Weight Loss Solution

I am asked often why a person who's doing great losing weight suddenly plateaus. To me weight loss is about staying away from routine. Yes staying away from routine.

What do I mean by saying away from routine. Simply put, don't do the same thing too long. Why you ask, because you're body will adapt to your routine. That means diet, exercise, sleep and the time you do every thing in your life.

Lets look at a couple examples. First lets look at resistance training. I never test an athlete's strength for the first two week I work with him or her. The reason is the biggest contributor to improved strength is neural response. When you begin a physical activity your brain needs to figure what you're doing. The brain will provide the sequencing of the muscles [when to contract/order] as well as the force needed to move the weight through the range of motion [ROM]. So when you first begin an activity you use more calories [kcal] because you're inefficient [ROM]. Just like when you learned to ride a bike or drive a car. Think about learning those tasks. Are they the same today as when you learned.

Thus, the the better you become at the task the the more efficient your body becomes and burn less fuel or kcals. Get it. So think about all the activities you go through as you lose weight. Now change them before your body becomes too efficient.

Think about when you workout. Try two weeks in the morning and two in the evening. Change your cardio for running to cycling to swimming. Change the activity intensity [heart rate] and duration of the activity. Change from dancing to tennis to soccer. Think about rest versus active rest. My active rest day is gardening. I cut the grass [4 lawns], trim trees and bushes, rake leaves. We have a couple gardens so I cultivate soil, weed, fertilize the soil etc. What can you do for active rest change it often. When you do your resistance training use bands, med balls, dumbells, machines, kettlebells and body weight. If you change your lifts, grips and joint angles of your movements you won't get bored and your body will be forced to adjust and burn more kcals.

Now don't limit it to exercise and active rest. Consider what time you eat change it often. For example eat lunch one day at noon, the next at 11:30 and the next at 1pm. Your body is forced to constantly adjust. You can also adjust the number of kcal you eat during the day. One day eat 2000 kcal the next 1750 an d the next 1900, again your body can't adjust to a routine because YOU don't have one.

So to avoid plateaus force your body to change and adjust constantly. Good luck and eat well.