Coping with weight plateaus
There is no official definition of a weight loss plateau, but many define the weight loss plateau as a failure to lose weight or inches for at least four weeks.

Think about this definition. Think about your experiences with weight plateaus and write down some possible solutions. Share this information with your MOVE! Team.
Use MOVE! handout (M02) Handling Weight Plateaus to generate more solutions and consider the following points:
  1. Is this really a weight plateau or have you somehow slipped in your weight loss efforts. Review your Food and Activity Diary to see if you can find where you may have slipped.
  2. Keep track of everything you eat and drink and your physical activity. This will help you kick start your weight loss efforts.
  3. Consider shifting your focus a little. For example, if you have been working hard on reducing foods high in fat, try cutting down on carbohydrates. If you have been doing lots of strength exercises, try increasing your aerobic activity.
  4. If you have been on a low calorie diet, consider mixing it up a little. Sometimes the body thinks it’s in starvation mode and reduces its metabolism as a coping mechanism. By temporarily increasing the number of calories you eat in a day, you may actually be able to kick-start your metabolism again.