The dreaded weight-loss plateau has a terrible name in the fitnessand healthindustry – and for good reason. Too many people have experienced that dreadful span of time during which they work … and work … and work at getting healthier, only to see zero results on the scale.
If that’s you, take heart. You’re not the only one, and you’re not destined to remain at your current weight forever. In fact, you have a number of approaches at your disposal, which you can put to use immediately. Want to know what they are? Here you go.
First of all, we often think we’ve hit weight-loss plateaus when we actually haven’t. As Nerd Fitness explains, “In a strong majority of the cases, plateausare really just issues with a concentration in disguise.” Perhaps you’re forgetting to tally up extra calories, for instance, or are slacking on your workouts, or failing to get the sleepyou need. Less than 7 hours and you may be unable to move past that plateau.
The point? If you aren’t giving enough attention to these factors, you haven’t actually plateaued … you’ve just gone off track. Get back on.
Have you ever heard the expression “shock your body”? This is simply the idea that when your workouts are unexpected, you will get greater results from them. Otherwise, your muscles and other systems habituate to your workouts and you won’t see the outcomes you’re looking for.
Your goal, explains Fitness Rx, is muscle confusion: “This means keeping the muscles guessing so that they are exposed to a new stimulus.” If you continually bring new workouts into the mix, you’ll see much greater results.
Incorporating exercise into your daily routine can significantly help you address the weight loss plateau and also help manage thyroid disease.
A recent study proved the ongoing theory that workouts alone won’t help you lose weight. As The Guardian explains, “our bodiesreach a plateauwhere working out more does not necessarily burn extra calories, researchers have found.” This kind of plateau doesn’t have to do with weight loss, but rather with the way you’re eating. To breakthrough, you’ve got to change your dining dispositions. There are a number of ways you can do this, including:
Employ these relatively easy fixes, and you should see a difference right away. And oh! If you really enjoy snacking and can't resist those added calories, we have rounded up simple healthy snacks that won't overload your diet with excessive calories. Check out our low-calorie snack suggestionsfor some ideas.
Sometimes your hormonesjust play old work against you. If you have hit a plateau and the above strategies still aren’t working, it might be time to address your body chemistry. The thyroid, for instance, is hugely implicated in metabolismand weight gain. If your nutrition doesn't properly support your thyroid, you may have trouble losing weight no matter how “good” you are.
That’s when it’s time to get help. You can see a physician, or you can try a supplementsuch as 1 Body, which will help you regulateyour thyroidand, as a result, the rest of your body. Remember, you only have one body, so you should treat it well. That, in addition to close attention to a healthy lifestyle, will go a long way toward helping you reach those fitness goals.
