Diets: Shock — What to Do when Your Diet Stops Working

You’ve been on a diet for several months, and you’re pleased with your weight loss. However, now you haven’t lost weight in three weeks — your diet has stopped working.

What should you do?

Firstly, don’t panic.

It’s likely that your diet is still working, but your body is making changes which don’t immediately show up on the scales. For example, if you’ve been exercising, muscle weights more than fat, so you’ve still got great fat loss, while you’re increasing your muscle. This can make it seem as if your diet isn’t working, when it is.

It’s also possible that your diet really has stopped working for you. Your metabolism has slowed, and now your body is satisfied with fewer calories. If this is the case, you need to boost your metabolism.

Let’s see how you could do this.

1. Eat More

Start by eating more. If your metabolism has slowed, eating more is a way of boosting your metabolism. Add more protein to your diet for a few days. This may be enough to start you losing weight again.

You could also allow yourself a treat a day: eat a small chocolate bar.

Just eat a little more for a few days, before resuming your diet again.

2. Change What You’re Eating

You could also change your diet. If you’re on a high-protein Atkins-style diet, switch to eating more carbohydrates and counting calories for a few weeks.

On the other hand, if you’ve been counting calories, switch to a high protein diet like Atkins, and forget calorie counting. Your aim is to shock your body into cooperating, as well as to boost your metabolism.

3. Drink More Water

If you haven’t been drinking water regularly, increase your fluid intake. Drinking water ensures that your body works efficiently. If you don’t like the taste of plain water, add a slice of lemon or lime to it, or try some herbal teas.

Finally, ask yourself whether you’re really sticking to your diet…

4. Keep a Food Journal

Are you sticking to your diet as you did when you started?

When you’ve been on a diet for months, it’s easy to relax. You may have been eating slightly more than you realize. Keeping a food journal will show you exactly what you’re eating, and when.

If you’ve been increasing your portion sizes, cut back on them. If you’re nibbling between meals, stop doing that.

Feeling that your diet has stopped working is depressing, but relax. Follow the tips in this article, and you’ll soon be losing weight again.

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