WEIGHT LOSS OBSTACLES

OBSTACLES TO SUCCESSFUL WEIGHT LOSS INCLUDE:

• Weight loss plateau
• Depression and stress
• Hypoglycaemia and trigger foods
• Lack of exercise
• Alcohol
• Insufficient daily water
• Not taking recommended supplements or prescribed medication
• Lacking motivation and inspiration
  

Weight loss plateau

Weight loss plateaus can affect every sensible dieter and are really not to be feared. The 'weight loss plateau' can be described as a flattening out in the weight loss curve while following a diet or eating plan.  During this flattening of the curve, weight loss ceases for a variable period of time - from two weeks up to six weeks.  This is the dangerous time when many people become frustrated and falsely believe that the eating plan they are following is not working.  You are wrong.  It is working. 

During this plateau phase, the desired changes in your liver and metabolism are still happening, even though you cannot see them.  It takes time to reduce insulin levels and improve insulin resistance and remove the unhealthy fat from the liver. 

During the weight loss plateau, you cannot see your body achieving this metabolic correction and there may be times where weight loss stops, but this is only temporary.  Indeed these are necessary lulls in your rate of weight loss.  Do not become impatient and revert to eating all the high GI carbohydrates and unhealthy fats during this phase.  You may become a yo-yo dieter. 

The desired changes are happening inside your liver and your fat cells, and within a few weeks weight loss will resume at a normal healthy pace.  

Depression and Stress

Depression can lead to problems with body weight, from weight loss to weight gain.  This is because the chemical imbalance existing within the brain of depressed people may affect the appetite control centre in the brain.  Of course just being overweight may make you feel unhappy and lower your self-esteem, which can result in a depressive illness.  Some people need to overeat to fill up a perceived emptiness inside, and food becomes their solace.  Some of these people may become obsessive compulsive eaters.  There are several options to overcoming depression and stress which may be sabotaging your weight loss efforts. 

Hypoglycaemia and trigger foods

Hypoglycaemia or low blood sugar, is a common cause of strong cravings for sweets and high GI carbohydrates.  Therefore it is important to prevent hypoglycaemia, paricularly if you want to lose or control your weight.  To avoid hypoglycaemia, you need to ensure that you are eating first class protein at least three times daily.  For ideas on how to reduce cravings and a diet to help lose weight, see "Can't Lose Weight? Unlock The Secrets That KEEP You Fat" book.

Lack of Exercise

We all know that regular exercise will assist in increasing the metabolic rate and weight loss.  However, some people do not enjoy exercise and prefer to watch someone else do it.  If you are overweight, you may feel uncomfortable wearing swim suits or exercise shorts, or mixing with slim people at the local gym.  One thing I have found easy to do is to put on some music at home and dance around the lounge room.  You can also exercise with a small pair of hand weights while you dance, or follow along with an exercise video, in the privacy of your own home.  For suggestions on exercises to help you get started, see the heading under Fitness and Exercise.

Alcohol

Alcohol affects almost every organ system in the body, directly or indirectly.  The liver (the principle site of alcohol metabolism) is most susceptible.  It takes the body an average of three hours to metabolise one ounce of ethanol.  One standard drink contains 0.5 ounces of pure ethanol.  This creates a lot of work and toxic by-products that the liver must excrete.  If the phase 1 and 2 detox pathways in the liver are saturated and not working efficiently, the toxins will re-circulate and may lead to liver damage.  If you suspect problems such as fatty liver, then you should have a liver function profile and an ultrasound done by your doctor to assess the function and health of your liver.

Insufficient daily water

Water is essential to the body, feeding the cells vital nutrients, flushing wastes and toxins and stimulating cellular metabolism.  Insufficient daily water can have an effect on the body presenting with symptoms including; constipation and other digestive problems, fluid retention, swelling of limbs and endocrine-gland function problems. 

Some people are confused as to how much water human bodies need.  It is important to try to sip throughout the day.  This should add up to approximately 2 liters of water each day.  During times of physical activity or summer conditions, people may find they will need to drink more water to maintain their body temperature.

Aim for filtered water if possible to reduce the effects of harmful added chemicals, depending on where you live, may add up to as many as 50 different chemicals.  There are many sites providing information on the benefits of filtered water. 

Not taking recommended supplements and/or medication  

If you have been prescribed supplements or medication for a medical condition by your healthcare practitioner, and you are not taking them routinely, then chances are they will not work for you.  Aim to take your supplements for at least three months before re-assessing.

You will be supplied with motivation and positive thoughts, frequently asked questions and helpful contacts and resources.

Lacking motivation and inspiration

It is important to remember that the key to losing weight is not diet alone. It is like looking at a jigsaw puzzle and making sure we have all of the pieces.  Remember, if you fall off the wagon, do not freak out and lose your inspiration.  Just get back onto the eating plan; it may take a few weeks before you see the weight coming off.  However, your energy levels should improve within a few days of recommencing your eating plan.

BECOME A MEMBER - to get the support and information you need to find the missing pieces to YOUR puzzle. 

DO NOT HAVE UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS WHEN TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT

Do not expect to lose all your weight within a month, and then to keep it off permanently just by reducing calories.  The problem is that with very low-fat and low-calorie diets, your metabolism slows right down, and when you start to eat "normally" again, the lost weight is regained more rapidly than it was lost.  Over the years I have come to realise that restrictive diets that are very low in fat and calories never work for very long.  It is impossible to make these semi-starvation diets a way of life --they are just too hard and make you feel deprived.  It is not a 'low-food-diet' that you want, it is a 'right-food-diet' - this is an eating plan that you can enjoy and live with.

Tips:  Opt for a gradual steady weight loss every time, rather than a super quick loss of body fat.  And do not miss meals