Plateaus.
Plateaus are a common occurrence during the weight loss process.
They usually begin between the seventh and eighth weeks of weight loss as well as the third and fourth months,
And they can last up to two weeks.
Everyone loses weight erratically,
So plateaus should be expected.
When this happens,
First drink water.
The only way fat leaves your body is via breath and urine and water.
When you don't drink enough water,
Your body retains it.
So,
Be sure to always drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day and have one additional 8-ounce glass for every 25 pounds you are overweight.
Keep this up during plateaus.
Second,
Review your food intake.
You may have quietly slipped into an inappropriate pattern or perhaps started eating a bit more than you need in order to be in the weight loss phase.
Do not judge yourself harshly or feel guilty.
Just notice what happened,
Learn from it,
Change it,
And move on.
Third,
Increase your physical activity.
Perhaps you have been less active recently.
Aerobic activity can raise your metabolic rate and therefore more fat is burned so less is put into storage.
Fourth,
Check your measurements.
You may be losing inches instead of pounds right now.
With increased activity,
Fat tissue is burned off and muscle mass increases.
Since fat is much less dense than muscle,
It takes less muscle to make one pound,
So your weight remains the same.
Fifth,
When your body is fighting illness it has little interest in burning stored fat.
Don't try to second guess your body.
It knows what it's doing.
In time,
Your body will get back to the business of weight loss.
The most important thing is to never give up.
As long as you keep your reasons for losing weight in the forefront of your mind,
You will persist through the rough times.
And when you do,
You'll find that success is yours.
