Could This Unexpected Reason Behind Your Weight Loss Plateu?

Losing weight is by no means an easy task. Cutting back on calories, saying no to your favorite treats, and sweating away on the treadmill for hours is not fun. But you know what else isn’t fun? Putting your heart and soul into the transformation journey… only to see little to no results. It sounds frustrating, doesn’t it?

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Weight loss plateau occurs when the number on the scale suddenly comes to a screeching halt after a few weeks of good progress. Honestly, this is a common hurdle that most people experience in their weight loss journey, but quite easy to overcome once you’re able to determine the culprit behind it.

Your body doesn’t like undergoing any transformation, especially if it has anything to do with cutting calories. After months, and even years of consuming food in surplus, it takes time for your body to adjust to the new norm of fewer calories and more exercise. But most people forget to factor in an important element into their weight loss journey: stress.

Fight-or-Flight

Much like every other aspect of your life, your weight loss progress is also affected by stress. The presence of stress hormones in our body tricks our brain into thinking that we’re in a dangerous situation, instantly switching on the fight-or-flight response.

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Stress and fear are often associated with survival mode in which your body starts converting more glucose into fat and sending untimely hunger cues that lead to overeating. Ever heard of the term ‘stress eating’? It’s a real phenomenon brought on by our body’s response to the threat.

Poor Digestion

If you’re under constant stress, your hormones are bound to go out of whack, and the biggest consequence of hormonal imbalances is poor digestion. All of this ties into the fight-or-flight theory where your body has to prioritize certain biological processes over the others, and unfortunately, digestion is pushed to the back burner.

Unhealthy Cravings

Cortisol is the worst stress hormone that can create havoc in your body, disrupting your sleep cycle, and triggering unnecessary cravings as a natural coping mechanism. It’s no surprise that you’re reaching for a bag of potato chips or candy whenever you’re in a stressful situation.

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Intense cravings for certain ‘comfort foods’ is your body’s way to fight stress. However, this can lead to a bigger problem of overeating, which isn’t beneficial for your waistline in the long run.