase our muscle mass.

- Enlist the help of a friend to keep you motivated.

Plateaus are hard but they are a natural part of the weight loss process. Don't let them get you down and instead look at them as just a rest stop.