Even if you’re sticking with your diet and working out regularly, sometimes you face a weight loss plateau, where the next pound simply won’t budge. That can be extremely frustrating but happens to many people. Plateauing can occur for several reasons. One of them is quite positive. You may be gaining muscle. Muscle weighs more per cubic inch than fat tissue does, so while you aren’t losing weight, you’re losing inches. If your pants are a bit loose and button with ease, you’re still making progress. In this case, keep up the good work, and don’t change a thing.
Have you continued to use the same workout routine?
If you haven’t changed a thing since you started your quest to a smaller, narrower you, it’s time to make some changes. The more exercise, the more efficient your body becomes. That means it burns fewer calories. Vary your routine and work your muscles on a different plane or focus on a new muscles group. It feels awkward and difficult initially, but that’s a good thing. It causes the body to burn more calories and continues the loss of weight.
Remember weight loss isn’t a straight line down but a crooked one.
Most people think they’re going to see a consistent loss every week. You try for that, but it doesn’t always work that way. Some weeks you’ll lose four pounds and other weeks none. Another problem may come from your new lower weight. You may have to cut calories further and work out harder. The ten pounds you lost was like carrying an extra ten-pound weight everywhere you went. Of course, you burned more calories. Reevaluate your program.
Look at your exercise program.
Are you only doing aerobics? It might be your problem. When you do aerobic-style workouts, like running a mile or two, you’ll blast calories for sure. However, the body doesn’t discriminate what the source is. They may start as fat tissue converted to energy or come from lean muscle tissue. The less muscle tissue you have, the lower your metabolism, since muscle tissue requires more calories to maintain than fat tissue does. Add strength-building exercises to your workout to build muscles and torch fat.
- If you’re on the straight and narrow when it comes to food, but not paying attention to what you drink, it might be the problem. High-calorie sugary drinks can pack on the pounds. Skip soft drinks and go for water.
- Check your diet for too low of a calorie count. If you’re not eating enough, it can slow your body’s metabolism and make weight loss more difficult. Make sure you include healthy fat. It’s necessary for weight loss.
- Are you getting adequate sleep? Lack of sleep can make you hungrier since it boosts the hunger hormone and diminishes the one that makes you feel full. It also can slow you down so you burn fewer calories.
- Don’t weigh yourself every day. Sometimes, the weight is temporary. If you think it’s water weight, flush it out by drinking more water. It not only makes you feel full but also helps flush your system, acting like a diuretic.
For more information, contact us today at Iron Fit San Antonio