Weight Loss Plateau – Why does my Weight Stagnate?

Hitting a weight loss plateau can be incredibly discouraging especially when you feel you’ve been doing so well up until now, diligently watching your food intake and adhering to a sensible exercise regime.

But don’t give up. Weight loss plateaus are common and they can be easily overcome.

Typically, a plateau occurs because your metabolism has slowed down due to your reduced calorie intake.  It’s almost like your weight loss efforts have resulted in a new energy equilibrium with your now slower metabolism.

But hey, don’t panic!  This doesn’t mean you have to decrease the calories even further or increase physical activity. 

It’s simply a matter of getting the timing and type of food right – the ratio of protein, carbohydrates and fat - and you will get back on track easily and quickly.   

In fact, the last thing you should do is to try to starve yourself to reverse the plateau.  If anything, it’s about eating more not less.  When you starve yourself the body figures that it’s not getting enough food and will put aside that little bit extra (of fat) to get it through the lean times.  

This is why diets based on food restriction and calorie limits usually fail and it’s also why weight loss plateaus occur.

So, if you’ve hit a weight loss plateau, rethink your weight loss strategy and learn the rules that control the powerful hormonal responses generated by food that control your metabolism, energy expenditure and ultimately your level of body fat.

It may sound complicated but these rules are actually very simple and they will ensure you keep the weight off long term.

To learn about the timing and type of food needed for real, sustainable weight loss, we suggest you read Myths, Lies & Exercise by Geoff Jowett (B.Sp.Sc) and Dr Vicky Hillier.