Plateau in Weight Loss
Around 80% of Australians have tried to lose weight at some stage in their lives, but most of them have been unsuccessful. After losing some weight, they may have reached a ‘plateau’ and found it hard to lose any more. Then they probably gave up, went back to their old eating habits, put the weight they lost back on again and possibly even gained extra weight.
Bumpy ride
Health and fitness expert, Dr Garry Egger, explained that weight loss is not like a steady slide down a slope. It is more like a bumpy ride down a set of stairs. As you lose weight, it’s perfectly normal for your weight to go up as well as down, and for you to go through plateaus, or stages when you stay at the same weight for long periods. It’s also important to realise that as you get lighter your rate of weight loss, especially through exercise such as walking, will slow down. This is a natural defence mechanism of the body: bodies don’t like losing weight.
The good news
Being on a plateau is not a sign of failure – it’s a sign of success. The longer you stay on a plateau, the less chance there is that you’ll put weight back on. If you’ve made some changes in your lifestyle you’ll probably lose more weight and eventually reach your goal weight
Further information
Dr Garry Egger started GutBusters, a scientifically based program which uses waist measurement, not weight, as an indication of fat loss in men. To contact GutBusters phone 1800 674 688, or visit their website: http://www.gutbusters.com.au
GutBuster’s ‘Low-Fat Quick Meals for Blokes’ by Dr Garry Egger and David Freeman, is available at bookstores for $8.95.