Two Reasons Why Your Weight Loss Has Stalled

Health & Medical Blog

It's something that happens to all dieters. One month it seems as though you're dropping five pounds a week, but the next month the scale seems like it's frozen in place. There are many reasons why you may not be losing weight like you expected. Here are two you should consider and what you can do to get back on track.

Your Input Exceeds Your Output

The basic law of weight loss is to burn more calories than you consume. However, many people forget that as they lose weight, they don't burn as many calories as they used to. Fat burns approximately 2 to 4 calories per pound each day when you're fully at rest (you burn more when you're moving around). Each pound of weight you lose equals fewer calories needed to support that excess fat. If you're not building muscle at the same time (and sometimes even if you are), you will eventually reach a point where the amount of calories you're consuming equals or exceeds the amount of calories you're expending.

The easiest way to break out of this type of plateau is to consume less food, increase your activity level, or both. Since muscle weighs more than fat and burns about 6 to 10 calories per pound, adding weight training to your exercise program can jumpstart your metabolism as well as decrease the risk you'll end up with excess skin. Reducing your calorie intake can also help you start losing weight again. However, be careful not to go too low or you may end up making yourself ill. It's best to consult with a doctor or weight loss expert to ensure your calorie intake is at a healthy level for you.

You're Taking Supplements at the Wrong Time

Vitamins and other supplements can be beneficial if you're having a hard time getting needed nutrients from the foods you eat. However, they can also hurt your efforts at losing weight. A 2009 study found that taking certain antioxidants (i.e. vitamin C and vitamin E) reduced exercise-induced insulin sensitivity. This means that if you're diabetic or borderline, you may unintentionally be causing an increase in insulin in your body, which can lead to stalled weight loss efforts and even weight gain.

If you notice your weight loss stopped shortly after you started taking supplements, it may be a good idea to stop taking them or, at least, wait several hours after exercising to consume them to avoid insulin-related weight gain.

For more information about these issues or help finding the right weight-loss program for you, contact a nutrition expert like those at Figure Weight Loss or healthcare provider.

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6 January 2017

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