Article Information

• Posted By : Trevor van Schalkwyk
• Posted On : Nov 30, 2018
• Views : 3103
• Rates : 2
• Category : Health
• Description : Plateaus can be discouraging, especially when they occur at a time during which you are doing everything right but not achieving the expected result.

Overview

• It can be so frustrating when you have been losing weight and seeing great results and then all of a sudden everything seems to come to a grinding halt. The scale won’t budge, the centimetres don’t move and you feel like giving up your weight loss program. Don’t become despondent – a plateau is completely normal.
  
  Plateaus are a part of weight loss that usually occur in about the second week of a weight loss program, and happen when your body “sits” with a particular weight – is comfortable with that weight and you find it difficult to move the final kilos. They can occur within the second week of a program or towards the end when you are close to your goal weight but just can’t seem to shift the final few kilos. Plateaus can be discouraging, especially when they occur at a time during which you are doing everything right but not achieving the expected result. A plateau could leave you questioning whether what you are doing is working. You might undermine yourself, go off track and overeat out of sheer frustration. Stay strong and keep reading– there is a solution!
  
  It is important to understand what plateaus are, why they occur and how to move beyond them. There are a number of reasons a plateau may occur, one of which is water retention. This results in the scale not reflecting the fat loss, as water weighs more that fat. Another reason for a plateau is when a person returns to a weight their body was accustomed to for a long period of time. This is commonly called the ‘old weight’. Since their bodies are comfortable with this weight they find it difficult to move beyond this weight. Another reason for a plateau occurring is the body’s adaptation to an extended period of lowered calories.
  
  To overcome a plateau you need to confuse the metabolism again. Use the concept of high calorie and low calorie days to “kick start” your metabolism again and make it work more effectively. Introduce interval training into your workout. Change your cardio routine – if you enjoy the treadmill, change to the stair master. If you enjoy jogging start cycling. Above all else stay focused on your goal and remember that plateaus are temporary. Your body reacts in a way that we sometimes do not have any control over. It is important to keep your goal in sight while exercising patience and persistence when experiencing a plateau.
  
  For more expert advice on weight loss and nutrition contact me.