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Why is losing weight so difficult?


by Dr. Jon Thomas DC, PScD, Director of Vibrant Life Health Center

Many Americans made New Year’s resolutions to lose weight a few months ago. Some have had success and are achieving their weight loss and fitness objectives. Others, who may have started the year with a tremendous amount of resolve, have not had the same success. Lots of people have trouble losing weight. There are a number of factors that come into play when people have trouble following through on their New Year’s resolutions to lose weight. Here are some of the most common reasons.

Fat Loss vs. Weight Loss


Not all pounds are created equally. Whereas a pound of fat stores calories, a pound of lean muscle actually burns calories. When the focus is solely on losing weight, it can be lost in the form of both fat and muscle. The ideal way to lose weight is to lose fat as opposed to losing both fat and muscle. Burning fat while retaining calorie-burning muscle mass will obviously produce the best long term results.  This is why exercise, general fitness, and weight loss go so well together. When people who are trying to lose weight also build up their muscle mass through exercise, they’re improving their bodies’ ability to burn calories.  



Calorie counting and calorie cutting sound good, but it doesn’t always work.


Some people look at weight loss as a mathematical equation. They think that if they can just manage to take in fewer calories while they burn more calories through exercise, they will naturally lose weight. It’s logical and it can work for a while. However, something funny happens to the metabolism of some people as they lose weight. The metabolism adjusts to that new condition. It slows down so as to reduce the number of calories it burns to operate.


Fad diets and cracker jack weight loss products also sound good.


Dozens of fad diets have come and gone in the past few decades. That trend is not likely to change due to the sheer number of people who want to lose weight. Many fad diets achieve weight loss by reducing the intake of carbohydrates. The result is actually a dramatic water weight loss. Water weight comes back and it usually doesn’t take long at all for that to happen.


It’s easy to go to a store and buy a prepackaged weight loss program. Then, all you have to do is take it home, follow the directions, and, voila! Instant weight loss. The problem is that one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to losing weight. A product that works well for an energetic person with a high metabolism will not work the same way for a person who happens to be laid back and who has a slower metabolism.


Genetics


Some people can eat whatever they want without gaining weight while other folks are engaged in a continual struggle to avoid gaining weight. It doesn’t seem fair, but that’s the way life is sometimes.  Genetics can play a big role in how some people don’t gain weight and how easily some people lose it when they want to. The more you know about the way your body works, the better equipped you will be to make the adjustments you need to make to achieve your health objectives.


Seeing Results


Tatiane is happy with the results
she got with NutriMost
One of the biggest problems with most weight loss programs is that it takes forever to see results. You can work at a program that takes off a pound or two per week and be down a whole four or five pounds after a month. On the other hand, if you’re working a program where the results are five or more pounds per week, you’ll be wearing different clothes in two weeks.


In three or four weeks, family members and friends are going to begin commenting on how good you look. Wearing clothes that you haven’t been able to wear for a while and getting compliments on your looks are the kind of things that keep people motivated and moving forward. When losing weight is the objective, seeing results in a reasonable period of time is very important. 


Going it alone


It’s amazing to see people who are seriously overweight go on The Biggest Loser and quickly take off a ton of weight in a short period of time. One of the things they have going for them is a coach like Gillian Michaels, who can get them motivated and keep them motivated. The coaches keep a close eye on their clients every step of the way.


That kind of supervision can help people to lose tremendous amounts of weight. When you have someone holding your hand and telling you what to do and what not to do, it’s much easier to stick with the program. Unfortunately, most folks can’t afford to hire a personal trainer like the ones on TV.


NutriMost – Customized Weight Loss


If you made a New year’s resolution to lose weight, but haven’t been able to stick with it, you may be hitting a bottom of sorts where you realize that in spite of your best efforts, the weight is not coming off. The good news is that help is available.


NutriMost is a customized weight loss program. Since each patient is unique, the way they burn fat and lose weight also will be different. For example, an underactive thyroid produces different levels of hormones than a more active thyroid. Those hormones affect the way a body burns calories. To get on the path to permanent weight loss, hormone levels and other factors must be taken into account.


NutriMost is always supervised by a doctor. I am a Board Certified Chiropractic Physician. I may not be able to supervise you to the degree the coaches do on TV shows, but I do make myself available to my patients to answer their questions and to address any concerns they may have as they go through the program.


When I get a text or an email from a patient, I always get back in touch with them ASAP, frequently in less than fifteen minutes. Keeping in close contact with my patients is a priority for me because I truly want them to succeed at losing weight. When they lose weight the right way, they begin to experience the kind of transformation that will make a very positive difference in their lives.   


If you made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight and you’ve been disappointed with the results you’ve been seeing, it’s time to try something else. NutriMost has worked for lots of people. Some of them have recorded testimonials which you can view. Take a look and see for yourself. Then check out NutriMost. It can be a game-changer in your effort to lose weight and to live a healthier life.
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In this article, I have discussed the challenges some people face in losing weight. Those challenges include trying to lose weight on fad diets, on packaged weight loss programs, or on programs that provide no support. I’ve also discussed the difference between fat loss, which is desirable, and weight loss which may include the loss of muscle mass. 


If you have a comment about this article, please leave it in the comments section below. If you know of someone who might benefit from the information in this blog, please share it with your friends, colleagues, and on social media.


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At Vibrant Life, we address all of the key elements to add vibrance and vitality to your life. This includes nutrition, chiropractic care, and fitness. If you need to consult with a chiropractor about your neck, back, or any other health concern, please contact our office to set up an appointment.


Dr. Jon Thomas is a Board Certified Chiropractic Physician. His practice, The Vibrant Life Health Center, is located in the Mandarin section of Jacksonville. After studying and learning from some of the top health experts throughout the world, Dr. Thomas dedicated his life to helping people of all ages to transform their lives. The objective for each patient is to initiate the body’s healing and to work progressively toward a body that functions optimally. Dr. Thomas is seen regularly on TV on First Coast Living, where he discusses the transformations of his patients. He also speaks at events throughout the community and writes informative articles to improve the health of residents throughout Jacksonville.

3 comments:

  1. The reason it's hard to lose weight is due to the fact that most diets are one size fits all. It's good to see that diet technology has finally entered the 21st century.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, this blog post cleared several things up, for me and many others who would like to lose a few pounds. I'm glad to hear that it doesn't have to take forever to lose weight.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anyone who has tried to lose weight know that its so much easier to gain weight than it is to lose weight. that's why I really liked this article because it offers an alternative to losing weight quickly.

    ReplyDelete