A weight loss plateau occurs when an individual has been seeing steady, positive weight loss results for several weeks and then the weight loss appears to stop. It can be a frustrating experience for those who are highly motivated by their success, especially when they are still following the diet and exercise plan that caused them to lose weight in the first place. If you experience a weight loss plateau, stay true to your regimen and mix things up to jolt your body back into weight loss.
Step 1
Evaluate your diet and exercise plan. Think about ways you may be cheating your diet or how you can improve your exercise regime, such as working out more often or snacking on healthier foods and drinking more water. Plateaus often are easy to overcome when you realize you haven't been as true to your weight loss program as you could be.
Step 2
Increase resistance and weight when you're working out, Oprah.com suggests. If you've been working out with 5 lb. weights for the past two weeks and you've reached a weight loss plateau, it be could because your muscles have become too accustomed to the weights you've been lifting. Switch to 8 lb. weights to make your muscles work harder.
Step 3
Change your exercise routine, try a new activity or join a sports team. Just as your muscles can become accustomed to the same weight, your body can get used to an unvaried workout, so you're not seeing as impressive results, notes Diet-Blog.com. Try swimming or playing squash to change your routine and challenge your body in a new way.
Step 4
Check your caloric intake, nutritionist Anne Collins recommends. You may find that you're not eating enough to sustain your level of activity. Your body actually may be holding onto calories for energy when you're not eating enough. Be sure to eat five small meals a day to constantly feed your body with new energy and cause it to keep burning fat and calories as you work out to lose more weight.
Step 5
Guage your success through measurement rather than weight. While the amount that you weigh may level off, you might be losing inches as you gain muscle mass. Use a tape measure weekly to track the changes in your body, rather than just a scale.
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