Once Your Body Adapts; Weight Loss Can Resume

Some experts claim that your body does not know the difference between intentional weight loss and famine, which is why your body may try to hold onto its stored fat deposits by lowering your metabolic rate. To keep the impact of a weight loss plateau at a minimum, it is important to add lean muscle mass to help in burning stored fat. Each weight loss plateau you reach is essential to allow your body enough time to adjust to your new weight. Once it adapts to a lower set point weight, you can continue losing weight effectively. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, for every ten percent of body weight lost, you will need to reduce your calorie consumption by twenty percent to successfully continue on weight loss journey.

• Manage Your Stress Levels - Chronic stress can trigger hormone production and release, which can lead to excessive eating, which can increase stress more, and so forth. It is crucial to understand that you cannot out eat stress; so, deal with it.
• Eat Healthy Carbs - Unlike fat and protein, carbs consumed in moderation can tell your brain that you are not going to starve and to burn calories at a normal rate.
• Do Not Skimp on Protein - Bad diet decisions are often made when you are starving. Stock up on lean sources of healthy protein for a more satisfying meal or snack.
• Try Intermittent Fasting - If you’ve hit a weight loss plateau, a diet that focuses on when to eat, and not what to eat, can be a good way to improve your health and kickstart future weight loss.

Hitting a weight loss plateau can be discouraging, but maintain a positive attitude, be patient, and make small adjustments to your menu plans as well as steady increases in your activity level. Losing weight is never as simple as eat less and exercise more. If that were true, every weight loss journey would be smooth sailing. Taking short cuts may sound appealing, but most quick-fix diets will fail time and again. Hormonal functions, gut health, and your individualized needs for nutrition are all important considerations in personalizing an approach to achieve the best weight loss results. If you are just starting your weight loss journey, you may not know which macronutrients you should be eating, or how much of each. Personalized menus can keep you on track.