A fter you have been working out for some time, it is normal to hit what is known as a weight loss plateau – a period where your weight seems to be stuck even though we may be continuing your exercise routine as usual and not eating anything extra. Why does that happen?
During the beginning of an exercise program, it is normal to see a rapid decline in weight with regular and consistent exercise. But after a certain point, your weight is just stuck and won’t seem to budge, causing a lot of people to get discouraged.
What we need to understand is, weight loss plateaus are very normal because it shows that your body has grown so use to the exercise that it is no longer affected by it. A plateau usually happens because it is part of your body’s natural survival mechanism – when there is weight loss, your body automatically starts reacting by conserving your energy and slows down your metabolism.
Don’t be discouraged by your weight loss plateau! There are ways you can break out of it:
- Change Up Your Routine: Part of a weight loss plateau occurring is that your body has become so use to the routine it is no longer affected by it. What you need to do is change up your routine and do something different! If you’ve been jogging all this while, try swimming, hiking or cycling even. Change up your routine and shock your body into something different, kicking up the weight loss process again.
- Lift Weights: Incorporate more weight training into your workout routine. Don’t worry, women don’t bulk up the way men do (unless you’re taking steroids or training to be a weight lifter). If you’ve been jogging without weight before for example, try jogging with some light hand weights.
- Increase The Intensity Of Your Workout: Part of shaking up your workout routine involves increasing the intensity and bringing it up to the next level. When you make your body work harder than what it is used to, you’ll jump start the weight loss process again.
- Drink Lots Of Water: Not only does it help your body to function better, it keeps you hydrated. Plus thirst is often mistaken as hunger pangs by drinking more water, you avoid feeling hungry as often.
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