Tony Ferguson – Stalled weight-loss

Many members experience some slowing or delay in weight loss at some point during the program. After the first few weeks of great progress, this can be disappointing, but remember, it can be managed.

Some of the reasons for stalled weight loss may include:

• Not sticking 100% to the weight loss program
• Diagnosed or undiagnosed insulin resistance, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, PCOS or thyroid disease
• Medication doses may be incorrect and preventing weight loss, particularly with thyroid disease
• Slow metabolism
• Steroid medications
• Skipping meals and snacking
• Overdoing exercise, or for some people, lack of exercise
• Having your period
• Lack of bowel function

Our trained Centre or telephone staff can assist. Please get in touch and we’ll get you back on track.

Plateaued weight loss

Your body has many systems and processes built-in to adapt to and counter changing conditions. Usually this is a good characteristic – think of sweating on a hot day to cool down or the way your blood clots when you cut yourself.

Unfortunately, the same happens when you try to lose weight by reducing your carbohydrate intake – your own body fights the change. It does this by slowing your Basal Metabolic Rate to compensate for the lack of carbohydrate fuel. Consequently, your body starts burning less fuel overall, including fuel stored as fat  – the fat you’re trying to lose.

Other reasons that can cause plateaued weight loss include:

• Age
• Inactivity
• Thyroid disease
• Skipping meals
• Insufficient fluid intake
• Reduced muscle mass (males have a larger muscle mass, this is the reason why males lose more weight than females)
• Having the same energy intake each day – same meal plans, same routine
• A lack of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C, and B vitamins for energy

Here are a few tips to kick-start your weight loss again:

• Substitute your fruit serves between meals with a protein rich snack like a boiled egg or lean meat. Do this for at least four or five days
• Replace one of your daily shakes or soups with normal, healthy food. Use the Tony Ferguson Weightloss Program book to choose suitable foods
• Add exercise to your routine
• If you already exercise – vary it! Go for a swim instead of a walk or hit the gym instead of the pool
• Don’t overdo the exercise – light to moderate exercise is recommended while on the Tony Ferguson Weightloss Program, including walking, swimming and light gym work
• Swap your meals around and make sure you have mid-meal snacks.
• Drink plenty of water – you need at least two litres per day in small, regular quantities
• Ensure you have adequate fibre intake. Fibre can help increase your metabolism and also helps increase the rate at which food moves through your digestive system

The main thing to remember is you’re not doing this alone. So speak to your Tony Ferguson Weightloss Centre staff or phone our help line – we can discuss your options and have you losing weight again in no time.