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You’ve been eating healthier, consuming less, exercising more, and trying really hard to lower the number that stares back at you on the scale. Slowly but surely the number has been going down and you have been feeling great about it. But then--what seems to be out of nowhere--the pounds stop coming off and you become stuck. If this has happened to you, don’t worry! It’s completely normal!
According to fitday.com, the main reasons people experience this period of stagnancy in their weight loss is because people’s new bodies require less calories to maintain their weight. Also, people trying to lose weight may have lost muscle, and losing muscle means your metabolism slows down.
Another reason your body stops losing weight like it has been is because our bodies don’t actually like losing weight, according to exercise.about.com. According to their research, our bodies put forth lots of effort to keep the energy coming in and going out as equal as it possibly can, making it harder to lose weight.
So what steps can we take to push through and start losing weight again? Here are some ways that will help get you over the hump:
Continue to Adjust Your Diet – Even though you have more than likely been cutting the amount of calories you intake, it helps if you cut just a little bit more. According to fitday.com, cutting just150-200 calories a day can lead to you losing a couple more pounds each month.
Start Lifting Weights – During your next work out, pick up some weights! Not only will lifting weights make you stronger, but it will also help you burn fat and build muscle—all things you need to lose weight and move beyond your weight loss plateau. According to livestrong.com, lifting weights can also make your waist smaller and help you develop lean muscle mass.
Consume Low-Fat Protein – WebMD has reported on studies that claim eating low-fat protein will help suppress ghrelin, a hormone that triggers hunger. So if you’re having a difficult time cutting just a little bit more from your diet, try replacing something with low-fat protein. For example, low-fat cottage cheese or yogurt.
Getting stuck in the middle of your weight-loss journey can be frustrating, but don’t
get discouraged! Power through and overcome that weight-loss plateau. You can do it!
Do you have any methods you use to push through tough times when losing weight? Share and let us know!
