Weight Loss Plateau? Rejoice in Your Non-Scale Accomplishments!
Have you experienced an annoying weight loss plateau? The frustration of the bathroom scale is something well known to many dieters. Motivation usually remains high as long as there’s a steady loss. Dieters who weigh outside their homes even worry over the lightest outfit to wear. What happens though when you know you’ve followed your plan, you know you’ve exercised diligently, you know you deserve to see a drop, but that darn scale has other ideas? You’ve hit the wicked plateau!
When something like this happens, it’s very difficult to console yourself with reason. Intellectually, you understand that this mechanical device is imperfect. You understand that fluid fluctuations in your system are most likely to blame. You understand that it probably wasn’t something in your control. But the scariest part is that because you don’t know what went wrong, it could happen again!
So many wonderful things happen during your weight loss journey that have nothing to do with that bathroom scale; so the next time you’re hit with the weight loss plateau, celebrate those non-scale victories! You won’t have to look far to find them.
Compare a picture of yourself at your starting weight to the face looking back at you in the mirror today. Notice that your eyes are more clear and opened wider. Notice that your cheeks are more sculpted and your jaw line is more taut. Stand back a little further from the mirror and notice the differences in your body. Focus for just a minute on how far you’ve come, not how far you have to go. Chances are if you’ve been dieting awhile, you’re looking at some significant changes in your appearance that you might not notice every day because they’re so gradual. Rejoice in the differences!
Check out your closet to help you get through your weight loss plateau. How many outfits have you put aside because they’re getting too baggy and unattractive? How long has it been since you tried on that pair of jeans or that dress that you’ve wanted to get into? Try them on now and note your progress. Find another favorite clothing item that is still too tight and move it front and center in your closet so that you can work on fitting into it.
Use a tape measure to note your current measurements. Compare those to the ones you recorded when you began your program. Check not only the obvious ones such as chest, waist, and hips, but also upper arms, upper thighs, and neck. Write these down so that you can compare again in a month.
Have you been able to eliminate any medications as a result of your new lifestyle? What better way to celebrate? Ask your doctor to perform lab work so that you can compare blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Take a long walk. Think back to when you took your first walk on your diet. Take notice of how much easier it is today. Think of the improvements in your strength and stamina. Think about other physical improvements as well. Are your groceries easier to carry? Are those Pilates moves easier to execute? Can you do more crunches now?
Sure, you’re frustrated with the scale, but other than that, what has your mental attitude been like? Do you cope with stress better? Is your mood lighter and do you feel generally happier? All of these are weight loss victories that don’t depend on the fickle scale! You’ve come a long way and you need to remember that. While you may be anxious to get on to the next phase of your diet, you still need to take time to be proud of your many accomplishments. The weight loss plateau is temporary and can’t take them away!
