Have you been dieting and exercising but not losing weight? Try these proven plateau solutions
- 3 Minutes Read
Katherine Isacks, MPS, RDN, CDCES - Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES)
If you have been dieting and exercising but not losing weight, don't throw in the towel! Instead, take a minute to read about some straightforward and effective techniques that will help get the scale moving again.
Dieting and exercising but not losing weight?
Perhaps the toughest part of any weight-loss journey is overcoming the inevitable weight-loss plateau, known as consecutive weeks of staying at the same weight while putting forth the effort.
We’ve compiled a variety of plateau-busting suggestions below. Try one or combine a few to see what gets the scale moving for you.
Weight-Loss Plateau Solutions
Stay on top of tracking
Did you know that consistently tracking what you eat and drink is a proven weight-loss technique? In fact, individuals who completed daily food records lost twice as much weight as those who didn’t keep a record.
If you’re going to put in the time and energy to track using the MyNetDiary app, these tips will help to increase accuracy:
- Measuring and estimating portion sizes
- Is there an easier way to log your foods?
- Entering, editing, and sharing recipes in MyNetDiary
Review your records
Just as a detailed spending plan wouldn’t be as useful if you never reviewed it, the same goes for a tracking plan. After a week or so of tracking what you eat and drink, examine your records. Look for relationships between food and nutrient intake, exercise, and weight loss. Many online apps allow you to create different reports to help you see how your choices impact your weight.
Set a reasonable weight-loss goal and a reasonable time frame
You will be more successful in achieving your ultimate long-term weight goal if you break it into smaller goals. For example, if you eventually want to lose 40 pounds, start with a smaller goal: "lose 5% of my weight."
Did you know that a loss of 5-7% of your body weight can prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes? If you’ve hit a weight-loss plateau, ask yourself if the original goal was unrealistic, and consider making a manageable adjustment.
When determining how fast you should work to lose the weight, we suggest setting a goal of losing between a half-pound to 2 pounds a week. Some evidence suggests that people who lose weight gradually are more successful at keeping it off over the long term. It is also known to be a safer method.
Eat regularly or switch your meal timing
Eating regular meals helps regulate your blood sugar and prevents you from getting overly hungry, or worse, "hangry." When you become too hungry, it becomes more challenging to control your portions. High-calorie/high-fat foods tempt you as the body searches out quick energy.
Some people succeed at breaking a weight-loss plateau by changing up their eating schedule. Let's say you tend to eat a greater proportion of your calories at night. Consider switching to eating a larger breakfast and a lighter dinner without evening snacks.
Or try experimenting with limiting the hours in which you eat during the day, often referred to as time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting. Check out this article to learn more about the impact of meal timing weight loss.
Prioritize non-starchy veggies and protein
Non-starchy veggies
Non-starchy vegetables are naturally low in calories, yet high in vitamins, minerals, water, and fiber. Many people find if they make an effort to eat at least 2 vegetable servings at every meal, including breakfast, they end up feeling full on fewer calories. The serving size for non-starchy vegetables is ½ cup cooked or one cup raw.
Protein
Meeting your protein needs each day is essential for weight loss. Since protein foods take longer to digest than carbohydrates, you will likely stay full longer if you eat some protein at each meal. Aim for about 20 grams of protein per meal from various sources: lean meat, fish/seafood, poultry, legumes, eggs, and dairy, for example.
More protein resources:
Get adequate sleep
Chronic sleep deprivation affects appetite and stress hormone production, which also affects caloric intake and physical health.
For more information on sleep:
How poor sleep influences your ability to lose weight and manage blood sugar
Exercise
Exercise is not just about calorie burning; it helps improve overall health and reduces risks for chronic disease, especially type 2 diabetes. If you are able, strive to do some cardiovascular activity every day. In addition, add some kind of strength training 3 days a week to help preserve muscle while you lose weight.
Exercise resources
- A complete guide to creating your own workout plan
- Are there benefits of adding high-intensity interval training to your exercise and weight loss plan?
- How strength training benefits weight loss
Stay motivated
Your motivation to stay-the-course can dip if you’ve been dieting and exercising though not seeing results. Staying motivated to lose weight over a long period of time can be a challenge. What motivates you at the start of your weight loss journey may shift once you are 6 months or a year into your new lifestyle. Reflect on your motivations for living a healthy lifestyle, and talk with friends, family, or a professional counselor if you feel stuck.
Resources on motivation:
- 5 Ways you can stay motivated to lose weight
- 4 Easily achieved weight loss secrets from people who have lost over 30 pounds
You’ve got this!
If you have been dieting and exercising but not losing weight, do not give up! Take a deep breath, remind yourself how far you have come, and that you are worth the effort and energy it takes to lose weight, keep it off, and enjoy years of better health ahead.
To gain support and connect with others who are working hard to lose weight, check out our community forum at:
https://www.mynetdiary.com/weight-loss-forum
Related content
Have you hit a weight-loss plateau? Expert tips to recharge your diet
Measure success beyond the scale to track weight-loss progress
Reviewed and updated by Joanna Kriehn on July 17, 2023.
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