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WHY IS IT SO HARD TO
LOSE WEIGHT?
by
Dr. Maya Brownsberger, M.D.
HCG Program Overview |
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I know it’s not news to any of you that
rates of obesity in adults and children have soared. Is
it OK to be fat? If we could free ourselves from the
self-loathing that our culture infuses in us for being
overweight, and truly be comfortable with our larger
size, wouldn’t it be alright to be heavy? Unfortunately,
for most of us the answer is no. Here are two reasons
why obesity is not a healthful state. The first is that
most of us are obese because we are eating a diet that
is way too high in unhealthy carbohydrates. Besides
making us fat, this causes us to overproduce insulin.
Chronically elevated insulin levels cause diabetes,
hypertension, elevated cholesterol levels, and blood
vessel disease including heart attacks and strokes. The
second reason is that fat tissue, especially the deep
abdominal fat, is not just quietly sitting there making
our pants tight. It is metabolically active, busily
producing inflammatory chemicals implicated in diabetes,
heart disease, cancer, and dementia. |
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But it is so hard to lose weight…and it
is so much harder to keep it off. No matter how much
will-power we are able to summon, the deck is stacked
against us in our battle for weight control. We have
been taught that we can lose weight when we eat fewer
calories than we burn. So we DIET – we cut back on how
much we eat. This is incredibly difficult, but we manage
to do it for a little while. Some of us don’t lose any
weight and feel very discouraged. Some of us lose a
little, or even a lot of weight. But the weight rarely
stays off long term. Why is this? |
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We were never designed for the 21st
century with its plentiful availability of food. For
most of human history we were really only concerned with
survival - in times of famine, food scarcity, and
disease. We have exquisitely sensitive and powerful
hormonal mechanisms to protect us in times of famine and
stress, and unfortunately low calorie dieting is
perceived by the body as famine and stress! In response
to low calorie dieting, our hormones tell our bodies to
do two things – slow our ability to burn energy until
food becomes plentiful again AND start storing fat.
Now that I’ve said that low calorie
dieting is incredibly hard and ultimately doesn’t work,
but it’s still important to not be obese, what do we do?
The good news here is that very significant health
benefits can come from losing just 5 to 10% of your body
weight, because relatively small weight loss helps
control your insulin production.
First, reconsider your motivation. If
you begin to think of weight management as something
you’re choosing for yourself and your health, rather
than something you’re doing for cosmetic reasons or as a
response to the judgmental culture we live in, you may
find more satisfaction in the process.
Second, make sure your hormones are
balanced. Even with the best diet and exercise program,
you may not lose a pound if your hormones are not
supporting your metabolism.
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| Third, change your focus from how few
calories you will eat today, to eating low glycemic
foods to control insulin, learning about portion
control, eating protein and fiber with every meal to
help you feel satisfied and full, and eating multiple
small meals throughout the day so your body doesn’t
start thinking it’s in a state of famine.
Fourth, exercise is a MUST. There can
be no sustained weight loss without regular exercise.
Every dieter who is restricting calories, even in the
healthiest of ways, will plateau, and the only way to
keep going forward is to rev up the system with
exercise.
Fifth, please sleep. It may not
surprise you to know that there is a direct correlation
between chronic sleep deprivation and high body mass
index.
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Dr. Maya Brownsberger, M.D.
Flagstaff's Face and Body
Doctor |
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Sixth, no single weight loss strategy
works for everyone. What does work is ongoing support
and coaching, someone to be accountable to, someone who
is knowledgeable, who can help you solve problems,
remove obstacles, and keep you hanging in there until
you achieve your weight loss goals. |
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HCG Program Overview
| Pounds & Inches Article |
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You deserve to look and feel
your very best! |
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Back to
Anti-Aging Medicine |
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OPTIMAL HEALTH
& AESTHETICS |
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Skin Care & Anti-Aging Doctor |
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1360 North Rim Drive
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001 |
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Phone: 928-214-7005
Fax: 928-214-8855 |
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