lowcarblosers

The Secret Magic of the Short Stall

Panic sets in quickly for a Low Carb Loser. It only takes a day or two without movement on the bathroom scale to make us question our low carb lifestyle. By day 3, most of us are ready to throw in the towel. Still others will search desperately for modifications that will get the scale moving again.

Don’t!

Instead of giving in to frustration, take a moment to explore the priceless insight provided by a brief stall. You can learn a lot about your attitude from a short stall. Your response to these natural pauses can serve as a great indicator of long-term low-carb success. You may not have lost a pound TODAY, but that stall can be the key to reaching your greater goals.

THE DANGER OF PREMATURE MODIFICATION

Adhering to a highly restrictive diet and failing to see consistent daily results can be maddening. We want RESULTS for our hard work and we want them NOW!

Relax. Altering your food plan in an effort to bypass the occasional (and natural) pauses in weight loss can spell diet disaster. Though the exact nature of these short stalls is arguable, it is undeniable that short stalls happen to the vast majority of dieters, regardless of their food plan. Even after weight loss surgery, most patients won’t see the scale move every day until they reach their goal.

If you’ve been successful losing weight with your food plan and a short stall sets in without any eating or lifestyle changes on your part, it’s okay. Don’t throw away a great food plan because you’re too impatient to let nature take its course.

When you modify your weight loss plan, you expose yourself to unnecessary risks. You could be introducing foods that come with unexpected cravings. You might be dropping your calories to a level too low to lose weight at. Worse, you might cause such chaos in your food plan, it becomes difficult to assess what is and what is not working.

It is for this reason experienced Low Cab Losers often get snarky when new losers ask for advice on breaking a short stall. They have the experience to know that short interruptions in weight loss are natural. They also know that it’s not time to take a risk on serious diet modification unless the scale has been idle for as much as 6 weeks.

THE MAGIC OF THE SHORT STALL

The way we respond to a short stall can tell us a lot about our attitude and potential for long-term weight loss success. In this way, the short stall is priceless.

If two or three days without progress has you ready to quit, it’s safe to assume you are still stuck in the diet mentality. You’re viewing your low carb food plan as a temporary solution to a major health crisis. This approach to low carb eating is strongly discouraged my most low carb plans, including Atkins.

Unfortunately, no matter how successful you are losing weight with low carb eating, there will never be a time when abandoning your low carb lifestyle won’t put you at risk. Even those who have reached goal, and maintained for an extended period of time, risk regaining the weight if they revert back to a high carb eating plan. In fact, online forums are packed with folks who are desperate to recapture the low carb magic they lost hold of when they abandoned their low carb lifestyle.

If you short pause is leading to emotional turmoil and thoughts of surrender, you need a change of perspective more than a change of diet. Remember that this is a lifestyle, not a quick fix. That doesn’t mean you can never enjoy your old favorites again. It just means that you need a better understanding of the effects of low carb eating and the occasional indulgence.

SAFE CHANGES

There are some safe changes you can attempt that may get the scale moving in the right direction more quickly. These modifications pose little or no risk to your food plan.

1. Increase Water Consumption ~ This is commonly a problem for Low Carb Losers. We are often able to lose weight in the beginning without strict adherence to the water rule. However, many of us eventually hit a wall where water is essential to weight loss. If you can’t stand to drink water, try chewing ice instead. Chewing ice can be addictive and you’d be amazed how much ice you can eat happily over the course of a day.

2. Eliminate Franken-foods ~ Some low carb foods are just not natural. Worse, they often contain nitrates or other ingredients that are both unhealthy and unsound for weight loss. If you’re a fan of sausages, hot dogs, or other pre-cooked low carb foods, try reverting back to whole foods like home cooked chicken, turkey, and vegetables.

3. Support Immersion ~ This is EXACTLY the time when you need your support system most. Get online and chat with other Low Carb Losers. Talk to your mentor. Surround yourself with encouragement from people who KNOW that short stalls come and go. If you haven’t yet set up your own Low Cab Support System, learn how by reading visiting the LOW CARB SUPPORT section linked in the navigation bar at the top of this page.

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