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submitted: Aug 26th 2008 | by: GailM.Davis | Total views: 2 | Word Count: 601 | |

Are you familiar with the distressing weight loss plateau? Most dieters experience it sooner or later. Steady weight loss is an essential factor in motivation, but sometimes that blasted scale offers nothing but frustration! Serious dieters look forward to weighing in every week. Those that weigh outside their homes even stress over the lightest clothing to wear. What happens though when you know you deserve to lose weight, but you're hit with the beastly plateau?

When something like this happens, it's very difficult to console yourself with reason. Intellectually, you understand that this mechanical device is imperfect. You understand that fluid fluctuations in your system are most likely to blame. You understand that it probably wasn't something in your control. But the scariest part is that because you don't know what went wrong, it could happen again!

When you hit that weight loss plateau, and we all do sooner or later, it is best to focus on the non-scale victories. So many wonderful things happen during your weight loss journey that have nothing to do with that bathroom scale!

If you've been dieting for a while, there are probably some pretty significant changes that you gloss over each day. These changes can be easy to miss because they happen so gradually. Compare a picture of yourself when you started your diet to the way you look now. Check out the fine details. Is your jaw line more sculpted? Are your eyes wider? Look in a full-length mirror. Go ahead...check out the side and back views too. Pay special attention to the details and celebrate the differences!

Check out your closet to help you get through your weight loss plateau. How many outfits have you put aside because they're getting too baggy and unattractive? How long has it been since you tried on that pair of jeans or that dress that you've wanted to get into? Try them on now and note your progress. Find another favorite clothing item that is still too tight and move it front and center in your closet so that you can work on fitting into it.

Take out your tape measure and note your current measurements. Hopefully you noted them when you started your weight loss journey but if not, write them down now and compare in a month.

Make an appointment with your family doctor to have your lab work completed. Compare your current numbers with your previous numbers. Do you see drops in blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides? Have you been able to eliminate any medications as a result of your new lifestyle?

Take a long walk. Think back to when you took your first walk on your diet. Take notice of how much easier it is today. Think of the improvements in your strength and stamina. Think about other physical improvements as well. Are your groceries easier to carry? Are those Pilates moves easier to execute? Can you do more crunches now?

Other than your frustration with the scale, have you noticed any improvements in your mental outlook since you started your diet? Are you mentally lighter as well as physically lighter? Do you seem more positive? These are all victories in the weight loss game that have nothing to do with the fickle scale! Don't let your anticipation about the end goal ruin the ride. Take time often to remember all of your accomplishments. No weight loss plateau can diminish them!

About the Author

Gail M. Davis provides more tips to help you get through the distressing diet plateau. Find motivational inspiration, diet tips, low-calorie recipes, printable logs, and much more on her website, Easy Weight Loss Tips to Jump-Start Your Diet.

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