By Kelli Michelle, M.S Nutrition Science, Clinical Nutritionist, CPT, SNS, FNS, CNSSolves StripsⓇ Resident Fitness & Nutrition Authority
Why are you not losing weight?
Why are you not reaching your fitness goals?
Stress!
But when you stew on a problem, the body continuously releases
cortisol, and chronically elevated levels can lead to serious issues.
Too much cortisol can suppress the immune system, increase blood
pressure and sugar, decrease libido, produce acne, contribute to
obesity, and more.
Why do people with high stress levels typically gain or lose weight?
1. Your hormones aren't balanced.
If you are fatigued, suffer from PMS, experience irregular menstrual
cycles, find it hard to lose weight, feel depressed or anxious, you may
have a hormonal imbalance. Best to see a nutritionist or doctor who
can support you and suggest certain tests that will confirm this so you can take appropriate action.
2. You're 
not getting enough Vitamin D.
not getting enough Vitamin D.A huge number of the population have low Vitamin D, which is
associated with weight gain and several metabolic processes. If you
spend much of your life indoors, get your Vitamin D checked with your doctor. (Click Vitamin D to purchase)
3. You're exercising, but not in a way that’s benefiting your body!
You are either exercising too much or you need to mix it up a bit and
give the body a bit of a shock. (Funnily enough, most people I see who over-exercise tend to put on weight easily.) Enjoy a variety of
workout techniques: weight training, Pilates, yoga and interval
training. Quick and hard bursts are good. Weight training is very helpful to raise your metabolism.
4. Your digestion and absorption is not optimal.
You are not what you eat; you are what you digest and absorb! Our
gut health will determine our overall wellbeing. The bacteria that lies
in our gut help us to fight disease, process our food, make nutrients and make hormones etc.
5. You're sitting on your rear and have a low active rate all day.
You're not moving your body enough throughout the day, and your
body does not like this. I understand some of you have office jobs
and are tied to your desk, but is it possible to go for a few minute
stroll every hour? Or walk 20 minutes to grab lunch?
6. You're eating too much at night and not enough earlier.
I'd love to be able to say you can eat as much healthy food as you like, but unfortunately, this is just not the case. The body cannot cope
with a lot of food at once. It's vital to put good portions on your plate.
(I usually say: 1⁄4 of the plate should be protein, 1⁄4 carbohydrate, and 1⁄2 veggies.)
Space those meals and eat balanced. Fill that plate with your greens, quality carbs protein and fats.
We must learn to listen to our bodies when it's full and to stop eating!
We all need to work on this.
7. You're not chewing your food.
Chewing your food until it's liquid will really help with weight loss and better digestive performance.
8. You're stressed and not finding balance in your days.
Stress can impact your weight in a number of ways. Long
term stress = high cortisol, which is linked to blood sugar
imbalance and weight gain around the mid-section.
9. You're not getting enough sleep.
Sleep = repair. When your body gets enough rest, it's able to perform.
(Click Melatonin to purchase)
10. You're a fad dieter.
This is not a way of life. I often ask people are you weight
conscious or health-conscious? They're very different
mentalities that foster very different choices.
11. You're eating out too much and not cooking at home.
Trust me, you just don’t know what that restaurant is using to cook your food. Assume they're using the worst vegetable oils, heavy amounts of butter and oil, and poor-quality produce.
Unless you're dining at a place that claims healthy cooking and uses healthy produce, learn to LOVE your kitchen!
12. You're not getting enough protein.
Protein is the satiety macronutrient that helps us to balance
our blood sugars and therefore helps to control our weight.
13. You're scared of good fats.
Don't be! Good fats are so so important to your brain and for
making hormones. (So you can imagine why many of those
who suffer from hormonal imbalances usually eat a low-fat
diet) and your heart. The body actually uses good fats and they will help to lower your LDL cholesterol.
14. Your gut and liver are sluggish and you need a good cleanse!
If you're feeling low, tired, and moody and your diet contains
alcohol, coffee, and sugar, you need to give your body a
break. When your liver is sluggish, it struggles to process
substances/toxins/hormones efficiently and this leads to
toxic build-up and this will inevitably cause weight gain.
You might benefit from a seasonal 90 day commitment to
more whole foods vs packaged and processed with 1⁄2 your
weight in oz of water daily for a month as well.
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