For some people exercising, eating healthy and cutting calories have all been tried over and over but the scale still won’t budge! The frustration is relentless and many undoubtedly just want to give up. There may be hidden causes to this weight loss resistance, which urges your body to hang on to extra weight — no matter what diet or exercise measures you take!
After the age of 35, our systems are very vulnerable to any disruption in the intricate balancing networks in our body. For the few women who do manage to lose weight, often gain it back quickly — unless they address the underlying root cause.
The most common systemic imbalances that lead to weight loss resistance in women and men are connected to the extremely delicate symphony of hormones. The key players are the thyroid and adrenal hormones as well as estrogen and progesterone, leptin and ghrelin. Once the body regains balance, the weight comes off easily. One other factor to weight loss resistance is hidden food allergies or sensitivities.
Most Common Causes of Weight Loss Resistance
Thyroid imbalance
When thyroid hormones are low, the body’s metabolic rate is dramatically slowed down. Energy can become diminished; depression can take over and even the digestive system slows resulting in constipation. Unwanted weight gain and fighting for every pound are just a few of the hallmark symptoms of low thyroid function.
Adrenal imbalance
During times of stress, the adrenal glands release cortisol and adrenaline to mobilize quick energy for a “fight or flight” situation. Yet most modern stress doesn’t call for extra calories for us to physically fight or flee, so these get stored as fat. Long-term stress causes your body to hang on to every calorie it can in preparation for crisis. There are more cortisol or stress hormone receptors in our stomach than any other area. This is the reason that the “spare tire” forms around the abdomen during times of chronic stress.
Hormonal imbalance
As early as 35-years-old, our estrogen and progesterone levels can begin to fluctuate. And to preserve fertility for as long as possible, the body hangs on to extra fat — especially in the belly because this fat can make estrogen. It is estimated that at least 50% of the population is in a state of “estrogen dominance” which simply means that progesterone levels are in a lower state than estrogen. This imbalance creates the perfect environment for weight gain.
Sleep imbalance
A lack of sleep affects our ability to lose weight due to 2 hormones called Leptin and Ghrelin. These two hormones that are key in this process become out of balance when good quality sleep does not occur on a regular basis. Ghrelin is the ‘go’ hormone that tells you when to eat and is responsible for the hunger feelings. When you are sleep-deprived, ghrelin is produced in larger quantities causing an increase in appetite and cravings. Leptin on the other hand is the hormone that tells you to stop eating, and when you are sleep deprived less leptin is produced. A leptin deficiency prevents the brain from telling the stomach that you are full!
Food allergies or sensitivities. Digestive imbalances, detoxification issues, and inflammation, which can lead to weight loss resistance can all be the result of food allergies or sensitivities. These sensitivities or allergic responses is yet another form of stress which increases cortisol causing weight gain as a protective measure. In addition, an overload of toxins can mimic our hormones and disrupt fat deposition, as well as alter the way we metabolize sugar. Inflammation can cause weight gain through the loss of insulin control and quick conversion of carbohydrates to belly fat. What does all this mean? You could be eating all the “right” foods that are actually “wrong” for you! Often people are allergic or sensitive to foods that are seemingly healthy.
So, despite all the best efforts sometimes there is just more to the story than we realize. If you have been frustrated by doing all the right “stuff” but simply not getting the desired results, then discovering the root cause and restoring balance can help to change your outcome.
Top Tests to Uncover Your Hidden Causes of Weight Loss Resistance
Food Allergy Panel– this simply blood test helps to reveal 190 hidden food allergies and sensitivities as well as any signs of Candida- a common yeast overgrowth that can cause weight gain.
Complete Female Hormone Panel– this test combines blood and saliva to reveal imbalances in all of the hormones including progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, DHEA and all 4 thyroid hormones (TSH, free T4, free T3 and TPO).
Complete Male Hormone Panel– this test combines blood and saliva to reveal imbalances in all of the hormones including estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, DHEA, SHBG, PSA and all 4 thyroid hormones (TSH, free T4, free T3 and TPO).
Thyroid Panel – Imbalances of the thyroid are connected into many female and male hormone issues. A dysfunctional thyroid can affect almost every aspect of health. It is one of the most under-diagnosed hormonal imbalances together with estrogen dominance and metabolic syndrome. A complete thyroid profile includes free T4, free T3, TSH, and TPO and can indicate the presence of an imbalance in thyroid function.
Adrenal Panel – The main function of the adrenal glands is to provide stress coping and survival responses. Higher and more prolonged levels of circulating cortisol (like those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to have negative effects including weight gain. The Adrenal Stress Index is a saliva panel tests several markers for adrenal health.
Insulin Resistance Testing – Insulin resistance is a condition in which normal amounts of insulin are inadequate to produce a normal insulin response from fat, muscle and liver cells. This can be a major underlying cause to unwanted weight gain. This occurs because the process by which glucose passing through the cell wall with the help of insulin to be converted into energy becomes impaired. As a result of this impairment glucose remains in the blood stream causing an increase in blood sugar which is then sent to the liver for once there, the sugar is converted into fat and carried via the blood stream throughout the body. This process can lead to weight gain and obesity.
All these tests are available at Essential Health Natural Wellness Clinic. Book an appointment to uncover your roadblocks to weight loss.