Real Reasons Why You Can’t Lose Fat
Can’t seem to lose fat no matter how hard you diet or exercise? A hidden health condition could be the reason why.
You have done everything from Atkins to Ashtanga yet your body appears to have more wobbly bits than ever. Are you doing something wrong or is there something wrong with your body?
We live in the era of “Cola-Colanisation” where people are eating more sugar-laden and fatty foods, while exercising less compared to our grandparents’ days. But these reasons aside, there are certain medical conditions which make weight loss difficult.
The overwhelming cause of obesity is a mix of genetic, environmental (mainly diet), lack of physical activity and social and cultural factors. 95 percent of overweight people fall into this category, the other five per cent falls into the secondary obesity category, and the causes are either medical or psychological in nature. These are factors like underactive thyroid, food sensitivity or allergies, and being estrogen-dominant.
Why you can’t lose fat
There are several conditions which make it hard for a person to lose weight.
Hypnothyroidism causes a slowdown in a person’s metabolic rate. It is caused by an underactive thyroid which does not produce enough thyroxine, a hormone which plays an important role in regulating many of the body’s metabolic functions. Symptoms of a person with an underactive thyroid include feeling cold, slower thought process, general lethargy, dry skin, puffy face and eyes. Treatment is generally in the form of thyroxine tablets which are taken to replace the deficiency. This medication is usually taken throughout one’s life.
Female hormones such as estrogen taken as part of hormone replacement therapy tend to cause water retention and fatigue. Physical activity is reduced and the pounds start to pile on. Infertility and oral contraception, which use hormones, also contribute to weight gain. Stopping these treatments together with subsequent modifications in lifestyle, diet and activity can all help to effect some weight loss.
Estrogen-dominance can occur if you are taking a lot of soy products, like soy milk or tofu. In some cases, people who are not allergic to soy may build up a sensitivity to it later on. If they are estrogen-dominant as well, they may find that their livers cannot process this overload and that is another reason why they can’t lose weight. There are tests for food sensitivities which must be done before appropriate treatment can be dispensed.
Food related weight gain
We often use food to self-soothe. Many people respond to stress or depression by eating excessively. Some of the other triggers that have been identified include anxiety, anger, loneliness, PMS and even boredom. In such cases, seeing a psychologist will help address the cause.
Alternative treatments that can also help someone work through his/her emotional issues include Bush Flower remedies and acupuncture, together with some sort of psychological processing like counseling. The root of these problems often involve self-esteem and sexuality issues.
Weight gain in people who have food sensitivity is generally fluid retention, in addition to the fermentation of foods, especially carbohydrates, in the intestine, which results in gas production and hence, a swollen belly. Food sensitivity does not show always show itself immediately – they usually occur hours later as bloating and swelling in the hands, feet, ankles, abdomen, mouth and around the eyes. Other symptoms can include headaches, indigestion, fatigue, wheezing, sinus congestion or bowel problems. The primary food allergens are coffee, dairy products, wheat, eggs and even corn.
Don’t blame it on your genes
Having a genetic disposition to gain weight easily does not mean that you are doomed to be fat. About 97 per cent of our genetic material lies dormant. Every individual has both good and bad health genes. It is the environmental factors that will turn a certain genre on or off.
Bad health genes are turned on by poor nutrition, environmental toxicity and emotional stress. If you regulate all of these factors, you “turn on” the good health genes.
Relying on quick fixes like weight loss pills is not a failsafe bet. The risks of using weight loss supplements outweigh the benefits. They do not address the root of the problem but merely suppresses it. Be also wary of detoxification programmes that claim to induce weight loss. They may have a negative impact on the body by lowering its metabolic rate in the long run if the programme is not properly supervised.
