Health & Vitamin Products

The Weight Loss Plateau

These days, the average person wants to lose weight. The reasons for this desire for weight loss can vary from person to person. Some enter the weight loss mentality because they want to fit some mental image on what is “ideal,” in terms of physical appearance. Others want to engage in weight loss programs or plans because of the potential health benefits weight loss could bring. There are also some that make weight loss plans simply because weight loss seems to be what everyone else is doing. There can be any number of reasons for someone to want or prepare a weight loss regimen, and there are as many ways to accomplish that goal as there are reasons.

Despite all the interest that people have in weight loss, however, many still do not quite fully grasp the basics. People have a tendency to take misconceptions about weight loss and metabolism as scientific truth and plan from there. Some people make the mistake of plotting out a weight loss plan without consulting a physician to make sure that their weight loss goals and methods do not interfere with their physical well-being. Others have the information, but end up using the wrong weight loss methods or diets. One of the most common errors with regards to weight loss strategies is that of using a “crash diet,” an almost complete cessation of food intake to rapidly reduce weight.

This weight loss method, sometimes also referred to as a “starvation diet,” works on what appears to be a logical approach on the surface. The idea behind this form of weight loss tactic is to simply not eat. The logic behind the tactic is that humans gain weight by eating food, some of which may be stored in the body in the form of nutrients or fats. The human body is known to burn through reserves of nutrients in case no food is consumed. In theory, that means that the simplest approach to weight loss would be to stop eating or minimize intake of any foods, so that the body burns its way through the reserves it keeps. This reduces the weight gained from eating and from the reserves of fat that the body keeps. This weight loss fallacy is common and appears logical on the surface.

Scratch the surface, however, and such a weight loss method fails to hold true. Human beings, along with several other species, have what is sometimes described as a “famine response.” In simple terms, once the body comes to believe that regular intake of food will be cut off, it begins to take measures to conserve as much of its reserves as possible. The body begins to slow the metabolic rate, burning through the reserves slower than it would normally. This, in turn, causes problems for someone attempting weight loss by crash dieting. Since the metabolism has slowed down, then the weight loss caused by not eating will eventually slow to a crawl, to the point where the potential for weight loss becomes negligible in comparison. This is what some have described as a weight loss plateau, and is something that occurs not only to crash dieters, but to anyone attempting to lose weight.

The weight loss plateau can be problematic and a cause of loss of motivation for anyone who is attempting to lose weight. A weight loss plateau is hit when a person’s current plan for weight loss, be it a diet or an exercise plan, reaches a point of ineffectiveness. The body no longer loses the pounds it did at the start of the weight loss regimen, despite the same amount of effort being constant throughout. In some ways, it is similar to the idea of drug tolerance – prolonged exposure to the weight loss method has made the body adapt to the circumstances. As with drug tolerance, when one hits a weight loss plateau, the easiest response to get one’s weight loss plans back on track is to intensify things.

Changes to one’s weight loss regimen are often the best solution to a weight loss plateau. Exercise is often cited as a good way to deal with the problem. Increasing the intensity or variation of one’s exercise routine can help alleviate the problems caused by a weight loss plateau. This concept ties into the core concept of weight loss science – the energy in calories taken into the body must decrease, while the energy in calories being used up must increase. Adding variations to an existing exercise plan can help get the body burning calories at a faster rate. Muscle training and calisthenics are often suggested by experts as a way of getting weight loss plans back on track.

Crash dieting, as previously established, is a terrible idea for sustained weight loss plans. However, simply putting together a random diet plan is an equally bad weight loss strategy. A proper diet, with adequate intake of all the essential nutrients for the body to function normally, is crucial to weight loss. Some weight loss experts suggest an increase in water intake, particularly during meals. A glass of water before a second helping of food makes the body feel fuller, thus less food is consumed. Others suggest adjusting eating habits, with multiple small meals throughout the day, as opposed to a small number of large ones. Keeping track of what foods have been eaten, and in what portions, has also been suggested by many weight loss experts.

Some suggest that weight loss supplements may also help in avoiding being trapped in a weight loss plateau. Numerous herbal treatments and products claim to boost the metabolism, burn fat, or cut down the natural cravings of the human body. These claims may not always be accurate, though there are some supplements that can help. Anyone who is interested in seeing what benefits they might get from weight loss supplements should first consult their physician for medical advice and an expert opinion.

Weight loss is not a matter that should be taken lightly. Before engaging in any sort of diet plan or exercise regimen, people intent on achieving weight loss goals must consult with a medical professional. A doctor can inform people of things such as metabolic rate and the ideal weight for a given person, based on factors such as age and general physical condition. Also, a rashly prepared weight loss regimen may be problematic for some chronic illnesses or medical conditions. At the very least, a medical professional can provide advice that fits both the goal of weight loss and still provides the person with all of their daily nutritional needs.

In the same vein, someone who is pursuing ways to avoid the perils of a weight loss plateau should consult a medical professional. There are a number of options that can be considered and alterations that can be made to an existing weight loss regimen to make it more efficient once a plateau hits. However, not all of these options will lead to the desired results, or be healthy for the person in question. Medical advice is invaluable in such a scenario, providing insight into the state of the weight loss program and the medical knowledge required to ensure that any changes made to the weigh loss plan are safe for the person in question.