How to Overcome Plateaus and Keep Crushing your Health Goals
Are you feeling stuck in your health journey? You’ve been working hard to eat healthy, exercise regularly, and make positive changes in your life. You're seeing results and feeling great...until one day, the scale stops moving. You've hit a plateau, and suddenly all of your progress comes to a screeching halt. What do you do now?
First things first: Don't panic. Plateaus are a normal part of any health journey, and they can be overcome with a little bit of patience and perseverance.
Trust me, I understand this feeling too well! Here I am coaching others on how to lose weight and I realized that I was stuck. I spent days employing my usual advice and the scale was not moving.
I realized that I had hit the dreaded plateau.
Plateaus during a health journey occur when the body becomes accustomed to a routine and stops responding to the changes being made. The body is efficient at adapting to new stimuli and tries to maintain a balance, known as homeostasis. This means that the same exercise routine or diet can become less effective over time.
Instead of getting discouraged, get creative! Here are a few tips and tricks to help you bust through that plateau and keep making progress:
1. Reevaluate Your Goals: Are your goals realistic and attainable? Are you setting yourself up for success or failure? Take some time to reevaluate your goals and make sure they are achievable and realistic. Sometimes we set the bar too high for ourselves, which can lead to disappointment and frustration.
2. Mix things up: Our bodies are smart, and they can adapt quickly to the same exercise routine or diet. If you’ve been doing the same thing for a while, try switching things up. Add some variety to your workouts or change up your diet plan. This will challenge your body and keep things interesting.
3. Reassess your diet: You might be eating well, but are you eating the right things? Look for hidden sources of added sugars and processed foods in your diet, and focus on nutrient-dense whole foods to fuel your body.
4. Stay hydrated: Drinking enough water is essential for weight loss and overall health. Aim for at least eight glasses of water per day to keep your body hydrated and your metabolism humming.
5. Get Support: Having a support system is essential for long-term success. Reach out to friends or family members who can offer encouragement and support. Consider hiring a coach or joining a group program to get extra support and accountability.
6. Take a Break: Sometimes taking a break can be beneficial for our bodies and minds. Take a break from your routine and do something that brings you joy. This will help you come back to your health journey with renewed energy and motivation.
Plateaus can be frustrating, but they are a normal part of the health journey. Don’t give up, and don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember that progress takes time and effort. Use these tips to break through the plateau and keep making progress towards your health goals.
