How To Get Past A Weight-Loss Plateau
Losing weight is such a challenging and time-consuming process. It takes a lot of time, dedication, and motivation to get to your goals. There will be plenty of obstacles and difficulties along the way, but they are all part of life and will teach you valuable lessons. Whether it’s losing motivation, binge eating, or going on vacation, the ride is not going to be smooth. There are times when you notice your weight is at a standstill despite you sticking to your healthy routine. Well, a plateau can happen for multiple reasons and is perfectly normal. The question is how to get out of the frustrating situation and keep progressing.
Change Up Your Workouts
The first reason you might have hit the plateau is doing too much of the same thing, leading your body to get used to it. Try switching up your workouts and go for different exercises. Doing so will push your body, making your muscles adjust to a new routine and reactivate them after they adapted to your old workouts.
Calorie Intake
Losing weight is a scientific process when you think about it. To lose weight we need to have a lower calorie intake, so we burn more calories than we consume in a day. It sounds so simple, but at times, people neglect to notice exactly how many calories they’re actually consuming throughout the day. Grabbing an extra fruit or eating a few chips absentmindedly can make all the difference. The small things count. Keep an eye on what you’re eating every day, especially snacks and drinks.
Fiber
One of the most efficient ways to lose body fat is by eating more fiber. This nutrient is very filling, which can lead to less eating overall. This, in turn, can break the plateau you’re in. Aim to eat 30gr of fiber a day from fresh veggies, fruits, and whole grains. Doing so will also help reduce blood pressure and increase insulin sensitivity.
Lower Salt Intake
At times, the reason you aren’t losing weight is that your body is retaining water. It can be caused by a few things, the most common being eating too much salt. Most processed foods have a lot more salt than you realize, and water clings to sodium. Dial back with processed foods and watch the water bloat disappear.
Eat Regularly
People tend to think that skipping meals will help with losing weight faster, but it’s the opposite that’s true. Making sure to eat regularly will help you lose weight. Skipping meals slows down the metabolism and lowers blood sugar levels, both of which lead to overeating later on. Eating a balanced meal consisting of protein, carbs, and fats every 4 hours or so will keep your body burning calories consistently throughout the whole day.
Do Yoga
It’s only natural to eat more when you’re stressed, which can obviously lead to unwanted weight gain. To avoid this, try doing some yoga to relieve stress so you don’t eat excessive calories out of stress. Yoga will also help with reducing the levels of the stress hormones and increase insulin sensitivity, making it a win-win.