Weight Loss Plateau

Weight loss plateau…has it ever happened to you? Nearly everyone who has ever dieted starts out with great enthusiasm, wonderful commitment and intention…only to be derailed by the dreaded weight loss plateau.

Why in the world do we plateau when we’re trying to lose weight? The answers are several and are actually pretty interesting. The first answer is that early on in your diet, you’re most likely not losing fat yet, you’re losing water weight! Especially if you’re on a diet that means you’re consuming lesser amounts of sodium than usual, you are probably losing water weight. Entwined with this water weight dilemma is the fact that depending on several variables, your weight can vary by as much as three pounds a day. One of these variables is hydration. Are you drinking more water than you usually do? Don’t misunderstand me; you don’t want to restrict your hydration so you think you’re losing weight. You simply want to be mindful that your water consumption may be contributing to your perceived “plateau”.

Another factor or variable for women may be that hormonal changes can cause them to retain water during their menstrual cycle. One way to deal with the ups and downs so you don’t get discouraged is to take your “best weight” during the week and compare it with your “best weight” the next week. This assumes you are getting on the scale every day. There’s no merit in weighing…