No one likes a plateau. Okay, people who live on or near a plateau may think it’s great, but plateaus in progress areas, such as finance, for instance, generally aren’t well-liked. They tend to mean that, while you were trending upward, that momentum has stalled and leveled off, so that now you’re remaining flat.
Even worse than the stagnation is the concern that a decline could be imminent; that you could lose all the progress you’ve made and then some, and wind up in a lower position than when you started. It’s a perilous reality for businesses and industries, but it’s also applicable to weight loss.
If you’re actively trying to lose weight, stalling out or hitting a plateau can be discouraging and ultimately can affect your entire motivation for continuing to try.
“Whether you’re trying to lose weight on your own or you’ve had weight loss surgery, weight loss plateaus are an inevitable reality,” said Blount Memorial registered dietitian Heather Pierce. “There’s nothing more frustrating than changing your diet and exercise habits with the goal of losing weight and living healthier, then seeing no changes on the scale. What’s important to remember is that plateaus actually are a natural part of weight loss. As you lose weight, you’re also losing some muscle, which means your metabolic rate is declining, too.
“There are some things to look into, though, to help manage a weight loss stall and navigate your way through it.”
Pierce says it’s important to first make sure that your weight loss stall is really a stall at all.
“Getting on the scale is just one way to measure progress,” Pierce said.
“Remember to take measurements, too, because even if you’re not losing pounds, you may still be losing inches around your waistline. A good way to check this is to see if your clothes feel looser than before. The next thing to do is to track your food and beverage intake, which you may be doing already. The idea is that you’ve reached this plateau by successfully reducing your intake of sweets, sodas, snacks and fast foods. Now that you’ve taken care of what you’re not eating, it may be time to reassess what you are eating. Consider using an app to really track the calorie and carbohydrate counts of the foods you’re still eating.
“Also, check yourself to make sure you haven’t been backsliding to …….