Break free from your weight loss plateau: Part 2

5. Have a rest: Recovery is an essential part of training. If your body isn't able to properly heal after each workout, you may not see results. This is because during exercise, you stress your system and if you don't allow your body to adequately recuperate between sessions, you can actually lose muscle tissue. This, in turn, will cause your metabolism to slow down. Allowing your muscles to recover, along with following a proper diet, is ultimately what makes you more toned and sculpted. Also, by letting your body recover properly, you can work to maximum capacity in your next workout and so burn more fat. So if you are exercising more than five days a week or for more than two hours a day, it may be time to cut back.

6. Drink up: Drinking plenty of water is essential to weight loss, since burning fat increases the toxins in your system which then need to be flushed out by your liver and kidneys. If there isn't adequate water to do this, your body will burn fat less efficiently as this natural function won't be triggered. If you're eating properly and exercising regularly at a high intensity, increasing your water intake may be just the thing you need to get your weight loss back on track. You should drink up to two litres a day (or more if it's hot), and cut back on coffee, tea or other drinks that may dehydrate you.

Once you have reviewed the tips above and fine-tuned your workout programme, you should start to notice a difference in how you look. Remember, muscle weighs more than fat, so even if the numbers on the scale aren't budging, it doesn't necessarily mean you're not making progress. Fluctuations of a few pounds can also be down to things like your menstrual cycle or water retention. In the long run the most important factor is how you feel - not the number on the scales.