Dieters dread the plateau. You're on a roll, losing weight steadily and happily for weeks. Your confidence is high and your goal is in sight. Then suddenly your scale freezes. No matter how hard you try, those extra pounds just refuse to budge. You've hit a wall and you know the frustration of seeing no progress could easily lead you to gain back what you've lost. So how do you break through the plateau?
It's perfectly normal for a dieter to reach a plateau. The trick is to use it as an opportunity to double up your efforts and get really clear on your strategy to carry you through to the finish line. Below you'll find suggestions that can help you recommit to your program and re-ignite the weight-loss process when you feel challenged.
1. Get clear on your ultimate weight-loss goal.
Be sure that your weight-loss goal is realistic and that your expected rate of weight loss is reasonable. If you are on a heath enhancing, nutritionally rich weight loss program you can expect to loss one to two pounds a week. Each body has its own ideal weight and size. Don't compare yourself to anyone else, but listen to your body and notice what feels best for you. A simple way to approximate your ideal weight is by referring to a Body Mass Index chart.
2. Go high-protein, low carbs.
Unless you are eating enough protein to maintain your lean muscle mass, you are likely to have lost weight already from both your fat stores and muscle. Women need to eat approximately 100grams of protein a day and men 150 grams in order to preserve their muscle tissue during a weight loss program. If you have lost some muscle during your weight loss program so far you will need to focus on protein so your body can build muscle, which requires more calories to sustain, which will in turn, kick start your weight loss again. Needless to say, any weight loss program you choose should be one that preserves your body's muscle and this does not happen!
3. Add resistance training to your program.
A wonderful way to boost your metabolism and break through to the next level of weight loss is by incorporating aerobic exercise into your program, such as 30 minutes of walking three to four times a week. (If you are 35 years or older, or haven't exercised regularly, begin with 10 to 15 minutes two to three times a week.) In addition, weight training with free weights or machines several times a week can help increase muscle mass, which in turn allows you to burn more calories faster. Studies show that weight training can increase your metabolism overnight by five to 10 percent. Working out can increase your metabolism for up to 21 hours after an intense workout.
4. Look out for hidden carbohydrates.
If your weight loss progress seems slow, look out for carbohydrates that might be sneaking their way unnoticed into your diet. Sugar can lurk in the most unexpected places such as ketchup, salad dressings, teriyaki and barbecue sauces. Watch out too for cornstarch, sugar or milk solids in many processed foods such as gravies, or sauces on frozen vegetables. Be especially careful about "low-fat" foods where flavor is enhanced by sugar and other carbohydrates. Try keeping a diet journal for a couple of days of EVERYTHING you eat and drink. You may quickly discover the hidden carbs that are keeping your weight-loss progress stuck and be able to eliminate them and move past your plateau.
5. Take the "refinement" out of your diet.
Try eliminating all refined sugar and refined grains from your diet. This includes white bread, pastries, pasta, white rice, white flour crackers, sugar-coated breakfast cereals, cookies and cake. This simple step can encourage a huge weight-loss breakthrough and leave you feeling more healthy and energized in the process.
6. Don't go hungry.
Cutting back on how often you eat can have a negative impact on your diet plateau. Many studies show that small, frequent meals are more satisfying and produce better weight-loss results than the same number of calories consumed in three large meals. Take advantage of healthy snacking and crunch on fresh slices of raw vegetables like celery, peppers, cucumber and jicama when you're hungry.
7. Drink to burn up.
It's vitally important to replenish your fluids by drinking plenty of water on your weight loss program. An inadequate supply of water in itself can slow down your weight-loss. Carry water with you wherever you go throughout the day. For additional weight-management benefits, add a high quality aloe concentrate to your water to help keep your digestion in top shape. Also, a probiotic supplement can help us maintain a healthy intestinal flora. Keeping well hydrated not only helps you burn fat efficiently, it also helps control hunger.
8. Keep your incentive strong.
Remember the determination you felt when you first began your weight-loss program? Remember the excitement of watching the pounds drop one by one? Go back to whatever your initial motivation was and see whether it still works for you. It may have been the desire to lose weight for a particular event or to regain your figure after pregnancy. You may have been motivated by poor health or by the shock of just how much weight you had gained. See whether the same motivation still has juice for you. If not, choose a new one. Keep a picture of yourself looking great (or bad!) on your refrigerator as a daily reminder of where you are heading.
(c) Kim Beardsmore
Kim is a successful weight loss coach who will cut through the diet-hype and help you reach your goal weight. No public 'weigh-ins', meetings that cost you money or fads...simply results you will love! You can receive a free consultation. Visit today: http://tinyurl.com/6fajk Are you interested in earning money from home? We can help you grow a profitable home business: http://tinyurl.com/6fajk
scheduled cleaning services Winnetka ..Are there any foods that burn body fat? If yes,... Read More
The human body is designed to run best on a... Read More
Body Mass Index (bmi) A Misleading measure of ObesityMany professionals... Read More
We have all heard of those new diets, Atkins, low... Read More
Ephedra has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of... Read More
How to Break the Weighing HabitFace it, if you weigh... Read More
The weight loss protein debate centers around the effectiveness of... Read More
Each month I receive hundreds of e-mails from consumers who... Read More
No One I Know Looks Like a Bathing Beauty, so... Read More
Here come the candy canes. In our house, Santa always... Read More
I want to talk about the "all or nothing" outlook... Read More
There are numerous ways to make a bad weight loss... Read More
Being overweight is no laughing matter. For those who are... Read More
Obesity and fast foods - there's little doubt about the... Read More
Cellulite ? a word most women are very familiar with.... Read More
Calorie burn can be really enhanced if you follow a... Read More
Lipoxinol Weight Loss Review: Does Lipoxinol Live Up To All... Read More
Got milk? New research suggests you should if you want... Read More
A metabolism drug like ephedrine, has shown many people how... Read More
Quick, what's the first thought that pops into your head... Read More
Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight... Read More
ObesityToday, 64.5 percent of adult Americans (about 127 million) are... Read More
You are probably familiar with the weight loss connection with... Read More
Here are seven tips for getting the calories out of... Read More
Changing habits is one of the most difficult challanges we... Read More
reliable maid service Lincolnshire ..Why Walking Could Be the Solution to Your Fitness Dilemma.Walk,... Read More
Some of you will not like what I'm going to... Read More
There are several ways to manage cravings. You can: ... Read More
The Quest to Reach Your Ideal WeightIt was late in... Read More
Yesterday evening my computer hard drive crashed. Resulting in the... Read More
If you've been working out with weights for any length... Read More
A 'diet' is always seen as a temporary measure. An... Read More
My responsibility as a high profile fitness expert lies not... Read More
Every day you walk down the street it is becoming... Read More
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, obesity... Read More
Are you one of the many who may be tempted... Read More
Weight loss is an issue that affects men and women... Read More
Many people search for a pill, a special diet or... Read More
I am somebody who has had an ongoing battle with... Read More
Zero Calorie Diet Sodas: Good Or Bad For Weight Loss?Calorie-free... Read More
When you talk about losing weight you're really talking about... Read More
With so many diets and fads being offered on the... Read More
Low Carb, Low Fat, More protein, Eat all the fat... Read More
MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More
Chances are if you've stepped foot in a gym or... Read More
How's the practicing going? Are you spending time each day... Read More
If you are a fan of horse racing, you are... Read More
Experts tell us that overweight or obese children have reached... Read More
Summer is about to be in full swing, and it's... Read More
Do you compete in sports for weight loss or fat... Read More
Weight Loss |