Weight Loss Plateau

Diet Blog is fast becoming one of my ‘must-read’ blogs (in fact, I should really get a blogroll going).

Jim’s latest post is about how to combat the weight loss plateau – that moment when what was working suddenly stops working and your weight loss comes to a standstill. His the trend that seems to run throughout his advice seems to be to mix it up and not let your body become complacent and used to the lifestyle you have started to lead. Out of the five suggestions he makes, I think the most useful suggestion is:

2. Strength Training
If you are not doing this as part of your program or lifestyle, then it’s time to start. Working your muscles will help to strengthen bone tissue, increase lean mass, and ultimately boost metabolic rate.

I think that this is particularly important, and probably almost as important as aerobic training. If you have managed to lose a heap of weight without any strength training then this could really kickstart things.

I actually think that if you are plateau’d then it might be worth looking into the Body-for-Life challenge as this will incorporate lots of new ideas, particularly around exercise. Take the diet recommendations and mould them to your own if you need to, I certainly do.

Edit: I felt it important to add this – if you do start weight/strength training then remember that your weight might actually increase as you gain muscle. Therefore, use alternative measures to track your progress such as body fat monitors/callipers and the highly technical methods of a)looking in the mirror and b) seeing how your clothes fit!