Why did I stop losing weight?
Asked by ktduitsman on Dec 16, 2008
in Weight Loss
I have been working out 4-5 times a week since April, usually burning 300 calories in a workout session. I lost 10 pounds quickly, then another 10 slowly but now I cannot loose! I eat smart, balanced small meals throughout the day. I do not eat past 7 PM. I have even been to the doctor thinking something must be wrong with me! I am loosing my motivation, and becoming discouraged by the minute.
Answer
Research shows that most people plateau after losing about 10% of their weight. That’s when adaptive mechanisms kick in to protect the body against starvation. And so, you need to adjust your expectations and hold your calorie intake steady to maintain your new weight for at least six months. That will permit your body to reset your set point, and once it’s reset, you can repeat the cycle to lose more weight. Read about the concept in Break Through Your Set Point: How to Finally Lose the Weight You Want and Keep It Off by Dr. George L. Blackburn, associate director of the Division of Nutrition at Harvard Medical School.
