There’s nothing better than seeing yourself make progress towards achieving your weight loss goals. Alas, sometimes progress isn’t as linear as we’d like it to be. While you might have enjoyed a burst of progress when you first got started, there may come a point when you hit a plateau and progress stalls.
If that happens, don’t panic. The weight loss may have slowed (or stopped completely), but that doesn’t mean you can’t continue making progress. It’s just that you might need to utilize a couple of tactics to get things moving again. Below, you’ll find some of the best strategies for jumpstarting your weight loss journey and getting yourself back on track towards achieving your goals.
Step Up Exercise Intensity
You’ll lose weight (or gain muscle, depending on your goals) when you’re challenging your body. However, what provides your body with a challenge will change over time. You might have struggled to do fifteen minutes on a bike machine when you first started your weight loss journey, but over time, that will no longer cut it. You’ll be too fit for it to be a challenge.
Increasing your exercise intensity can provide the challenge you need. Think of it this way: you’ve already conquered the first hill; now’s the time to look at climbing the next, slightly larger hill. This approach can go on and on until you’re all the way at the top of the mountain.
Track Your Diet
It’s not just what you eat that matters. How much you eat does, too. Even healthier meals can become problematic if they’re eaten in large quantities.
Studies show that people tend to underestimate how many calories they consume. They might think they’re eating lightly, but in practice, they’re consuming enough calories to make losing weight difficult. The solution? Keep a record of what you’re eating. You might just discover that it’s more than you thought, which will give you an opportunity to cut it out and get back on track.
Get Support
Losing weight can be difficult even before you hit a plateau. It’s doubly difficult when progress stalls. If you find yourself in that position, then look to others for help and support. Personal trainers who specialize in weight loss can offer effective training strategies and insights, and there’s also weight loss medication available from wellness clinics like Ivologist. Even recruiting an accountability partner, such as a friend or family member, can provide the additional motivation you need to work extra hard in the gym.
Lower Your Stress Levels
A little bit of stress can be good, but larger amounts can quickly become problematic for a wide range of reasons, including making it difficult to lose weight. Cortisol, the stress hormone, has a habit of storing fat in the belly. The best way to keep your stress levels low is to avoid stress altogether, but that’s rarely an option in today’s world. Instead, look at incorporating stress-busting activities into your routine, such as yoga, meditation, spending time with friends, and sleeping well.
