Weight Loss Plateau | Diet Plateau – What Is It

Weight loss plateau, also known as diet plateau has been referred to by many names. It has been called "dieter’s greatest nemesis", "the dreaded weight loss stage", "a demon in disguise that springs to torture the dieter", "a major obstacle to losing weight", and so on.

In reality the weight loss plateau is nothing more than a natural stage of weight loss progression. It is nothing to be concerned about as it consistently happens to most of the dieters and it is easy to overcome.

The primary reason for this occurrence in a healthy person is the metabolism. When on a program to lose weight, you generally reduce your calorie intake and begin to exercise or engage in some physical activity. Eventually your metabolism becomes accustomed to these activities and changes. As a result it slows down. The resulting sluggishness of your metabolism leads to a halt of your weight loss progress.

The metabolic rate decreases for two main reasons. The first of these is hormonal and the second physiological/physical.

1. The reduction of calorie intake impacts on the activity of the thyroid hormone. It causes its reduction. Thyroid hormone regulates metabolic activity. Reduction in hormonal activity leads to the reduction of the metabolic rate. Slow metabolic rate leads to the inability to lose weight.

2. The second reason for reduction of metabolism has to do with Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). A simplified definition of BMR is: the number of calories a body burns at rest to maintain normal body functions. It is the amount of calories per day your body burns, regardless of exercise. It changes with age, weight, height, gender, diet and exercise habits (from about.com).

The energy required to help to keep vital body functions is directly proportional to one’s body mass. In other words, the greater the body mass, as in being overweight, the greater is the BMR. When there is less body mass, as in weight loss, BMR decreases. It decreases because it needs to burn less calories during your daily activities and also you waste less calories as heat. This, once again, results in a reduction of your metabolism, hence the halt of your weight loss progress.

You have essentially reached a state of equilibrium. In essence, your daily calorie input roughly equals to your daily calorie output.

Once you recognize and accept the weight loss plateau for what it is you can follow one of two directions:

1. When you arrive at the diet plateau you might have reached your healthy body weight. This may be determined by your genetics, body frame and your age. It is the weight at which your body functions optimally. If you are happy with that just continue to maintain this weight and the shape of your body by adhering to the lifestyle you currently lead.

2. You may want to break the weight loss plateau if, on the other hand, you may feel that your "normal" biological weight does not equal your perceived "normal" weight. In other words, you are still not happy with your weight and you would like to continue to lose weight. Overcoming it it is not difficult to do.

The next article deals with easy Tips to break weight loss plateau to help you continue on your weight loss journey.

 

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