Weight loss plateaus can be frustrating but if you step back and look
at what is going on its just means your body has adapted to the stimulus
you have applied to it. So, in order to get a new result, you need to apply
a new stimulus. Here are 4 reason you may have plateaued and what to do
about it!
1- Water Weight Loss Stops Or Returns– The initial pounds of weight
loss is mostly the loss of water from stored carbohydrates. So, as
your carbohydrate intake increases or decreases so does your stored
carbohydrate which is why there is a fluctuation of weight gain or loss
in the initial weeks. It is primarily not fat loss but water weight loss.
But since you’re holding less water it makes you look leaner.
2-Metabolism Adapts- When decreasing your calories your body initially
loses weight but as a survival mechanism it adjusts over time and slows
down the burning of calories trying to hold onto any weight it can. The
body is naturally intuitive and will do whatever it can to hold on
to weight for this purpose. So, you will need to adjust your training and
caloric intake to this reaction.
3- Muscle Loss-When losing weight your body not only loses water and
fat but muscle also. Muscle is metabolic which means it keeps your body
burning more calories at rest. So, it’s important you have a consistent
program in place that keeps you maintaining muscle mass.
4- When You Weigh Less, You Burn Less– When you drop weight your body
doesn’t take as many calories (energy) to do what it used to when you were
at a heavier weight. To continue to lose weight you’ll need to decrease your
calorie intake again or increase your calorie burn through exercise.
Hope these 4 reasons help you understand what and why you’re plateauing.
If you are plateauing and would like some personal help on how to break it
reach out to sedleytraining@gmail.com and we can talk about how we can
help you break these plateaus!
