Can't shift the weight?
Have you ever tried a weight loss program that worked for a friend but not for you? Or are you eating really well and exercising and the weight is still not shifting? In cases like these it probably means that the weight loss diet you are using isn't right for your metabolism but does suit you friend, or may the exercise program you are using is not at the correct intensity for you. Let's look at two simple examples, perhaps you are on a low fat diet, and it isn't working, this would indicate to me that potentially you would function better on a diet that is higher in protein and fats than carbohydrate. Or it might be the other way around for you and you might lose weight on a more vegetarian / carbohydrate diet. What about exercise? If you are working really intensely, but at the same time you have a lot of stress in your life your body may take the intense exercise as more stress and actually hold on to the weight in a protective manner, for future fuel! For individualised diets I use Body Biotyping and Metabolic Typing as a way of indicating what food plans will be best suited to each patient.
Other underlying problems of weight gain include hormone imbalances. Women tend to suffer more with these, and problems in their monthly cycle can give clues here. The weight gain when the female hormones are out of balances tends to be all over but especially on the buttocks and breasts. However, the adrenal gland hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, can have a major effect on men and women and usually the weight gain area that indicates this is around the tummy. The thyroid is another hormone producing gland that weight gain can be blamed on. Symptoms related to a sluggish thyroid include constipation, cold hands and feet, tiredness, lack of energy, thinning hair and weight gain on the thighs to name a few. A simple test to check your thyroid is to take your temperature first thing in the morning, before you have even got out of bed for a 5 consecutive days. If your temperature is consistently under 36.6 OC then you may be low thyroid and this might be playing a part in your weight gain, for further investigation you would have to consult your GP for a blood or saliva test.
Food allergies and digestive issues can also make the pounds go on. Many patients comment that after removing wheat from their diet they lose a lot of "water retention", and very rapidly, I would say this is more down to an intolerance to the wheat rather than truly losing fat cells. Food allergies go hand in hand with digestion problems, like heart burn, irritable bowel or constipation etc which can play a role in the cause of the intolerance.
So for a complete approach to weight loss, don't just look at the latest diet the celebrities are using, have a look at your whole health and lifestyle, do you have digestive problems, food intolerances, stress or emotional issues or hormone imbalances that you know of and try tackling each of these in addition to improving your diet.
Other underlying problems of weight gain include hormone imbalances. Women tend to suffer more with these, and problems in their monthly cycle can give clues here. The weight gain when the female hormones are out of balances tends to be all over but especially on the buttocks and breasts. However, the adrenal gland hormones, cortisol and adrenaline, can have a major effect on men and women and usually the weight gain area that indicates this is around the tummy. The thyroid is another hormone producing gland that weight gain can be blamed on. Symptoms related to a sluggish thyroid include constipation, cold hands and feet, tiredness, lack of energy, thinning hair and weight gain on the thighs to name a few. A simple test to check your thyroid is to take your temperature first thing in the morning, before you have even got out of bed for a 5 consecutive days. If your temperature is consistently under 36.6 OC then you may be low thyroid and this might be playing a part in your weight gain, for further investigation you would have to consult your GP for a blood or saliva test.
Food allergies and digestive issues can also make the pounds go on. Many patients comment that after removing wheat from their diet they lose a lot of "water retention", and very rapidly, I would say this is more down to an intolerance to the wheat rather than truly losing fat cells. Food allergies go hand in hand with digestion problems, like heart burn, irritable bowel or constipation etc which can play a role in the cause of the intolerance.
So for a complete approach to weight loss, don't just look at the latest diet the celebrities are using, have a look at your whole health and lifestyle, do you have digestive problems, food intolerances, stress or emotional issues or hormone imbalances that you know of and try tackling each of these in addition to improving your diet.