Plateauing And Ways Around It
Aug 25th, 2008 by tkhuna
At some point during our exercise routine, most of us have experienced the frustration of the bathroom scale! When you first began your diet, you were dropping lbs. like there was no tomorrow. The improvement was generally steady and motivating. You looked forward to jumping on that scale at about the same times every morning/week! Now something strange is starting to occur. Instead of looking forward to the scale, you’ve begun to shy away from it. Don’t worry it’s not you; it’s your diet. You’ve reached what health industry professionals call a plateau. Fear not my friend this is actually a great sign.
When something like this occurs, it’s very difficult to console yourself with reason. Why didn’t I lose weight this week Meaning they don’t change from week to week. Let’s take your current workout regimen for instance. Now I’m not saying this is exactly what you are doing, but the same theory applies. On week 1 you do Billy Blank’s Tae-Bo DVD. On week 2 you continue with Billy Blank’s Tae-Bo DVD and so on. Your body gets used to doing the same exercises over and over and it adjusts. This is part of the reason the DVD becomes easier after a few weeks. In order for your body to continue dropping weight, you need to vary things up. Try a wholly different set of exercises. The same theory applies to your diet.
So what do you do when you reach that diet plateau? First it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Focus on the non-scale accomplishments. So many wonderful things happen during your weight loss journey that have nothing to do with that bathroom scale!
Let’s start with the easiest way to make yourself feel better. Have any pictures from before your diet began? Go grab one. Notice that your eyes are more clear and opened wider. Notice that your cheeks are more sculpted and your jaw line is more taut. Stand back a little further from the mirror and notice the differences in your body. Don’t forget to view yourself from the side and back while you’re at it. Chances are if you’ve been dieting awhile, you’re looking at some dramatic changes in your appearance that you might not notice everyday because they’re so gradual. Focus on how far you have come!
O.K. it’s time to stop looking in the mirror now. No really you can stop. Next move to your closet. Does it look a little empty? How many outfits don’t fit anymore because they’re getting too baggy and unattractive? Grab a pair of your old jeans and put them on. Need a belt?
Next make an appointment with your family doctor to have some lab work completed. Dieting and exercise have many health benefits besides weight loss. Drops in blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides are all profits that come as well. Plus, physically fit people take fewer medications and get sick less frequently.
What you do when you reach that plateau is sit back and take pleasure for a moment. You have accomplished something. Review your initial motivation for starting your weight loss journey and after that start a new regimen to keep moving forward.
