Without a doubt, it can sometimes feel like you’re climbing a mountain when trying to lose weight. As a personal trainer, I don’t very often focus on weight loss as such with my clients. The subject is generally handled so poorly in our culture, resulting in poor body image, undue pressure to succeed—and even sometimes shame. I usually try to emphasize that there are so many other things besides a perfect body that contribute to wellness and being happy.
But if weight loss is your goal, and you find it daunting, rest assured that it’s not all in your head. Emotionally, physically, and mentally, it can be a challenge to succeed at losing weight and keeping it off—particularly if you’re going it alone. This is because unless you can afford to have a very knowledgable professional follow you around 24 hours a day, monitoring your every move and choice, your brain and body may be hiding some difficult facts from you. Coming to terms with these facts is a giant step to achieving your weight loss goals.
Click on the link below for an article that speaks clearly about why weight loss is so challenging; the article actually is what inspired this newsletter:
“The Nine Hard Truths About Weight Loss”
Everyday Health (Feb 20 2019) by Beth Orenstein; she’s a freelance writer, avid exerciser, and calorie counter. Her one indulgence is buttermilk pancakes, but only after biking or hiking!
There is now a robust and growing science that debunks the old saying, “You Are What You Eat.” The science actually supports the fact that “You Are What You Digest.” So what does that mean? The “world” of your digestive system, populated by hormones, enzymes, and chemical combinations makes you different from your neighbor or even a relative; it is unique to you. This is your gut microbiome, made of of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live in your digestive tract. Its highest density is found in the colon. The health of your microbiome is essential to your absorbing essential nutrients from food. This is possibly where you’re falling short in your mission to lose weight. The short message here is ..eat fresh food, grown locally, as much as possible, more plants than meat.
So, yes, digestive health is necessary for weight loss. But there are numerous other factors involved that can interfere with attaining your goals. And instead of beating yourself up about slow or no results on the scales, let me suggest that stress and lack of adequate sleep play outsized roles in preventing you from making progress. So what to do? See below.
Denise’s
2 Cents:
Here it is folks, my entire philosophy based on my experience around this topic. Its focus is on two critical goals that can be summed up this way:
1.) Balance in The Big Picture
2.) Consistency in The Little Picture
Big Picture
How’s your life? I have worked with people who continually blame themselves for their inability to lose weight, when in fact Buddha himself couldn’t succeed under the same circumstances. Until your stress levels and sleep levels are in balance, cortisol and hormonal imbalance will prevent the body from functioning efficiently in general. This certainly affects the body in terms of weight loss. Multiple factors apply here, Bad relationships, toxic job conditions, caretaking of loved ones, chronic anxiety/worry/loneliness can all keep the body out of balance. With this in mind, it’s crucial to get support for the aspects of your that drain you of energy and motivation.So Identify who can support you in this, not only emotionally but with actual expertise.
Little Picture
Okay, be honest with yourself. How much do you really move every day? Until you have a consistent activity baseline, and until you understand your minimum food requirements to support that baseline, you will be essentially clueless about how to proceed to make changes. But there’s help out there!Existing on line technology has super sources—e.g. apps for your phone or your wrist—for tracking steps, standing, heart rate, and oxygen levels. I also highly recommend going the DIY tracking route. It’s an amazingly effective way to go. Simply write down everything you eat and drink every day. Don’t judge yourself; just write it accurately. Because if you can stick with keeping a record, I promise you will change. Why, you ask? It’s because awareness is the crucial first step and not to be skipped. But if that process seems too “old school” for you—and you can afford it—hire a knowledgable trainer to guide and motivate you. Another suggestion is to invest in the “Noom” app ($$), which is very effective for those who want to work through the several layers of the process necessary to make real change. Take heart, whatever you choose to do.