I'm on the Shapeworks/Herb. diet, why have I stopped losing weight?

Question:

I have been on the diet for 6 weeks, but the past 3 weeks I have lost no weight and no inches. I have 2 shakes-1 in the morning and the other at lunch time- made with yogart and fruit juice, and then my main meal at 5pm (which I have also redused). I then have a Snack bar at 8pm. This is a lot less food than I used to have. Has anybody else failed? Should I give it up? Has this happened to anyone else and they've succedded? Please advise me.

Answers:
As with most fad diets, most (if not all) of the initial weight loss is fluid.

You've not mentioned any exercise. The body is, unfortunately preprogrammed to conserve energy where it's not needed - in the form of fat. Where caloric intake goes down to below a certain level, the body goes into starvation state and your metabolic rate drops down in an effort to save as much energy as it can. The net result is that you'll feel lethargic and any weight loss in the form of fat reduction will be minimal, if at all.

In the worst case, the body will start shedding lean mass (ie: muscle mass) in an effort to reduce it's caloric overhead (ie: the amount of calories the body needs to stay alive). Pound for pound, muscles need a lot of energy to upkeep, so from that point of view it makes sense.

This is where exercise comes in. Create the need for the energy by expending it. Aerobic exercises raise the metabolic rate well beyond the completion of the exercise itself. A higher metabolic rate, you'll be more efficient at using the energy you put into your body and even start to use up fat reserves.

To stave off muscle atrophy, a little strength training is good. We're not talking about Cory Everson or Arnold Schwarzenneger type of strength training here - medium/high repetitions using light resistance is best in most cases (unless you really want to bulk up).

Do it right and you'll have no need for fad diets.

Other Answers:
You need to increase your exercise to burn off more calories. Those diets only give a short term fix you should probably just eat healthier and exercise more.

You've reached what performers, dieters, atheletes.call a platue. Your body is now use to what you are doing and is staying steady, you're not burning more b/c your out-putting as much as your in-putting, the only way to get better is to work harder. Donno how ur gonna do that and I hope it dosen't push you into an eathing disorder but thats it, you have to work out more. Give yourself a few days off (don't go mad, just eat sensibly) and then start again. Your metabolism has had a shock and has gone into shutdown. It needs a jolt to restart the weight loss.

Good luck - it'll be worth it in the end :-)

Maybe you have reached the "plateau".

The point at which your body gets used to what you are doing and compensates.

Change your routine for a week or so and give it a kick start. Change your diet slightly, change your exercise routine.

I'm on the shape works/ herbalife programme as well. Have you got to your weight that you want to be at. If not you might need to add to the programme. Do you do a little exercise if not it can help. Do you take the protein powder it can help as well. Maybe you need to try another programme. as you know they have other programmes. Maybe you need to go to the next one. does your distributor follow you up on your results. Maybe you should ask them. if not you can send me a email on www.fpv@aandr.com.au or marilynkruczynski@yahoo.com.au and see if i can help you get started again. i don't want to tread on anybodies toes though. Growing is a slow process. 'Un-growing' is slow too.
Exercise is obviously beneficial in many ways and helps to use up energy-foods (fats, starch &sugars) and stored fat. However, it takes a 5 mile walk to use up the energy content of an average bar of chocolate (300g).
The most important factor in losing weight is to eat less energy-food than your body needs for your current level of activity.
If you fail to lose weight then you are still eating too much!
Be aware that what you eat is very important; you should be eating a normal, delicious, healthy, balanced diet but with a reduced amount of energy-food.
For reliable medical/scientific advice look here:

http://www.food.gov.uk/healthiereating/healthycatering/healthycatering02
http://www.mypyramid.gov/
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/womenshealth/features/dietmyths.htm
http://www2.netdoctor.co.uk/testyourself/facts/nutritionquiz.asp
http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/healthydiet/healthyweight/bmicalculator/

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I'm on the Shapeworks/Herb. diet, why have I stopped losing weight?

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