You are what you eat…sometimes
As a health coach, weight is probably the number one concern of my patients. Extra weight is associated with health problems such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease. And, let’s face it, most people feel better without the extra pounds.
When I hear that someone is struggling with weight, a lot of things come to mind. It is not as simple as “you are what you eat.” For some people, there are extenuating circumstances that make weight loss difficult if not impossible. They may eat fewer calories than they should, or exercise frequently, yet they still cannot get the scale to budge.
What are some reasons that you may be carrying extra weight?
Food allergies/intolerances. I have seen patients drop 10-20 pounds from eliminating gluten alone, if that is a problem for them. (If you tolerate gluten well, this won’t work for you!) Certain foods can trigger inflammation in the body, which makes it very difficult to lose weight. Determining what those foods are can make a big difference in how you look and feel. The IFM Elimination Diet, which can be done for either 10 days or four weeks, is a great way to determine what your intolerances are.
Insulin resistance. My husband is a case study in this. His labs came back with high markers for insulin resistance, so he began a diet of high protein and little to no sugar. He dropped 60 pounds while actually eating MORE. His body is wired to hang on to sugar and carbs, and eating them makes him crave more. A neighbor of mine also determined insulin spikes to be a problem, and reduced carbs and sugar. She is now the slimmest I have ever seen her and she feels great. Weight around the belly is an indicator of insulin resistance, but it is always good to have lab work done to know for sure. The IFM Cardiometabolic Food Plan, a modified-Mediterranean plan, is my favorite diet for insulin resistance.
Toxins. I never knew this before taking my coaching classes, but your body builds and stores fat to disperse toxins throughout your body. It makes sense. Think about your exposure to mold, chemicals, food additives, plastics, fumes, smoke, etc. If you are genetically predisposed to having difficulty clearing toxins, they can build up in your body and cause fat to build up and hang around. (PureGenomics can determine if you have these genes.) The IFM Detox Diet offers a plan to help detox and improve overall health.
Thyroid. An underactive thyroid is found in 10% of women, and 10 million Americans. It is often undiagnosed and can cause your body to retain unwanted weight. Your general practitioner can address this issue, although many people prefer to see functional medicine doctors for their thyroid.
Hormones. Too much or too little estrogen can affect weight in women. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy can also affect weight. This can be a difficult factor to manage, and can be exacerbated by poor estrogen metabolism, which is also very common for women. It is not generally known, but gut health has a profound effect on hormones and hormone metabolism. (Beta Glucuronidase causes hormones to recirculate through the body.) Cleaning up the gut is one option, along with herbal support for hormones.
Medications. There are many medications associated with gaining and holding weight, including antidepressants, diabetes medicines, hormones, blood pressure medicines and steroids. This can be extremely frustrating, to fix one problem and gain another. You and your doctor should discuss the benefits and risks of your medications.
If you are struggling with weight loss, make an appointment with me to review what may be creating unnecessary hurdles.
