Nutrition Nugget: Weight Loss Plateau

The human body is capable of achieving incredible feats that seem to defy science. Athletes can lift weights that their bodies shouldn't be able to handle, and people can recover from extreme physical trauma. While these feats are impressive, there are some physical reactions that people don't like, such as weight loss plateaus.

Weight loss is a common goal for many people. While some may find success in dropping pounds quickly, others may find that they hit a weight loss plateau. A weight loss plateau is when a person reaches a point where they are no longer losing weight, despite following their diet and exercise routine. This can be a frustrating experience, but there are ways to get around it. One of these ways is strength training.

Strength training is a type of exercise that focuses on building muscle by lifting weights or working against resistance. Many people make the mistake of only focusing on cardio when trying to lose weight. While cardio is great for burning calories, strength training helps to build and maintain muscle mass. This is important because muscle burns more calories than fat. By incorporating strength training into your routine, your body will continue to burn calories even when you're not exercising. In order to see results, it's important to incorporate strength training into your routine at least twice a week.

One of the reasons that people hit a weight loss plateau is that their body has become accustomed to their current routine. By doing the same exercises over and over, you're not challenging your body enough to see results. Strength training offers a new challenge for your body, as you're working against resistance and trying to lift heavier weights over time. This can help to kick-start your weight loss again and get you over the plateau.

It's also important to remember that nutrition plays a big role in weight loss. While exercise is important, you can't out-exercise a bad diet. Make sure you're eating a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of protein to support muscle growth. This will help to fuel your workouts and give you the energy you need to perform at your best.

Another trick used to circumvent the problem of the plateau is to make changes to the time frame between meals. A simple action like altering the schedule of the meals, such as adding more meals but reducing the bulk of each, can have an appreciable effect on altering the metabolic rate. The key concept of this method is to fool the body into burning the food faster, thus getting one's weight loss program and diet back on track.

By taking a mindful, balanced approach to your diet and exercise routine, you can overcome weight loss plateaus and achieve your long-term health goals.