We've all been there. You're on track with your weight loss goals, and then they just…stop. It's like you hit a wall and it's hard to get past it.
The good news is that there are many reasons why you might experience a plateau in your progress, and there are ways to overcome them so you can continue along the path toward achieving your health goals.
There are many reasons why you might experience a weight loss plateau.
There are many reasons why you might experience a weight loss plateau.
- Lack of sleep: If this is the case, then your body will be working against itself to lose weight instead of helping with it. You should try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night and make sure that your bedroom is dark enough so that it doesn't disrupt your circadian rhythm (the 24-hour cycle).
- Eating too little: A healthy diet includes all three macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates, and fat -- in moderation! When we deprive ourselves of any one particular nutrient group for too long, our bodies go into starvation mode which means they start storing more calories as fat as opposed to burning them off at an optimal rate.
- Eating too much: It's important not only where we get our calories from but how much we consume overall per day/week/month etcetera depending on what stage someone is currently at within their journey towards achieving better health goals such as losing weight; having more energy throughout each day without needing stimulants like caffeine; feeling full after meals without experiencing bloating or discomfort afterward etcetera...
Be realistic about your goals.
When you set goals for weight loss, keep these things in mind:
- Make sure your goals are realistic. Don't set yourself up for failure by setting out to lose 20 pounds in one week or two months. If you are trying to lose 10 pounds a month, and you're only halfway there after 2 months, that's fine! You still have time left before the next month starts. Instead of being disappointed at not achieving your goal on time or beating yourself up over it (which will only make matters worse), celebrate all the progress that has been made so far!
- Don't compare yourself to others around you who may be losing weight faster than what feels comfortable for you right now--if they are doing something different than what works best for YOU then don't feel bad about taking longer than them because everyone loses at their own pace based on their lifestyle/circumstances etc..
Don't go it alone.
If you're struggling to lose weight, it's important to find a support network. It's okay to ask for help and not be embarrassed by your situation. You might benefit from finding a coach or mentor who can help guide you through the process of losing weight.
There are many different places where people with similar goals come together: online forums, support groups in person, dieticians, and personal trainers who specialize in nutrition and exercise plans. Find one that works best for you!
Change things up.
- Change things up.
- Try new exercises.
- Try new foods.
- Try a new workout routine or supplements, such as protein powder or green powder, so that you're giving your body something different to work with and getting the most out of every workout session (and every meal!). Consider asking for help from friends and family members who have been successful at losing weight in the past--they can provide valuable insight into what worked for them and why it worked!
If all else fails, take some time off from working out altogether until you feel ready to start again with renewed motivation. Don't beat yourself up over this setback; instead forgive yourself and move on by reminding yourself how far along in your journey toward healthful living and weight loss goals has come thus far!
Get moving!
Weight loss is not a straight line. Instead, it's more like a roller coaster ride with ups and downs along the way. One day you may be celebrating how much weight you've lost and then suddenly find yourself stuck at a plateau--stuck in place without any progress on the scale.
The good news is that exercise can help get past plateaus and keep them from happening again in the future. In fact, research shows that regular physical activity helps people lose more weight than those who don't exercise at all!
The amount of physical activity needed to lose weight varies from person to person depending on their body type, age, gender, and other factors such as genetics or medical conditions (like asthma). The table below shows some general guidelines for beginning an exercise program:
With the right attitude and some outside help, you can get past your weight loss plateau.
It's important to remember that weight loss is a slow process. It can take months or even years to achieve your goals, and there will be plateaus along the way. While this can be frustrating, it's also important to keep in mind that you cannot expect to lose more than 2 pounds per week after a plateau has occurred.
When you hit one of these plateaus (or several), the best thing you can do is evaluate why it happened in the first place and what steps need to be taken next. You may need some outside help from friends or family members who are supportive of your weight loss journey, or maybe even from an online community subreddit where people share tips and encouragement with each other every day! If all else fails though...maybe reevaluate whether this goal really makes sense for YOU?
Conclusion
The key to overcoming weight loss plateaus is to be patient and persistent. It may take some time, but if you keep at it, you can get past this bump in the road!
