If you’ve ever tried to lose weight before, you are probably familiar with the dreaded plateau. One day, you’re shedding weight, you’re feeling great, and you’re on top of the world. And then… it stops. You’re doing your best to keep up the healthy habits, but the numbers on the scale refuse to budge.

This is an unfortunate reality for a lot of people. If you find your weight loss is on a plateau, don’t panic! You’ll get through it. In the meantime, focus on your measurements rather than your weight, and don’t let the plateau defeat you.

Here are a few things that can help you break through the plateau!

Exercise

Try adding some exercise to your routine. Cardio and strength-training can help you shed fat and maintain your lean muscle. If you’re already exercising, shake things up a little bit! If you’re a runner, try biking; if tennis is your game, give racquetball a shot. A change in your routine can help your body shift from a plateau back to weight loss. Just be careful not to push yourself too hard too soon!

Sleep

According to this study, there is a strong correlation between lack of sleep and weight gain. Your body just can’t work as well when you aren’t getting enough high-quality sleep every night. To keep your body in tip-top shape, try to get at least six to eight hours of sleep every night. And if you find yourself struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep, Yoli’s Dream is a helpful sleep aid.

Stay Hydrated

It’s easy to forget to get enough to drink throughout the day, but dehydration can seriously impact your weight loss! Proper hydration can improve your metabolism and reduce hunger, so be sure to drink.

To ensure that you’re drinking enough water, you should be drinking at least half of your body weight in ounces each day. So if you weigh 150 pounds, you should drink at least 75 ounces of water each day. Don’t worry—your daily serving of Passion counts toward that amount!

Don’t Skip Meal Day

When you’ve hit a plateau, it can be tempting to stick with Protein-Only days, but the Meal Day is an important part of the Better Body System. Meal Day helps satisfy your hunger and protects your metabolism so you can continue your journey to optimal health. Be sure you’re eating complex carbohydrates and avoiding simple sugars, and don’t forget to keep your protein sources lean.

Experiencing a weight-loss plateau can make you feel like your hard work isn’t paying off, but don’t worry! Your health is still improving even if the numbers on the scale are holding steady. Focus on how good you feel and pay close attention to your measurements rather than your weight, and you’ll soon find yourself breaking through the plateau.