lose weight

Plateauing, or reaching a point in your weight loss process where you no longer show measurable success on the scale, is completely normal. (Of course, knowing that fact doesn't make it any less aggravating.) Often times, the weight loss of the first several weeks of diet and exercise changes are the result of certain factors that drop off after several weeks of initial lifestyle changes. Here are three common causes of the plateau: Water Weight When you clean up your diet, your organs begin to function better. This translates to decreased bloating, which can be caused by excessive water weight. Decreased Muscle Mass When your caloric intake drastically decreases, you may lose muscle mass along with the fat that you're burning. This will slow your metabolism somewhat, so the pace of your weight loss will naturally stall. Increased Muscle Mass On the other end of the spectrum, frequent exercise may cause increased muscle mass, which is heavy, and t...