How to Beat a Fat Loss Plateau

When you embark on a new weight loss journey, the first couple of weeks, or months, are full of excitement as you hit new milestones, watch the numbers fall on the scale and feel your clothes getting looser. It might not be easy, but you feel confident that by staying consistent and working hard you are going to hit your goal! Then one day the scale stalls and you’re stuck – you find yourself at a weight loss plateau. It’s important to remember that a weight loss plateau is part of the process and happens to pretty much anyone who has ever tried to lose weight. It’s extremely frustrating, but this is not the time to give up and resort back to unhealthy habits. In this post we’ll talk about some of the most common reasons behind a stall in progress and how to beat a fat loss plateau. Just remember, even if you hit a bump in your weight loss journey it doesn’t mean that you won’t achieve your health and fitness goals!

Reasons Behind a Weight Loss Plateau

One of the main reasons behind a plateau is actually that you’ve already experienced weight loss. Our bodies are masters at adapting to new situations, and when you lose weight your body’s metabolism will drop. As your body mass goes down, and the number of calories you burn increases you will have to keep cutting more calories in order to continue seeing results. The best way to break through this is continuing to burn fat, but also to work on building muscle. Muscle is more active when it comes to burning calories, so by increasing your muscle mass you can keep up your metabolism so that it doesn’t slow down and you won’t have to cut so many calories. 

Another reason for a plateau is that as you continue to work out and get more fit your body learns how to do the exercises and becomes more efficient, so it burns less energy doing the same routine. As your body becomes accustomed to your new lifestyle you will burn less calories and may experience a lull in weight loss. The best way to overcome this obstacle is to constantly challenge your body with new exercises. Every three to four weeks try to change up how often you work out, the intensity and time of your workout or switch things up by trying new classes and types of exercise. 

Sometimes, after working so hard, your body may just need some time to reset. Certain factors like lifestyle and brain activity can influence the point in time that your body feels content with the progress that has been made, this simply means that your metabolism has adjusted and feels content. The best way to get through this plateau is by being patient for a month or so before you begin implementing a stricter diet or more strenuous exercise regime. It’s important to be patient, as long as you don’t give up!

How to Beat a Fat Loss Plateau

It can be really frustrating to lose momentum after seeing great results on a new diet or work out plan. If you find yourself in a weight loss plateau, here are some strategies to overcome it:

• One of the best ways to fight fat is with fiber. Fiber is naturally filling, and it can help you shed more weight and battle a plateau. Some of the best sources of healthy fiber include oatmeal, nuts, berries, apples and beans. 
• Green tea has been shown to boost your metabolism and speed up the fat burning process. Make the switch from coffee to green tea to help your body get back on track to weight loss success!
• Keep healthy snacks, like almonds, around to help fuel your body and your workouts. Almonds are a great source of protein for weight loss, and they can help you burn more fat and carbs when you exercise. 
• Try drinking a glass or two of cold water before you sit down to eat a meal, as this can help you feel full, limit overeating and curb your calorie intake. 
• Stay away from alcohol. Not only do people make bad diet choices when they’ve been drinking, but alcohol in general is high in calories and will contribute to weight gain. 

Sometimes, when you hit a weight loss plateau, you just have to be patient and wait it out. If you’re looking to add weight loss supplements to your routine, or looking for more information and support for your journey, please contact us at A New Me.