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It’s that time of the
year again – the New Year’s resolution.
This is the year you vow to get healthier, to lose those
extra pounds, and to keep them off. The health clubs are jammed with others making the same
resolution. There are
lines of people waiting to use the stepping machines and the
exercise bikes. But,
within a few short weeks the crowds disappear and there are no more
lines.
Why does this happen?
You’ve cut back on the booze, are eating salads for lunch,
skipping a meal here and there, and are working out hard at the gym.
Yet the pounds are not flying off.
This is not uncommon as over 95% of all diets end in
disappointment. However,
don’t be discouraged. If
you read on you’ll learn how you can get lasting results.
We are told the formula
is simple – less food plus more exercise equals less weight.
Truth be told, the
formula is much more complex. You
may be what is termed by leading nutritionists as “weight loss
resistant.” What does
this mean? Put simply
it means having difficulty or an inability to lose weight. There
are several factors that contribute to this and here’s how:
- Chronic stress – raises cortisol which breaks down muscle,
puts sugar in the blood stream, and promotes fat storage which
increases the likelihood of insulin resistance; and lowers DHEA
(an anti-aging, libido stimulating, and fat burning hormone).
- Insulin resistance – blocks the burning of fat, causes fat
storage around the abdomen, and causes inflammation.
- Hormone imbalances – imbalances of estrogen and progesterone
in women promote fat storing; low DHEA and testosterone in men
and women reduce the ability to burn fat and build muscle; high
estrogen in men promotes fat storage; and high progesterone in
women promotes insulin resistance.
- Hypothyroidism – muscle building is slowed, metabolism is
slowed, sex hormones are not produced sufficiently and are out
of balance, and general low energy and fatigue.
- Brain chemical imbalance - neurotransmitter imbalances cause
cravings and inappropriate eating behaviors.
- Chronic sleep deprivation – increases cortisol, creates sugar
cravings, lowers thyroid function, lowers energy, and increases
appetite.
- Low Fat Free Mass – a low muscle mass to fat mass ratio keeps
metabolism slow (this is often a result from chronic dieting).
- Food allergies – can cause cellular fluid retention or
“false fat” and create cravings for these foods.
- Gut
dysbiosis and yeast overgrowth – healthy bacteria is an
important part of digestion as they consume calories, otherwise
an increase of fat storage.
- Toxic burden – disrupts pH balance in gut, blood, and tissues;
slows metabolic rate; disrupts absorption of minerals; disrupts
hormone receptor sites creating imbalances; and lowers thyroid
function (hypothyroidism).
Most programs just
measure pounds lost and are successful in that realm.
However, that is only part of the picture.
Soon after the program is completed the weight begins to come
back on. The reason – the underlying behaviors and lifestyle have
not changed. With the
metabolism slowed from dieting and a return to prior habits, the
pounds quickly come back on.
The best program for long
term health and vitality will be one that addresses your individual
needs. Working with a
qualified nutrition consultant you can determine your areas of
weight loss resistance and develop a plan to address them.
As these areas are brought back into balance your metabolism
will improve, enabling you to lose weight in a healthy manner.
It may take some time to get the body back on track.
The body has built-in healing mechanisms and with proper
nutrition and healthy behaviors the body will heal.
As the body heals you will lose fat and weight.
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