Wednesday, 6 August 2014

Weight Loss Resistance: Reasons You're Not Losing Weight


Are you frustrated and struggling to lose weight and no matter what you do nothing is working? Is the weight loss formula that always worked for you in the past no longer working or giving you the results you’d like?
A common complaint I hear is, “I’m eating healthy, exercising every day, doing everything right, and I just can’t seem to lose weight.”
A few subtle changes and tweaks may be all you need to breakthrough your plateau. Take an hard and honest look at the following list for possible reasons your weight loss has stalled.
♦ Breakfast consists of a syrupy, artificially-sweetened latte and bagel or you skip breakfast altogether. Or, maybe you’re eating the same old breakfast of egg whites and oatmeal every single day.
♦ Your diet is deficient in protein and carb heavy. Aim for one gram of protein per pound of bodyweight in divided doses throughout the day. High-protein foods promote greater thermogenesis (fat burning) and satiety than high-carbohydrate and low-fat foods. Diets with plenty of both protein and fiber will decrease the hormone ghrelin, reduce hunger and craving and support fat loss compared to a carb heavy diet.
♦ You fail to prioritize the importance of organic grass-fed and free-range over conventionally-raised meats. The old saying “you are what you eat” applies here. When you eat animal protein that is not organic, your body gets a good dose of synthetic hormones, antibiotics, grains, genetically engineered corn and soy and a load of other chemicals. Eating conventionally-raised, non-organic animal protein disrupts hormones, causes digestive dysfunction, estrogen dominance, increases inflammation, and as a result, your waist line and body fat increase.
♦  Food is information! Particular foods signal your body whether to store or burn fat. The right foods also signal your brain you’re full.
♦ Are you tipping the tea cup too often? How much alcohol are you consuming each week? Each night? Drinking as little as one ounce of vodka will slow your metabolism by as much as 73 percent. Realize that if you drink a couple of glasses of wine every night, it’s going to be very difficult to lose body fat and belly fat.
♦  You’re not practicing mindfulness when you eat and before you know it you’ve consumed enough food to feed a family of four. Sit down during meal time, turn off your cell phone, TV and computer. Chew thoroughly. Set your utensil down between bites.
♦ You’re a grazer: someone who eats every 2-3 hours. Every time you snack, insulin rises and sends a message to store fat. Stick to 3 meals daily and if you are truly hungry enjoy a healthy snack guilt free.
♦ You’re overly stressed and your idea of stress management is consuming a couple of cocktails every night or numbing your emotions by eating an entire package of gluten-free cookies. Find a healthy way to release stress and calm your nervous system: yin or restorative yoga; walking your dog; reading; listening to relaxing music in an Epsom salt bath……..
♦ You fail to value the importance of 7-9 hours of restful sleep every night.
♦ Are you exercising TOO much? Are you over-doing cardio? Is long-slow distance (LSD) cardio/aerobic-style exercise your only form of exercise?
♦ Do you spend your time at the gym on the eliptical machine, treadmill or stairclimber expecting a different result in lieu of hitting the weights or sprinting? Take your workout outdoors and onto the track or find a hill or some stairs and sprint! Don’t be afraid of lifting heavy weights (as long as you’re form is pristine). Follow the exercise programs found in Fat Loss Revolution.
♦ Weight training, if done at all, consists of lifting nothing heavier than 12-15 lb. dumbbells. Yes, there’s a time and place for lighter weights, but as you progress lifting heavy enough weights to stimulate a hormonal response without compromising form and technique is the formula for fat loss. Periodize your workout programs by manipulating reps and sets.
♦ Underestimating the importance of rest days and balancing more intense workouts with calming, parasympathetic yin-style activities. Schedule yoga, Qi gong, Tai chi into your week.
♦ You’re suffering from hormonal imbalances caused by any number of things: faulty digestion, insulin resistance, estrogen dominance, birth control pills, toxic overload, a congested liver, excessive stress, thyroid dysfunction, over-exercising, unstable blood sugar, sleep deprivation, chronic inflammation or nutrient deficiencies – all which affect your metabolism and can hinder fat loss. It’s vital to prioritize the balance these two hormones first: #1, insulin (what you choose to eat) and #2, cortisol (how you manage stress; healthy adrenals) for a successful Fat Loss Revolution.
♦ You sit all day long and seldom get up and move. Take periodic breaks from sitting.
♦ Variables you’re not aware of that can hinder fat loss: your body is inflamed, bloated and puffy from hidden food sensitivities, you’re ingesting an excessive amount of carbs, possible underlying virus, bacteria infection, Candida or parasites, toxic overload or oxidativestress.
♦ You’re undernourished and overfed, a very common and overlooked issue that leads to nutrient deficiencies or excesses. Possibilities are malabsorption issues, gut dysfunction, infections, dehydration or the wrong food choice.
♦ Are you focused on counting every calorie? All calories are not created equal. A chicken breast at 300 calories vs bagel at 300 calories have a completely different effect hormonally, metabolically and on your level of satiety. It’s the hormonal response that matters.
♦ Are you weighing yourself every day? Remember, there’s a difference between weight loss and fat loss. Ditch the scale and instead focus on how your clothes fit, take photos every two weeks or hire a qualified coach to measure your body composition.
♦ Your system is on toxic overload from chemical exposure, heavy metal body burdens, Rx or OTC drugs, estrogen dominance, Candida, obesogens or any number of things. For healing to occur, it’s crucial to identify the root cause.
♦ Your digestion is in chaos. An optimal functioning digestive system is key for a healthy body. Many fail to recognize the importance of a healthy functioning gut, adequate stomach acid and balanced gut flora as factors for overall health and fat loss.
♦ Your metabolism is damaged from years of dieting, fasting, sleep deprivation, counting every calorie, excessive exercise, prolonged stress, excluding fat in your diet…….
♦ Are you changing too many things at once? Commit to one or two small changes per week. Over time those small changes create profound transformation.
♦ You're not seeing results after a week or two and jump to the next best (worst) thing. Any result oriented program that is not a quick fix requires a mindset of fat loss as a lifestyle vs one of instant gratification. It’s an ongoing process.
These common fat loss mistakes definitely encourage thinking outside of the conventional weight loss box. The good news? Solutions that promise permanent fat loss in a healthy manner and as a healthy lifestyle, we can help you in Life Mentoring Program.
Determine what works for you and leave the rest to us.
Remember, fat loss is a journey…..a process and a lifestyle. 
Having a solid plan to follow encourages a positive and successful outcome.
Be patient. Be consistent.

CONTACT US for a first free interview