Understanding the Phases of Weight Loss

The four stages of weight loss are commonly referred to as the metabolic shift, rapid weight loss, weight maintenance loss, and slow weight gain. Although each stage is an important part of weight loss for many people, not everyone has successfully lost weight or kept it off. For most people, these four stages can be a long, difficult road filled with minor setbacks and triumphs before there is a major breakthrough. The four stages of weight loss also occur in reverse for some people.

At the beginning of any weight loss program, you should set short-term goals to help keep you motivated. These short-term goals might be losing a certain number of pounds over a two week period or a month. Many people find that this is enough to keep them motivated, but if you are looking to lose more than a few pounds in a short amount of time, you will likely need to make drastic changes to your eating habits and exercise routine.

During the maintenance phase, you are eating normally but still trying to shed the extra pounds. This may include skipping breakfast and/or lunch so you can eat more often at dinner. In addition to eating more often, you may start drinking more water to avoid gaining weight. Other lifestyle changes might include adding more green vegetables and fruits to your diet. You will probably be required to reduce your calorie intake significantly, especially if you are severely restricting your calories. You should also increase your physical activity during this phase.

During the rapid weight loss journey, you are eating normally but still have some extra calories. This is usually the most challenging part of the weight loss journey, because you need to bring yourself back down to a healthy level. This may include increasing your daily caloric intake and increasing your physical activity. Some people will increase their exercise levels by taking up a high-intensity workout regimen. If you are serious about reaching your goals, this should be done before reaching maintenance.

During the rapid weight loss phase, you are eating normally but still have some excess calories. This is your first week of your weight loss journey and it's important to make it as easy as possible. Don't add too much to your plate or you may feel dizzy. Since you're still carrying around a lot of extra weight, you might feel like you need to eat all the time. It's important to make sure that you are still getting enough nutrients and that you aren't depriving yourself of any of the important nutrients that you are already getting from eating real foods.

During your maintenance period, you are eating normally, but you are still losing weight. You have reached the point where you have successfully reduced your daily calorie intake, but you still have some excess calories to burn. Your goal during this time is to gradually bring your weight loss journey to an end by maintaining the amount of calories you are consuming, while burning off those that you are not. You may feel that it is taking longer than normal to see results, but this is actually good because it enables you to see gradual differences in your results.

The final and most drastic phase of losing weight is your long term goal. Once you have achieved your ideal body weight per week and have successfully maintained your body weight for three months, you will have accomplished your primary goal of your weight loss process. You can now begin to set goals for future goals that will help you reach your ultimate goal.

Although it may take longer to lose weight than others, it is important to remember that every person is different and will experience different results. If you are experiencing any symptoms of any of these phases, you are encouraged to speak with your doctor immediately. Your doctor will be able to identify whether or not you are experiencing any of these symptoms and if so, will be able to pinpoint exactly what it is that is causing the issue. He or she may also be able to help you find ways to avoid experiencing them in the future. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you may want to consider the three-step weight regain process and learn how you can permanently stay in shape without harming yourself or the environment.