What is a Dieting Plateau really?

1. 75

   Aislaposted 13 years ago

   Many people say that they lose weight on diets at the beginning and then hit a plateau where the weight doesn't come off for a while.Does anyone know why this happens and what causes it?

   replyreport
   1. 61

      Fire10posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Well, like cobrien said your body is built to resist weight loss.  In fact, fat actually produces a hormone called leptin which - depending on how much your brain senses - lets the brain know where your energy stores are sitting.  When your body senses a moderate decline,  all is good and well, but when that decline continues your body begins to think that it is starving to death (because it isn't getting the leptin signals that it is accustomed too, and it increases mechanisms to preserve energy).  So you start to feel more hungry, tired, and the whole slew of things that make weight loss challenging.  Just keep following the healthy diet despite the resistance and your brain/body will come to terms with your new weight.
      
      Hope that helps!

      replyreport
   2. 65

      rcrm89posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      For most people, I think they forget to adjust factors like exercise and diet when they lose weight.
      
      With diet, as you lose weight your BMR decreases so your need for calories to sustain your current bodyweight also falls - so your plan needs to involve a downward trend in energy intake as you get towards your target bodyweight.
      
      With exercise, as you lose weight you are expending less energy for the same amount of exercise as your body mass is lower.

      replyreport
2. 60

   cobrienposted 13 years ago

   Your body is built to resist weight loss. When you decrease your calories to lose weight, your metabolism drops.But, as you exercise, your metabolism increases.  Your body eventually finds a happy median and you hit your plateau. You can fight it by increasing your metabolic rate. Increase your caloric intake just a bit, change and increase your exercise habits, eat your biggest meal at breakfast, and snack throughout the day.

   replyreport
   1. 75

      Aislaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      A lot of what you say makes sense and so true.

      replyreport
3. 51

   davidlisleposted 13 years ago

   The word diet doesn't just refer to a reduction in eating. It also means adjusting your diet to include more of the things you need and less of the things you don't. A balanced diet is going to be key in order to losing stomach fat. Your body stores energy in two ways: glycogen and fat. Glycogen is stored in your muscles and liver.

   replyreport