Are you having the hardest time losing the last 10 to 20 pounds?
There are a few reasons why. If one or more of the reasons below is true for you, it’s definitely time for a functional medicine nutrition consultation.
Hormones: Hormonal shifts often contribute to excess weight. Hormones such as insulin and leptin can get out of balance and cause your body to improperly recognize when it is full and satisfied with the food you’re eating. If there is insulin resistance, leptin levels can become out of whack and contribute to overeating.
Stress: Stress can show up in several ways in our daily lives. One way stress shows up is by packing on excess fat and making it difficult to lose the added fat. This side effect has a lot to do with cortisol levels that rise when we are in overwhelming feelings or situations. The excess fat tends to accumulate around the abdomen.
Sleep: Little sleep, over a period of time, contributes to excess fat gain. Our bodies use our sleep time to burn fat, in addition to all the other things our bodies take care of while we sleep. When you don’t get enough sleep (time and quality), you are telling your body to hold on to excess fat so that you can use for more energy.
Food Choices: Our dietary habits can make or break us. If you’re consuming calorie-dense foods which don’t provide the required nutrients your body needs, you may be setting your body up for excess fat storage. Evaluate your food choices and selections to ensure they aren’t packing on unwanted fat.
Too Much Soda: Do you drink soda like it’s water? If you are, it’s very likely contributing to excess fat storage. The more soda you drink the higher your risk of visceral fat. Studies have shown that people who consume sugary drinks are most likely to gain a whopping 27% more visceral fat than people who do not drink soda.
Age: As we age, we can lose muscle mass. Loss of muscle mass reduces the number of calories we burn. In time, this can contribute to excess fat and even abdominal fat.
You are not subjected to any of these factors. With some effort on your part and professional guidance, you can quickly improve all of the known and unknown contributors to excess fat.