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The dreaded plateau: Why am I not losing weight?
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You spend hours in the gym. You give it your best. You work hard. You just know you're going to see major results on the scale.
Eagerly, you hop up onto that scale and you learn.... it hasn't moved a single pound!
Relax, take a deep breath. This happens! There are two very important reasons why you shouldn't take this as a slight to your weight loss efforts.
First, think about what you've been eating - a lot of heavy dishes? Pastas, potatoes, red meats? Sure, it's fine if you're indulging in the good stuff in moderation, but here's the kicker - how often are you hitting the potty? That's right!
You didn't think that juicy porterhouse and that sumptuous baked potato just fades into thin air when you eat it, did you? Think of the weight of your dinner. You're basically adding that - plus whatever drink you're enjoying with your meal - to your weight. If you don't have a sufficient amount of fiber in your diet, you can pretty much bank on that stuff hanging around in your tummy for a while. Counter the effects a little bit - add some spinach, broccoli or black beans to your dinner. Grab some raspberries and treat yourself to a nice naturally sweet dessert!
Now, for the second one. You didn't think all that hard work would result in only a loss, right? Well, here's how it works. Constant use of a muscle results in that muscle growing in a way that allows it to accommodate that use. If you're constantly lifting a 5lb dumbbell, the muscles you use to lift that dumbbell will grow in order to handle the lifting. (This is why you should always go up in weights if you grow too comfortable.)
Here's the interesting thing. Muscle mass weight just as much as - if not more than - fat! So if you work your buns off and gain some muscle mass, you're going to see weight gain on the scale! If you gain 3lbs of muscle mass and lose 3lbs of fat, then guess what? You won't see any movement on the scale!
How do you bypass that hurtful feeling of experiencing no movement on the scale? Grab a fiber-rich snack like a whole wheat bagel, and see if you can't get your digestive system moving a little. Give yourself a little more cardio time - say, a walk around the park? - and see if you don't experience a little more movement on the scale. Be patient! Soon enough, your hard work will pay off with decreasing numbers on the scale!
Looking for more tips on reasons you might not be seeing any changes in your weight? Check out "Did I Just Plateau? Why Am I Not Losing Weight?" today!
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