Diet plateau busters

When you hit a dreaded weight-loss plateau (which can happen more than once through your weight loss journey), you need tips on how to cope. Because how you deal with it is critical to your success
Stay positive
This is when most people give up, but get through this difficult patch and it's the persistence you learn that will keep you slim once you've reached your goal.
Focus on how well you've done so far and remember that staying the same weight is a success because you're not undoing any of the hard work that's gone before.
Manage your hunger
You'll be able to hang on better through a plateau if you aren't fighting hunger pangs too. Go for foods with plenty of fill per calorie - pulses, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, soups and stews.
Distract yourself
Do something to keep your mind off the fact your weight loss has stopped. This is time to pamper yourself, start a new project or learn a new skill.
Pin up a picture
A "before" diet picture stuck to your fridge can be a potent reminder of how far you've already come and just the impetus you need not to give up.
Get support
If you and a trusted friend are dieting together it's likely you'll both be more successful through tough times. Sharing your ups and downs, and hearing someone else's tips and suggestions, can help strengthen your resolve.
Sleep more
Early nights (and lie-ins when you can get them) are all down time when you won't be thinking about food. People who regularly get less than seven-andthree-quarter hours' sleep a night tend to be slightly fatter, according to American research.
Get out the tape measure
See if you can find motivation another way by measuring your vital statistics. Even though you might not be losing pounds, you might still find you're losing inches round the tummy, hips and thighs.
Exercise differently
Make the exercise you do work harder for you - for example, walk further in the same amount of time, or increase your intensity at the gym. Try a new routine to avoid muscles getting "lazy".
If all else fails
Try increasing your calorie intake by 100-200 calories for a week, while making sure you burn up these extra calories in activity. Then drop back down again - it should usually get your extra weight shifting again.