Overcoming Plateaus and Keeping the Weight Off: a Weight Loss Journey

From Hating Her Reflection to Gratefulness

The Reddit user, ArtNo1833's journey began with self-hatred towards her reflection. She weighed 180 pounds at 5'1" and had no confidence in her body. But instead of wallowing in self-pity, she decided to do something about it. ArtNo1833 followed a diet with calorie intake of 1000-1200 and burned about 600-720 calories daily through cardio and some weight training. After 13 months, she lost 47 pounds and is just 13 pounds away from her goal weight of 120.

The Challenge of Plateaus

ArtNo1833's weight loss journey hit a plateau at 150 pounds last September. She took five months to lose 7 pounds. Plateaus are a common challenge in weight loss journeys. When the body gets used to the routines of diet and exercise, it adjusts its metabolism, making it difficult to burn more calories. ArtNo1833 advises people to persevere through plateaus, recalibrate their calories and continue tracking their progress.

The Power of Slow and Steady Progress

Slow and steady progress is essential for long term weight loss success. ArtNo1833 believes that losing weight quickly is unsustainable and often results in weight regain. Instead, she emphasizes the importance of building long-term habits and a healthy mindset around weight loss. Tracking food and progress using apps and turning exercise into a fun competition with friends are some of the ways that helped her remain motivated.

Tips on Breaking Plateaus

It is essential to calculate one's Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) to determine how many calories are required for maintaining or losing weight. Cutting out snacks and sticking to two full healthy meals with minimum calorie requirements is critical. When weight loss stalls, eat at maintenance calories for a week or two, then resume the calorie deficit. Mindfulness in dining is essential in breaking plateaus. It's essential to stay the course and wait for a new normal for the weight to continue to drop.

Inspiration and Motivation

ArtNo1833's journey on Reddit serves as an inspiration and motivation for others. Her journey is a testament to the notion that determination, discipline, and patience are the keys to achieving weight loss goals. By overcoming plateaus and sticking to a healthy diet and exercise regimen, she demonstrated that it is possible to lose weight sustainably. Anyone can follow her footsteps and do it too!