“SLOWLY I TURNED…”

“Step by Step…inch by inch…” No I am not going berserk! And I am not in Niagara Falls! (Obscure reference to a Three Stooges’ routine.)

But in the last three weeks my weight loss has slowed dramatically. Minus 0.6 pounds this last week. So I guess this is the way it is going to be right now until my body decides to give it up.

Plateaus seem to be common in weight loss. I have been staying with my plan and moving right along. But all of sudden there is a stall. These last three weeks have been the following:  +0.4, - 0.4 AND NOW -0.6.  This is definitely an improvement from the dramatic up one week… down the next.

So this is a summary of what the experts say you should do to break the plateau:

1.    Don't starve yourself. Cutting calories to an extreme will not help you. Try cutting excess fat and calories to a reasonable level and divide these up into frequent small meals (of about 200 to 300 calories each) every few hours. Increase the amount of protein with each meal to help you feel satisfied longer.

                In Weight Watcher’s terms…eat all your daily points.

2.    Try to increase or vary your activity level. Increase the duration or intensity of your exercise schedules. If you have been only walking or cycling, try doing some weight lifts and vice versa.

3.    Increase your water consumption to stimulate lipolysis and clean your system of excess ketones.

4.    Avoid eating within 3 hours of bedtime. Especially avoid any foods that are higher in carbs as this can trigger insulin production which in turn will inhibit fat-burning while you are asleep.

I have to tell myself daily that this is a journey and not a diet. This is a process for living a healthier and more active life. Along the way there will be milestones or benchmarks. According to the health experts, losing 10% of your body weight is one of those major milestones.

I am 0.4 pounds away from losing 41 pounds or 10%. Step by step…inch by inch…

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