It’s no secret losing weight in a healthy way takes time: Experts agree it’s safe to shed 1–2 pounds per week. However, if the scale just won’t budge don’t be discouraged — there are strategies you can use to overcome a weight-loss plateau.

“Listening to your body, challenging yourself with exercise, sleeping well and managing your stress with enjoyable activities will all help you push forward in your weight-loss efforts,” says Melissa Mitri, RD.

 

Here, seven simple ways you can reboot your weight-loss efforts if you’re not seeing results:

 

Research shows logging what you eat and drink helps you lose weight and takes less than 15 minutes out of your day. “Tracking your intake using an app such as MyFitnessPal will provide you with valuable information on exactly what you’re consuming, and often it’s not what we thought,” says Mitri. Sipping sugary smoothies and soda or mindlessly snacking throughout the day can make losing weight that much harder, but when you keep an accurate food journal, you can set daily goals to better fuel your weight-loss success.

 

If you feel tired or moody and have trouble controlling your cravings, your body might be trying to tell you it needs more nutrition — and it could start fighting your weight-loss efforts. “If you’re following a diet that is below your calorie needs and eating too little, your body’s natural defenses kick in and it holds onto every ounce of food you take in,” says Mitri. As a result, your metabolism slows and this can set you up for a negative cycle of yo-yo dieting and regaining weight. “On average, you don’t want to go over a calorie deficit of 500 calories per day for healthy weight loss, but check with a registered dietitian to determine your calorie needs based on factors like your weight, activity level and any health issues,” says Mitri.

 

Just because a food is good for you doesn’t mean you can ignore healthy portion sizes: “I find many people place health halos around certain foods and forget that calories matter,” says Lauren Harris-Pincus, RD, author of the Protein-Packed Breakfast Club. Case in point: “One tablespoon of oil (any kind) contains about 120 calories. If you’ve ever dipped bread into olive oil in a restaurant, it soaks up like a sponge. You could easily consume several hundred calories before the appetizers arrive.” Harris-Pincus often sees clients overeat popular healthy foods like avocados (there’s more than 300 calories in one fruit) and hummus (there are 80 calories in just 2 tablespoons, though most of us eat more than that in one sitting). Instead, portion out your food, no matter how healthy it is, with measuring spoons and cups so you start to recognize correct portions more easily.

 

On the other hand, there are some foods you can typically load up on like non-starchy vegetables like salad greens, peppers, cucumbers, mushrooms, broccoli and cauliflower, says Harris-Pincus. They’re low-cal and rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber, which help fill you up when you’re trying to lose weight. “It’s really tough to overeat veggies — just be mindful of the amount of oil or dressing you use to flavor them,” says Harris-Pincus.

 

Throughout your weight-loss journey, it’s important to remember eating isn’t just ‘fueling up’— it’s something to be enjoyed fully in the moment. “Don’t eat in front of your TV, computer or while browsing your phone,” says Mitri. “Instead, sit at a table and enjoy your meal without interruptions whenever possible.” Mindful eating — focusing on and savoring each bite — helps prevent overeating; research in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows you eat more when you’re multitasking and less when you pay attention to your meals. “Eating undistracted will allow you to be more in tune with your body to know when you’re starting to get full,” says Mitri.

 

There’s a big connection between stress and weight gain.“When you’re under chronic stress, the hormone cortisol can soar, increasing your cravings for unhealthy fare like high-sugar processed foods in an effort to temporarily relieve your stress and give you energy,” says Mitri. Over time, this can lead to weight gain and high inflammation. As difficult as it can be, try to cut yourself some slack and reduce your stress whenever you can. “Take frequent, short walk breaks throughout the day, call a friend, take a yoga class or have a cup of tea and journal,” suggests Mitri. “Giving yourself opportunities to decompress can have a big impact on your daily stress levels and recharge your energy.”

 

If you’re not getting enough shut-eye (Read: at least seven hours of uninterrupted sleep each night), it’s going to be even more difficult to lose weight. “The quality of your sleep affects your metabolism and levels of your hunger hormones,” says Mitri. That means when you’re sleep-deprived, you tend to feel hungrier and eat more compared to when you’re well-rested. The key to a healthy sleep routine is to schedule it in like any other priority: “Aim to keep your sleep patterns as consistent as possible, ideally going to sleep and waking up around the same time every day,” advises Mitri. Swap scrolling through your newsfeed or binge-watching a TV show for a relaxing bedtime routine, like a warm bath, gentle yoga or reading a book, she suggests.

 

First seen on Blog.MyFitnessPal

BY LAUREN KROUSE