Stalled Weight Change
Many members experience slowing or delay in weight change at some point during the Program. After the first few weeks of great progress, this can be disappointing, but remember, it can be managed.
Some of the reasons for stalled weight change may include:
- Not sticking 100% to the weight loss Program
- Diagnosed or undiagnosed insulin resistance, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, PCOS or thyroid disease
- Medication doses may be incorrect and preventing weightloss, particularly with thyroid disease
- Slow metabolism
- Steroid medications
- Skipping meals and snacking
- Overdoing exercise, or for some people, lack of exercise
- Having your period
- Lack of bowel function
Our trained consultants at our centres or on our help line can assist. Please get in touch and we'll get you back on track.
Plateaued weight change
Your body has many systems and processes built-in to adapt to and counter changing conditions. Usually this is a good characteristic - think of sweating on a hot day to cool down or the way your blood clots when you cut yourself.
Unfortunately, the same happens when you try to lose weight by reducing your carbohydrate intake - your own body fights the change. It does this by slowing your Basal Metabolic Rate to compensate for the lack of carbohydrate fuel. Consequently, your body starts burning less fuel overall, including fuel stored as fat.
Other reasons that can cause plateaued weight change include:
- Age
- Inactivity
- Thyroid disease
- Skipping meals
- Insufficient fluid intake
- Reduced muscle mass (males have a larger muscle mass, this is the reason why males lose more weight than females)
- Having the same energy intake each day - same meal plans, same routine, a lack of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C, and B vitamins for energy
Here are a few tips to kick-start your weightloss again:
- Substitute your fruit serves between meals with a protein rich snack like a boiled egg or lean meat. Do this for at least four or five days.
- Replace one of your daily shakes or soups with normal, healthy food. Use the Tony Ferguson Weightloss Book to choose suitable foods
- Add exercise to your routine.
- If you already exercise - vary it! Go for a swim instead of a walk or hit the gym instead of the pool
- Don't overdo the exercise - light to moderate exercise is recommended while on the Tony Ferguson Weightloss Program, including walking, swimming and light gym work
- Swap your meals around and make sure you have between-meal snacks.
- Drink plenty of water - you need at least two litres per day in small, regular quantities
- Ensure you have adequate fibre intake. Fibre can help increase your metabolism and also helps increase the rate at which food moves through your digestive system
The main thing to remember is you're not doing this alone, so speak to your consultant or phone our help line - we can discuss your options and have you back on track in no time.
Last updated 10/21/2009 4:13:47 PM
