Guest Blog: Vtrim Helps Us With Plateau Busting!

So you haven't seen me post my weightloss on Twitter for the past two plus weeks, have you?  Nope!  Do you know why?  Because I've hit the dreaded PLATEAUArggghhhhhh! 

I'm working out, walking, eating right, logging everything, drinking my water, counting my fat grams, working out, walking, etc. etc. etc. and guess what?!  The darn scale won't budge!  I think I've focused so much on ONE-derland that my body refuses to give it to me! 

But now serendipity has stepped in and, like a message in a bottle out of nowhere, the second installment of the answers to our questions for the Vtrim folks is about... of course.... PLATEAU BUSTING! :)   



It’s Beth and Heather, Registered Dietitians from Vtrim Online, and we’re here again with answers to your insightful questions from HLG’s birthday blog post.

We were excited to see so many great questions that indicated you do not take your health for granted. At Vtrim, we also value credible, scientific information – no gimmicks! So with that in mind, we narrowed your questions down and merged a few into one response to get more of your questions answered.

We’ve had several questions centering around the dreaded plateau…


Mostly Meg asked, “I've lost 18 pounds and would like to lose 10 more, but I've hit a plateau. Does Vtrim have any advice for getting over the plateau and reaching the next goal?!?”

Benita also asked about plateaus, “My question is, how do you break out of a plateau, especially when you're struggling with being peri-menopausal? I've been on a weight loss journey for a little over 2 years now & lost about 60 pounds, most of it in the first year. This last year, I've been maintaining, but I'm only about half way to my goal weight & just can't seem to lose anymore.“


And another reader asked, “I've plateaued and can't seem to get past it, any ideas?”

First of all, pat yourself on the back for what you HAVE accomplished thus far. The most detrimental effect of a plateau is how it impacts your motivation to maintain a healthier lifestyle which is benefiting you tremendously independent of continued weight loss. It is so important to continue to celebrate the positive changes you’ve made and are maintaining. That is not easy! Whether the scale is moving or not, you’re still healthier than you were before losing weight.

It’s also important to know that weight plateaus are completely normal and an expected part of weight loss. Everyone experiences them. Even research shows that it is normal to see a plateau in weight loss, especially after about 4-6 months of engaging in an active weight loss plan. While researchers haven’t been able to explain exactly WHY plateaus happen, it’s thought that the body needs time to adjust to the changes that have been occurring in your body.

With that in mind, let’s talk about what you CAN do to get the scale moving again. One of the best things you can do is to shake up your exercise routine and take it up a notch. How is your exercise routine going—have you been doing the same thing for awhile? Are you bored with your routine and slacking off a bit? To help bust through a plateau, start pumping some weight.

Strength training is a boost to your metabolism and can help counter the natural slowing that occurs with metabolism and weight loss (as you lose weight, there’s less of you to move around all day, thus lowering how many calories you need on a daily basis). And guess what one of the biggest predictors of weight gain during those peri-menopausal years? --a decrease in physical activity. So exercise becomes doubly important in that stage of life.

As for your food goals, sometimes cutting yourself a little slack for a week or two can actually give your body a chance to reboot its weight loss efforts. If you’ve diligently counted out every carrot stick and ounce of chicken, giving yourself permission to relax your calorie goal for a few days (we said “relax” the goal, not shoot it to pieces) can make your body feel a little more willing to start giving up some extra pounds again. Allowing yourself an extra 300 calories or so per day can typically create a little more breathing room without running the risk of weight gain.
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Thank you to Beth and Heather for helping us out of the plateau crazies! :) I can add only one thing to what they've said and that is that I know that if I keep eating right (the way I'm learning to weekly with Vtrim Online!), keep exercising and if I stay POSITIVE, this plateau will be busted and the scale will move in the right direction!  And, believe me, I'll let you know when that happens in a very big one-derland way!! *grin*

5 comments:

Ellen June 23, 2010 at 2:50 PM  

Excellent post. Well, I hope I didn't cut myself too much slack last weekend (I was a bad girl). I've been afraid to get on the scale but after this afternoon's workout I'll get brave and see if anything's changed. Wish me luck!

HealthyLoserGal June 23, 2010 at 2:54 PM  

Oh, I DO wish you good luck! :) Thanks for the comment, my friend!

I'm My Favorite June 23, 2010 at 3:01 PM  

I'm trying to bust off my plateau right now. I'm taking a closer look at my diet and am logging my weight watcher points. I should see that scale begin moving soon.

Bring Pretty Back June 23, 2010 at 6:37 PM  

Sadly I haven't lost enough to hit a plateau yet! agh! Good luck on getting over your plateau!
Kristin

Unknown June 25, 2010 at 12:29 AM  

:) New visitor... noticed that you started following my blog.
:) How inspiring! I am working my way back into ONE-derland!! I started a couple of weeks ago... and I have around 12 pounds to go! I have 22 to get to get out of the "obese" BMI range! I'll stop by again!