7 reasons you "can't lose weight"
“I’ve tried everything but I still can’t lose weight” One of my clients had said this in her first appointment with me. Can you relate?
After being prescribed phentermine (weight loss medication), she decided to explore other options instead as she was concerned about the side effects and wanted to lose weight naturally.
Four weeks after her first appointment, my client contacted me to advise she was 6.5 kilos down, and (more importantly) feeling happier, more energetic and confident.
When my clients tell me they 'can't lose weight' no matter how hard they try, my role is to find out why.
Because weight is just a SYMPTOM – getting the body healthy and identifying the root cause is the secret to releasing excess weight and promoting an efficient metabolism.
So here are 7 factors that can get in the way of weight loss.
1. HORMONAL IMBALANCE
Hormones are the hidden link when it comes to weight and metabolism. High cortisol (stress hormones), PCOS and an imbalance of our thyroid hormones T3 and T4 all can make it difficult to lose weight.
Ensuring adequate, specific nutrients to support thyroid hormone production and insulin sensitivity is critical. Lifestyle factors such as stress management and sleep quality are also a key place to focus.
2. GUT MICROBE IMBALANCES – the ratio of bacteroides and firmicutes bacteria in your gut may be out of balance. When in balance, these bacteria regulate weight control, appetite and metabolism. However, high levels of firmicutes are linked to obesity and insulin resistance.
Clinical testing can help identify any imbalances and inform the right choices of probiotics and prebiotics to restore the gut.
3. MINDLESS EATING – we often underestimate how much we eat. When we eat distracted, we miss the signals from our body that tell us if we’ve had enough. Like that popcorn we finish off during a movie without even realising. Enjoying our food mindfully leads to being more satisfied, better digesting our food and eating less naturally.
4. DEHYDRATION – water is essential for flushing out wastes and toxins, regulating appetite and energy levels. A dehydrated body is more likely to crave sweets due to fatigue, and have a sluggish metabolism.
6. INSULIN RESISTANCE - Insulin maintains normal blood sugar levels and helps regulate how the body uses digested food for energy. With the help of insulin, glucose is absorbed by the cells of your body and used for energy. Insulin resistance means your body doesn’t have the ability to respond to and use the insulin it produces. Insulin resistance is associated with obesity, high blood pressure and higher risk of Type 2 diabetes.
7. OVERLOADED LIVER - your liver is a powerhouse! It filters the bloodstream, removes toxins and cleanses your body day and night. It also is essential in the breakdown of fats (as it produces bile).
High B-Glucuronidase readings in clinical testing indicates the liver has impaired detoxification capacity and is less able to metabolise and release toxins, estrogen and adipose tissue (fat).
Love your liver by giving it a break from alcohol, coffee and sugar – or try a functional medicine approach with liver cleansing herbs and nutrients that help to open the detoxification pathways.
Want support in putting the above into practice? Need clinical testing or a customised diet and supplement protocol?
To learn how I can support you, view my Gut Health Practitioner Services page.
Prefer a more holistic, flexible solution to improve your gut health? My Healthy Gut Reset program is a powerful, proven 8-week program that includes 1:1 consultations and gets results! Designed to improve gut health symptoms, the program has helped clients lose weight, reduce bloating, feel more energised and confident, improve their digestion, acid reflux, sleep, indigestion, and other symptoms. View more information about our Healthy Gut Reset program.
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