What happens when you've been on a weight loss and/or exercise plan for some time and the weight is dropping off as planned then you hit a plateau for weeks or maybe months on end? You contiue to do what you've been doing but your body refuses to respond. Most people find it incredibly difficult to stick to a program when their scale weight is no longer dropping but a plateau is actually crucial to your weight loss success. It's a time for your body to adapt to all the changes and become accustomed to a faster metabolism, a different level of health and energy.

It's also a time for your mind to adapt to your new body, your new way of eating, and your new exercise program. It's a mini-break that allows further weight loss but unfortunately it's impossible to predict and difficult to control. Typical responses to this type of indefinite plateau include anger, depression, and frustration, which often lead you back to your old habits that caused you to gain weight in the first place. So what do you do to get off the plateau, get back on track, and prevent weight gain? Just follow the 3 easy steps below to reach your next level of weight loss success.

1. Focus On Where You Are
You're here so you're obviously no stranger to success. You've lost a lot of weight so how do you feel? Are you happy? Are you wearing new clothes? Are people complimenting you? Do you have more energy? What is good about where you are and why? Focusing on your current success will get you where you want to be.

2. Make Changes To Your Plan
Try different fruits and vegetables, add healthy supplements to your diet, try new exercises, change your workout time, get a relaxing massage, buy a new workout outfit, start exercising with a friend. Any change will shock your mind or body and contribute to more loss.

3. Intensify Your Efforts
Once your body has had time to adapt to the initial loss and to any changes you make to your program you need to turn up the intensity in a big way. Try detoxing once a month, try a metabolism boosting diet, or do tougher workouts. Your body will respond much quicker after an initial plateau if you challenge and push beyond what you feel capable (that applies to both diet and exercise) because it's now ready to handle more.

Try: Ultrametabolism : The Simple Plan for Automatic Weight Loss