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Are you ready to learn the 5 reasons why you’re NOT losing weight? And how to change it? Before beginning see if the following resonates with you.
Are you that person?
The one whose trying to lose weight yet despite everything, nothing seems to be working for you? If you are – I want you to know that you’re not alone.
Now, I know there are people out there who are doing the exact same thing as you but ARE losing weight. And others who literally don’t do anything yet seem to shed the pounds quite easily.
So what gives?
There are many different factors that can contribute to weight gain. And contribute to why you’re not able to lose the weight. Such as consistently overeating processed goods, lack of activity, and/or both!
But did you know that there are at least 5 reasons that can prevent you from LOSING weight as well?
Check them out below.
Table of Contents
The 5 Reasons Why You Are Not Losing Weight & How To Change It!
1) Immunity
Your immunity could be the first reason why you aren’t losing weight. Your immunity is your body’s defense mechanism. It literally helps you fight and prevent illness.
Our bodies work hard on a daily basis to maintain a healthy balance between its own inner mechanisms and the environment in which it lives. Having a strong immunity determines how well you feel as it protects us against unruly harmful disease(s) and its associated problems.
Things like bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins present in the environment. All the way to having allergies to food (such as to gluten or dairy) and/or eating a poor-quality diet consisting of processed food. All of these factors (along with many more) leads to inflammation within the body which then perpetuates the weight gain!
Now there are two types of inflammation: acute and chronic.
Acute inflammation is a necessary defense mechanism because it protects the body from injurious stimuli by removing it, thereby promoting healing.
The problem arises when this acute inflammation becomes uncontrolled from the accumulation of numerous factors affecting the immune system. This then leads to the formation of chronic diseases, such as, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, depression and yes, even OBESITY.
As you can see, a nasty cycle is thus created. Decreased immunity causes inflammation and this inflammation then leads to weight gain.
And unfortunately the cycle continues.
That is until we break the cycle.
How do we break the cycle?
We break it by shifting our eating patterns. Consuming a whole food diet that comprises of more vegetables, fruits, healthy fat and carbs, and less processed sugar and unhealthy fat/carbs. We can also try to remove ourselves from environments that contain elevated toxins and/or mold (as discussed below). And to start taking precautionary methods to avoid coming in contact with germs and chemicals.
There is also well established research that substantiates the fact that even a small reduction in the average BMI (body mass index) within a population has the potential to reduce disease burden of chronic disease.
Meaning if we were to all lose weight (thus lowering the average BMI within a set population), this would reduce the amount of chronic disease as well!
Please be sure to check out the following articles:
How To Boost Your Immune System AND Lose Weight!
6 Simple Lifestyle Changes That Can Reverse Chronic Illness!
2) Nutrition
Did you know that although there is plenty of access to a variety of different food types, there still has been a significant rise of obesity rates worldwide? Just think about that for a moment. Although a majority of people living in the First World and developing nations have access to a variety of nutrient dense food, obesity rates are still rising! So then the question becomes: is it because of the greater access to food in general OR is it because of the increased availability of low cost, high calorie food instead? As proven by research, the latter is the reason.
This “low cost, high calorie” food is generally made of ingredients that have been highly processed and are therefore LOW in nutrients.
So although we are eating much more now than ever before, we are actually considered to be MALNOURISHED!
Why? And how is this even possible?
Because we aren’t receiving the proper nutrients from our diets, from the soil our food is grown from, or from the increased presence of chronic disease.
As luck would have it – we therefore are currently residing in well developed nations where the majority of people are well fed but undernourished at the same time.
Which may be shocking to hear because if you live in any developed nation from around the world. Because you automatically assume that you cannot suffer from malnourishment as it’s only seen in developing or underdeveloped nation.
And we think this way because our food has long been fortified to replace any nutrients that may otherwise be lost. as well for the fact that there is actually an overabundance of food supply available at our very fingertips.
In summary, we as a nation are consuming food that is depleted of crucial nutrients making as more vulnerable to disease and illness.
The goal of our diet should be to eat food that gives us all the proper nutrients and minerals needed to live a healthy lifestyle. This food should comprise of:
a) Unprocessed whole foods, including raw veggies and fruits, nuts & seeds, whole grains, and beans & legumes.
b) Should be mainly plant based but if you choose to consume animal products, they should be grass fed and organic in nature and small wild fish.
c) And to eat a VARIETY of whole foods.
Working with an expert in nutrition can also benefit those who are struggling to change their diet. Or have previously tried and failed to maintain the proper regulated standard.
3) Gut Microbiome
The microbiome present within our gut is the good bacteria that keeps our intestines/stomach/viscera healthy and functioning properly. Without a good gut microbiome, we do not have the ability to digest food properly and/or balance our blood glucose levels. Plus research indicates that a less diverse microbiome can acutally help STORE FAT leading to obesity!
A study was done that actually showed that when bacteria was taken from a slim human and transferred to obese mice, the mice actually became thin and lean without any changes in their diet. And the reverse was also true. If thin mice received bacteria from an overweight human, then the mice would become overweight as well!
So the question then is, how do you know if you have a healthy or unhealthy gut?
The easiest way to find the answer is to ask yourself the following questions:
1. Do I eat a lot of refined sugar and/or carbs?
2. Is my diet low in fiber?
3. Do I eat food that has NOT been fermented?
4. Is my plate filled with less than 50% of veggies or other plant-based foods?
5. Do I cook with vegetable oil? Or eat take-out a lot?
6. And is my diet unsupplemented? (Meaning no probiotic rich foods or OTC (over the counter) supplements).
If you answered YES to 2 or more of the questions above you most likely suffer from an unhealthy gut.
There’s no time like the present to change your habits and get your blood work done by a healthcare professional in order to start making a difference today.
4) Environmental Toxins
Did you know that the things present within our environment that we may be coming into contact with on a regular basis may be hindering our metabolism; slowing it down and causing us to gain weight and become obese instead? Yes that’s right.
Materials and substances such as, plastic, pesticides, phthalates, and metals like lead, mercury, arsenic can disrupt our metabolism and hormones.
Obesogens are chemical disrupters. They form after the exposure to toxins present within the environment thus leading to weight gain and perhaps, obesity.
It may seem impossible to limit your exposure to some toxins, but that doesn’t have to be the case. It’s entirely possible to reduce the amount of exposure to environmental toxins afterall.
Here are some ways you can start today:
1. Remove plastic from your home – Start using glass or stainless steel bottles, store food in glass containers, and only microwave containers made of non-plastic material.
2. Stop using foam – Made from polystyrene, a chemical, that is commonly found in foam cups and take out containers. Stop using them today for you, your family, and the environment.
3. Filter your water – It’s imperative to have a good water filter in your home as you can not only drink from it, but you can wash all your produce and use it for cooking as well. It reduces a number of toxins immediately.
4. Stop buying products with fragrance – Most of the time, the aroma you smell is not actually from the words written across the item; it’s most likely a chemical that produces a similar smell but is more potent than the original.
5. Wash your hands before eating, take shoes off once inside, and use only natural/organic products on your body and in your home.
5) Hormones
Having a proper sleep hygiene and low stress levels positively impact your health on both a short and long term basis. Your hormones play a large role in controlling your circadian rhythm as well as the way in which you perceive, react, AND deal with stress. This all is to say that your hormones are very important and play a vital role in our health, especially in terms of weight management. And could be one reason why you’re not losing weight.
Let’s take a deep dive into some of the main hormones that may be causing you to gain weight:
1. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
2. Cortisol
3. Insulin
4. Sex Hormones
1. TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone)
TSH is released from the pituitary gland and its function is to stimulate the thyroid gland to release T3 and T4 (other hormones) in order to control your body’s metabolism.
So for example, if your TSH is too high (which happens in people who have hypothyroidism) then you may have the following symptoms:
1. Increased weight gain
2. Dry, flaky skin
3. Hair thinning/loss
4. Cold intolerance
5. Constipation
6. Decreased heart rate
7. Fatigue and/or feeling tired most of the time
8. Depression
9. Memory loss
10. Decreased in libido
When TSH levels are imbalanced you can feel run down; both mentally and physically exhausted. The good news is that TSH can be tested with a simple blood test, and if the levels are either inside or outside of the normal range, your doctor can prescribe medication that you can take daily to control your symptoms.
The bad news is that a lot of people not only suffer from thyroid dysfunction (approximately 10% of the population – with women being affected more than men). But many more go un-diagnosed because they have what is termed as Subclinical Thyroid Dysfunction.
This is a condition in which treatment is deemed controversial because in these cases, your TSH is out of the normal range but T3 and T4 are within their normal range. The main issue is that many people may be suffering with a thyroid dysfunction but may not technically qualify as having a thyroid disease despite exhibiting many symptoms.
In these types of situations, it is very important to go and see your healthcare provider and to seek the necessary treatment options available for you.
2. Cortisol
Cortisol is produced from the adrenal glands, which are located above your kidney’s, and is released naturally when you first wake up in the morning, in response to stress, and while exercising.
Did you know that cortisol is commonly referred to as the stress hormone? Meaning if you are experiencing a prolonged period of stress within your life, your cortisol levels are probably higher than normal and a determent to your body’s daily functioning.
Symptoms that you can be on the look out for and warrant an open discussion with your doctor include:
1. Weight gain (mainly around the abdomen)
2. Indigestion and/or ulcers
3. Weakened immune system (i.e. more prone to getting colds, increased susceptibility to cancer, higher change of GI and cardiac abnormalities etc.)
4. Menstrual irregularities
5. Mood disturbances (i.e. depression, anxiety, dementia)
6. Fatigue
7. Pain
There are many more symptoms that can be caused from cortisol imbalances and it’s therefore important to seek professional medical advice if that is the case.
3. Insulin
Insulin is produced and released from the pancreas in response to elevated blood sugar levels. If the blood glucose levels are to rise, say in response to a sugar-laced meal, then a normal functioning pancreas would release insulin in order to control the glucose circulating within the blood. This is what should happen in a normal case.
If however, you have prediabetes or a case of un-diagnosed diabetes, then you will find that your pancreas does not release insulin like it should thereby causing a sustained increase glucose to be present in your bloodstream.
And it is because of this mechanism that you may experience the following symptoms:
1. Increased thirst
2. Increased hunger
3. Increased urination
4. Increased weight loss without trying
5. Increased irritability
6. Crave sugary foods
7. You feel tired all the time
8. Tingling toes or loss of sensation in your feet
It is extremely imperative to talk to your doctor if you begin to exhibit any of these symptoms, even if you only have one of these. It’s always better to be cautious and to come early, then to never come in at all.
4. Sex Hormones
Other hormones that may not be balanced include your sex hormones. Imbalances in estrogen and testosterone can affect both men and women. In women, an estrogen imbalance will present with the following type of symptoms:
1. Menstrual irregularities i.e. heavy bleeding, clot formation
2. Severe PMS
3. Breast tenderness
4. Fluid retention
5. Fibroids
6. Changes in mood
Speak with your healthcare advisor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms and in order to balance either of these hormones
