Weight loss promises are easy. Getting weight off in the short term with ‘specific’ magic diets and pills works. This is the easy part. Keeping it off long term is more effort and needs to be tackled scientifically.
Weight control has been one of the main money spinners for nearly 60 years. A captive market. Since the inception of radical changes in farming, food production and processed and convenience foods has seen our body shapes expanding. Literally the battle of the bulge!!
Changes to our foods, environments and lifestyles has been enormous. Our bodies cannot handle. We have not been designed to carry excess fat and be overweight. More details given below.
Being our ideal weight for our age, body size, frame size, sex and gender is the best for our health and well-being. It is what we strive for. Besides being uncomfy excess weight causes
many health problems.
This is avoidable. Many diseases and health issues are linked to excess weight. If weight an issue, loosing just 10% of your body mass can assist in avoiding some of these serious life threatening diseases.
The distribution of weight gain has an implication on our health
Larger waists can mean higher risk of heart disease. It can also mean higher risk of type 2 Diabetes. If you are apple-shaped but not overweight – meaning your body mass index (BMI) is under 25 – you are still at higher risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes than people with smaller waists. People with metabolic syndrome often have larger waists and carry a lot of weight around their abdomens.
Apple-shaped bodies fat distribution is often caused by excessively high cortisol levels. – which increases your glucose (blood sugar) levels resulting in an increase in insulin.
Carrying more weight around hips and having a narrower waist does not increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and other complications of metabolic syndrome. There is more fat stored in the hips, buttocks and thighs than in the midsection.
Our bodies are not designed to be overweight; It strains our whole system including our brains. Our power house – our brain which controls who we are and all functions – is negatively affected by our poor food choices and excess weight. Yes, research is now showing that Alzheimer’s is more prevalent in overweight and obese people!
Being goal focuses is important. Initial starting point is checking out an estimation of what your weight should be. Have a quick check on one or more of the following assessment tools.
⦁ Waist measurements
⦁ BMI: Body mass index.
⦁ Fat Percentage
⦁ Waist to hip ratio (WHR)
⦁ Height Weight charts (internet)
Choose the simplest method of assessment that will work for you. And track your progress. Consistent tracking over time is important. Creeping weight gain is a common problem. Being goal focused is important
To learn more about your modality on the button below.
Global factors there are not the only reasons for weight gain. Everyone has different personal reasons that cause us to gain. Take a peak and see if any relate to you.
Nope that is not the problem. Yes we all have some metabolic differences which need to be addressed. Only about 0.5% of the population ‘actually’ has a genetic reason for gaining excess weight. Without a doubt though there are some people who gain weight more easily than others.
Hormones out of equilibrium cause havoc with our weight. Areas to be considered are: puberty; stress, pregnancy, menopause, andropause (male menopause!), thyroid imbalance; sleep impairment (melatonin decline etc)
Stable blood sugar is a basic element in keeping energy stable, weight under control and assisting weight loss.
Excessive fatigue, exhaustion and lack of daily energy levels, cause us to grab the wrong foods and stimulants and overeat,– just to get thru the day. This can be sorted.
Keeping ourselves moving is how we have been designed. Exercise can also increase our endorphins – feeling good hormones, increase our muscle mass which helps burn kJ and increase the burning of kJ on a daily basis. All combined together helps us for a stable weight and general well being. Choose your exercise of choice: running, cycling, weight training, Pilates, yoga, walking, swimming, paddling etc
Work changes, marital stressors (divorce etc); extended family issues, financial; etc. These major stress factors can swing our bodies out of alignment.
Being low in certain vitamins, minerals, amino acids and healthy gut bacteria will make addressing a slimming programme much more difficult and keeping weight off more difficult.
We are not puppets. We have control. We can take stock of the situation, be disciplined and seek out healthy answers and alternatives to keep our bodies at our ideal weight.
⦁ Stop. Think. Take ownership. It is your body, your health, your Life..
⦁ Losing weight once and for all is achievable.
Search for your own particular trigger factors which caused weight to become unbalanced in the first place. Tackling these issues which initially caused the weight gain is sensible and scientific.
These ‘trigger points’ which are the root cause of this issue which need to be tackled and sorted. This will give sustained weight loss. The cyclical weight gain cycle will be prevented.
This is the way to go!!
