By Dr. Mary James, ND
What’s preventing YOUR weight loss?
1. YOU may be ready to lose weight, but is your BODY? Women gain weight more easily when our system is out of balance — especially weight gain during perimenopause and menopause when the testosterone/estrogen ratio increases. Although testosterone prevents fat gain in men, it can have the opposite effect in women. Lower estrogen in menopause also impairs insulin sensitivity, giving us the likelihood of belly fat. What’s more, low thyroid promotes stubborn weight gain, while high cortisol levels due to adrenal imbalances increase cravings for unhealthy foods and cause fat to deposit at your middle. PMS can also cause carbohydrate cravings in many women. All of these hormonal effects or a combination of them may keep you from losing weight — despite your efforts to diet and exercise. Try taking our weight loss profile to see if your body needs to recover from an imbalance for you to lose weight.
2. Are you eating less but not losing weight?
Does “eat less and move more” sound familiar? While the equation may be accurate, it’s an oversimplification. The amount of energy we burn depends on our metabolic rate, which varies widely and is influenced by several factors, including thyroid function, diet and physical activity.
Unfortunately for many dieters, eating less can actually lead to weight gain! When you severely cut calories, your body doesn’t know if you’re starving or on a crash diet. It simply senses danger and lowers your basal metabolic rate (BMR) to protect against weight loss — one reason you often gain weight upon return to your ‘normal’ diet.
Just as you can slow down your metabolism, you can also boost it. Avoiding crash dieting, eat a diet high in fiber but low in refined carbohydrates and saturated fats, and use herbs to support a healthy metabolism and prevent fat storage can all make a big difference.
3. Are you eating food that makes you hungry?
Even if you watch what you eat, you may be surprised at how certain types of foods can increase cravings, encourage fat gain or actually keep you from feeling full even when you’ve eaten a good meal. Take a closer look at what’s in your food — and what it could be doing to your weight.
| What’s in your food | What it’s doing to your weight |
|---|---|
| ‘Satiety’ peptides are released during eating, which suppress appetite. | Whether we’re full or want to keep eating can be controlled by which foods we select. Protein has the strongest impact on satiety; fat has the least. |
| Dietary fiber | More fiber generally means less weight gain, because of its effects on fullness and satiety. |
| Glycemic index (GI) reflects to what degree a food raises our blood sugar. | High-GI foods (like sweets and refined carbs) can make appetite soar by inducing spikes in blood sugar and insulin, and promoting insulin resistance, which encourages fat gain. |
| High-fructose corn syrup | Unlike glucose, fructose cannot induce satiety. The result? We keep eating. |
| Artificial sweeteners | They may have zero calories, but are linked to weight gain. |
| High-fat, high-sugar foods release chemicals that make us crave more. | Our body’s natural brakes on appetite can also be drowned out with exposure to these foods, especially for women. |
The truth about losing weight and keeping it off
The biggest truth when it comes to losing weight is that we are all unique. Almost every time I talk with a woman who is frustrated about trying to lose weight again and again, I get frustrated too! Instead of real answers, all the books, magazines and TV doctors continue their focus on the latest celebrity diet or “good vs. bad” food without really taking into account how a woman’s body works. Losing weight and keeping it off really is possible once you take care of any hidden issues such as your hormonal imbalance or slow metabolism. You may even be experiencing a combination of imbalances. The best way to reveal an imbalance you didn’t know you had is to take our quick Weight Loss Profile. Now is the time to let your judgments go about yourself. With the right information, you can reach your weight loss goals to look and feel great. References
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Last Updated: June 9, 2021
