Weight loss plateaus are common but they can be so frustrating you might feel like giving up.
Before you do that, here are some tips to consider as you probe what might be contributing to the stall in your goal.
1. Review your habits
Make sure you haven’t slowly reverted back to some of your old habits, like eating larger portions, stopping at the coffee shop for a mocha grande and a muffin, or deciding to skip your exercise routines. An honest review may find that the relaxation of some of your good habits is contributing to your plateau.
Protein-rich foods suppress ghrelin, a hormone secreted by the stomach that stimulates appetite. Foods high in fat actually raise this hormone, causing increased hunger. And meals and snacks that are mostly carbohydrate often make people feel hungry shortly after eating. It’s the protein-rich foods that really help to keep people feeling full.
To burn more calories, increase your workout by 15 minutes, add another day to your weekly routine, or increase the intensity of your exercise. Try alternating intervals of high and moderate intensity. Add strength training to increase your muscle mass which will help burn more calories even at rest. And to give your muscles a new challenge, vary your physical activity.
Increase your general activity throughout the day by walking more, using your car less, taking the stairs, doing more gardening and yard work and cleaning your house.
Lowering your caloric intake is important for weight loss, but make sure you’re not going below 1,400 calories if you’re a woman or 1,700 calories if you are a man.
Use a distracting activity like drinking a cup of hot tea, going for a walk, calling a friend, or writing in a journal. Cravings usually last only about 45 minutes. If you distract yourself, you should find you’ve gotten past them without the need to stress eat.
Share food with a friend or order a takeout container with your meal; put half your food in the container before you start eating and you have lunch for tomorrow.
If you’ve tried all these tips and you still are unable to lose more weight, you may want to revisit your weight-loss goal. Celebrate the success you’ve had and the weight you’ve lost. Perhaps the number you’re striving for is unrealistic for you. Consider a consult with a registered dietitian to discuss your concerns.
A new study found that the medicine in the diabetes drug Mounjaro helped people with obesity or who are overweight lose at least a quarter of their body weight. That's about 60 pounds on average.