Global Courant
Magazines and well-meaning trainers, doctors, weight loss clinics and weight loss programs give the same impression that losing weight is easy. They give the impression that willpower and diet are all you need to lose weight.
Usually these programs put you on a diet and tell you to exercise. You diet, exercise, maybe go to a gym and exercise for 1 hour or more. But are you getting the results you want? Losing body fat is not that easy! And if you lose on the scale, what do you lose? Is it muscle, water or fat?
There’s no such thing as doing 100 or more sit-ups and losing belly fat. Doing one exercise won’t trim your waistline. When you exercise, are you using the right modality for weight loss and muscle gain? Are you doing too much cardio? Do you train with weights and if you are, do you over-train? Are the weights heavy enough to trigger a metabolic response?
Losing body fat is not easy!
There are 119 million overweight American adults. It is expected that 73% of adults could be overweight or obese by the end of 2008. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of 35 major diseases. The direct and indirect costs of obesity exceed $117 billion annually. This includes medical services and lost productivity.
After 15 years of helping hundreds of women and men lose the extra body fat, I can tell you with certainty that no one can lose 20 lbs in 1 month, or similar claims. (Maybe they can get close to this number in the first month, but most of it is water weight). If you read these ads and watch The Biggest Loser, you’ll see the weight loss on the scale. You are not told the ratio of fat to muscle. This is crucial in any weight loss program along with keeping the fat off.
When you diet and don’t eat the right ratio of nutrients along with the right way to exercise, most of the weight loss on the scale will be muscle weight. When you lose your muscle, your body’s BMR (calories burned at rest) is lowered and your muscles aren’t as efficient. A poor ratio of fat to muscle has a negative impact on your healthy lifestyle. If you lose muscle, you can become a skinny fat person. This is a term that describes someone who looks smaller but has a soft, undefined look. Plus, because you haven’t lost the body fat, your health risk is still elevated.
Composition counts
If your goal is to trim your body and get healthier, the first step is to reliably determine your body composition. In my studio we use the BodyMetrix Ultrasound measurement techniques. This ultrasonic technology for measuring the composition of the human body has proven to be more accurate than the caliper (skin fold) method.
The BodyMetrix measures tissue thickness in millimeters using ultrasound. The information we receive helps us to develop the right program. It also provides lean body mass that allows us to determine the amount of protein our customers should have daily to maintain or build muscle. The fat-to-muscle ratio also gives us an idea of how many calories our customers should eat on training days or their days off.
By remeasuring every 6-8 weeks, we can keep track of the fat-to-muscle ratio. One-for-all weight loss or exercise programs just don’t work. Body composition provides the information needed to develop an appropriate program.
Hormones and Chemicals!
For millions of overweight Americans, there is no one simple solution. In my practice as a fitness professional and after working with hundreds of people who have tried every diet and continued to exercise with poor results, we have found that losing excess body fat requires a multi-factorial approach.
In addition to accurate measurements of body composition, there are many other factors to consider. Hormonal function, toxicity, metabolism and nutrient imbalances must be considered for a complete personalized weight management and fat loss program
Hormones such as cortisol and insulin appear to be the main factors in fat gain and fat loss. If there are excesses, the body will produce more fat. Both hormones are fat-producing hormones. Cortisol is overproduced in the body due to too much stress, if you exercise too much (especially aerobic exercise) and if you don’t get enough sleep. Insulin can be over-secreted if your meals aren’t timed properly or if your protein, carbohydrate, and fat ratios aren’t balanced for your metabolism.
Adrenal fatigue can cause an increase in body fat by not allowing the metabolism to shed excess fat. It is well known and researched that the thyroid is a major contributor to excess body fat, especially in women over the age of 35. Imbalances in the female hormones, male hormones, perimenopause, menopause and birth control can all contribute to increased body fat storage.
Chemical messengers in the brain called neurotransmitters that transmit signals between cells can be affected by hormonal imbalance. Imbalanced neurotransmitters can have a strong impact on weight management, especially in terms of appetite control, mood enhancement, and feelings of contentment. They are also involved in sleep patterns, stress management and mental/emotional balance.
Toxins, diet and other factors
If your body has a heavy metal toxic overload, its ability to get rid of the excess fat is compromised. Toxic metal charges can also increase muscle soreness by increasing excessive inflammation. In turn, inflammation can cause the body to retain excess fat and water. Toxins in our fat cells can also contribute to inflammation and prevent the body from getting rid of excess fat.
Body fat is circulated through the liver. If the liver is toxic, it cannot detoxify efficiently and fat metabolism may be disturbed. Yeast (Candida overgrowth), too little fiber and not enough water are all major barriers to body fat loss and can increase body fat gain.
Food addictions such as: Chocolate, cheese, wheat, gluten and sugar can contribute to fat gain and prevent fat loss.
Imbalances in nutrients – including proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and especially minerals – can be a major contributor to inefficient fat metabolism and a tendency to increase body fat.
Remember that if your muscle mass level is less than optimal, the amount of calories you burn at rest will be much lower. Ultimately, increasing and protecting muscle mass is at the heart of effective long-term fat management programs.
A more balanced approach
There are incredible professionals in the Maumee – Toledo area working with us to address these issues related to weight loss and a healthier body. If you find yourself having problems — especially if you’re over 35 — one of these underlying issues could be hindering your results. Anyone who has maintained a “DIET” is incredibly disciplined.
It’s not your fault! It’s all the misinformation and misleading headlines that sabotage your results. Losing weight is not easy, but with the right information, a more balanced body and hard work, it can be done in the most efficient way with excellent results.
The one size fits all philosophy does not apply
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