How to Bust Through a Plateau

I get a lot of questions on plateaus.
In 2010 when I was losing weight the first time I plateaued at 175 for over a month.
I had already lost 23 lbs., and was stuck.
I remember getting on the scale EVERY.SINGLE.DAY to no avail.
Eating SO GOOD and working out SO MUCH and nothing happened.
It was frustrating.
Beyond words frustrating.
I was working so hard and getting nowhere it seemed.
I got to the point where I literally dreaded weighing every day because I knew it was going to read the same thing.
I even tried changing the batteries in my scale thinking it might be broken.
Nope. Still 175.
I hated every damn bit of that plateau.
But you know what I DIDN'T do?
I didn't give up.
Sure, I bitched a lot. And I cussed the stupid scale. And I cried. And I sweated. And I stuck to plan.
But I didn't give up. Because I was NOT happy with 175.
I had a goal and I was determined to get there.
And after 5 weeks, the scale moved. To 173. And then 171. And so on...
Five friggin' weeks.

I have a theory, however, that it had to do with my periods.
You see, I had heard that it takes your body 3 cycles after having a baby to let go of that extra weight.
Jenny McCarthy talked about it in her book. She had just had a baby, had a personal chef, a trainer, and was STILL losing NO WEIGHT.
And after that 3rd cycle, it started to fall off again.
And that is EXACTLY what happened to me.
After I had my 3rd cycle after Big T is when I busted through that plateau.
Currently, it is much of the same.
I've had 2 cycles, and I seem to be stuck...
So I'm anxiously awaiting that 3rd in hopes that has something to do with the stall.

Now, plateaus happen whether you've had a baby or not. It's just part of the journey.
Your body gets used to the new regimen. The new amount of lower calories, the new amount of working out, etc.
So here are my suggestions for busting through that plateau:

1. KEEP GOING.
This is most important. DO NOT give up. It will come off if you stay consistent.
Consistent in a healthy way. That doesn't mean you have to eat the same thing every day and do the same exercise every day. It just means that you need to KEEP GOING.

2. Change it up.
Are you a runner? Try a zumba class. Or start some interval training. PS- interval training burns more calories than steady running. (Which is why I lost so much so quickly on the c25k)
Try upping your calories, or maybe even lowering them (not lower than 1200).
Try new foods so you're not eating the same thing every day.

3. Do Less.
Yes, I said it.
Try taking a break from vigorous workouts. (Not a month long break- I'm talking a week). Instead of doing your every day 90 minute workout, try going on a walk a couple days a week. Your body may need rest.

4. Play with it. (that's what she said)
It's YOUR body, and only YOU can figure out what it responds to best.
So what may work for ME, might not necessarily work for YOU.
Try all of the above, for a week each. All you've got to lose is weight!

5. Did I mention KEEP GOING?
Oh, I did? Awesome. Because I mean it.
Be patient.
I know you are working hard and you want instant gratification, but weight loss doesn't always work like that.
It takes TIME. You didn't gain the weight overnight. You won't lose it overnight.
As long as you keep going, you will reach your goals!

Today is the last day to enter the SkinnyRunner giveaway. Go {HERE} to enter if you haven't already. A winner will be chosen tomorrow morning, along with ANOTHER giveaway. Holy shit, I'm awesome.

Have you Liked me on Facebook yet? Go {HERE} if you want to stalk me even more than you do now.

No post is complete without a picture.

I'm sexy and I know it??