A Fresh Look at Losing Weight

You try to lose weight, but you feel hungry.  You succeed in losing 20 pounds, but it comes back after a year.  Why can’t you lose weight and stay thin?

While some researchers contend that each of us has a weight set point to which we return despite our best efforts, new research shows otherwise.

In fact, a growing body of science shows us that you can win the weight game and slow down the aging process at the same time.  You just have to give your body what it needs.

1. HOW DOES YOUR BODY USE UP ITS FAT STORES?

In order to lose weight you need to activate your cells to use of fat for energy instead of sugar.  Did you know when you eat lots of carbohydrates and sugar you turn off the fat burning pathway and you can’t lose body fat?

2. TURN ON YOUR FAT BURNING!

There is a key molecule in your body that makes you use fat for energy and also turns on a huge number of molecules that make us healthy. So what turns this molecule on?

Eat These: Lean protein, omega-9 oils like olive, vegetables, moderate amounts of fruit, and most herbs

Take These: Vitamin D, fish oils, plus green coffee extract and lipoic acid before meals

Do These:  Sleep 8 hours and include high intensity interval training in your exercise program with your doctor’s approval.

3. DON’T TURN OFF FAT BURNING!

Starches, sugar, high carb fruits,  saturated fat or alcohol prevent fat burning.

High inflammation in your body due to eating too much omega-6 oils (like vegetable oil, soybean oil, canola oil or grainfed meats) will cut down on fat burning. Stress and a lack of sleep or exercise also shuts down the fat burning machinery.

These factors increase body fat but can also cause high cholesterol, high blood pressure, inflammation and increased diabetes and heart risk. These different consequences tend to occur together   because they are part of the same pathway in the body. Staying on this pathway also makes you hungry.

4. BALANCE, PORTION, AND QUALITY

So it’s about balance between the protein, oils and carbohydrates, as well as the amount and the quality of what you eat, plus some key supplements, moderate exercise and that’s it.  This type of eating burns more calories and satisfies better.  It is how our ancestors ate and what we are genetically suited for.

5. WHERE DID WE COME FROM?

We are also the genetic descendents of people that survived famines in ancient times.  Carbohydrates and fat were the key to gaining weight for survival.  Today, the survivor genes we inherited tell us to eat these goodies whenever we have the chance. Cheeseburgers anyone? French fries? The problem today is that we have so much of what we love to eat available at restaurants and grocery stores.  We are busily packing away body fat for the famine that never comes.

6. DECIDE YOUR FOOD

You don’t have to go around with your scale, just DECIDE what and about how much you need to eat to succeed.  Don’t rely completely on your natural appetite controls.  Obviously, they don’t work so well!  Use science and let a nutritionist help determine your food requirements so that you will not feel hungry.  Luckily, occasional slip-ups don’t matter: it’s what you do most of the time that counts.

7. EATING OUT

You can eat out and lose weight. Look for vegetables, olive oil (ask your server to go light), and lean protein.

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