Losing weight is probably one of the toughest challenges for most people above 40. This challenge is higher among people below 40 who have a sedentary lifestyle. Millions of people struggle with it daily, and it wears them down on a physical, emotional, and mental level. While the concepts and principles are simple, applying them assiduously is a Herculean task.
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The pandemic has kept all of us at home, away from the gyms and the parks. The government even though intended to keep us safe with crazy social distancing mandates, is also making us more sad, depressed and physically heavy. There has been a lot of conflicting news going around about COVID-19. However, the general understanding is that this respiratory illness tends to cause deaths in people with a weaker immune system or in those who have other existing illnesses and those who are carrying extra weight around all day every day.
So, it’s no wonder that millions of people have suddenly taken an interest in their health and wish to boost their body’s immune systems and lose excess body fat. But no matter how hard they try, it is difficult to lose weight accumulated from years of unhealthy choices in food, lifestyle and overall stress.
Why You Are Not Losing Weight Despite Exercise and Diet?
There are many factors in play here. But most important is discipline. There are only 2 things that make the equation right.
- You need to eat right, and you need to be at a caloric deficit.
- Over and above that, you’ll also need to exercise to accelerate calorie burning and boost your metabolism.
Eating right is a struggle, and finding the motivation to exercise regularly will require you to dig deep within you. Many of you have started with good intentions of diet plan and exercise regime in January 2021. We are almost 3 months into this year, how many of you are still sticking with your diet plans and exercise plans?
By the time Spring rolls around, most people fail in one or both of these areas. Remember people get motivated when they see the success. So, if you have not been disciplined with your fitness plans for at least 3 months consistently, you rarely see much success. However, there are times when you have diet dialed in. You know exactly what to eat and how much to eat… and you’re on track. You’re also working out at the gym regularly and giving it your all.
Yet, despite your best efforts, your results are very slow to come. It feels like no matter how hard you try; the weight is just not budging. In this article, we’ll look at 3 reasons why this may occur. Once you know the possible solutions to these issues, your fat will melt off, and you’ll shed the excess pounds faster than you ever thought possible.
Top 3 reasons you not losing weight
1. Toxins
Living a healthy lifestyle isn’t just about the food you put inside your body; it is also about the items that surround you. The environment we live in, the air we breathe, the food we eat, and many other factors introduce toxins into our body. The body deals with these harmful toxins by binding them to the fat cells. Just look around how many cleaning products you have been using since this Pandemic started. Basic hygiene is good but some of us are really going full on OCD with the cleaning products.
- Heavy Duty Commercial Cleaning Products-According to the Environmental Working Group, many cleaning products contain fumes and chemicals that can lead to asthma, cancer and other ailments. Do you ever feel dizzy or breathlessness after cleaning your bathroom or kitchen with these chemicals? If yes, you know there are ingredients that are not good for you.
- Personal Care Products- This also applies to personal care products and cosmetics. Many of these products contain endocrine disruptors. Check out EWG.org to find out which personal care products and brands are safe to use. Replace red or yellow colored classified products with the greener versions. The best natural alternative to chemicals laden soap we discovered years ago was Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap. (#affiliate Link)
This soap has replaced at least 5 every day products from our home. We use it as body wash, shampoo, laundry detergent, dish detergent, and an all-purpose cleaner. One 64 ox bottle lasts are more than a year, and we haven’t seen any skin allergies, rashes, seasonal allergies from the last 7 years. Check it out yourself. Don’t forget the cosmetics.
- Cosmetics- Years ago, I made a switch to The All-Natural Face (they offer Cruelty Free, Vegan cosmetics) for all my cosmetic needs- which consists of just face oil, mineral foundation, natural mascara and lipstick. I wrote a short article on conscious beauty here. Check it out.
- EMF- When we talk about toxins, it also includes environmental toxins from constant exposure to dirty electricity and WiFi Electromagnetic radiation. It affects our stress levels, our sleep and disrupt the natural rhythm of life. Did you notice why so many people are falling sick since the introduction of 5G and cell towers in the residential areas? It is a hot topic of discussion among scientists and medical experts. Those scientists who support just the science and not the money-making corporate giants are vocal about the dangers of EMF radiation for all living beings. Learn more about it in the book- EMF*D :5G, Wi-Fi & Cell Phones: Hidden Harms and How to Protect Yourself (#affiliate link)
If you are overweight, your body is holding on to a lot of toxins. It will resist burning the fat because it’s trying to protect you. If the harmful toxins are released into your system all at once, you can get sick. If you have been overweight like me for years, you can expect to lose weight in a relatively short amount of time. So, stop goggling “How to lose 10 pounds in a month?” or “how do I lose 1 pound a day?”. That is just not going to help you. It will only demotivate you. Now I am not saying that it is not possible for you. It is possible once you start burning the stored sugar and carbs from your body. Until that happens, stick with a slow but steady weight loss path.
Most people don’t realize that slow fat loss is the body’s way of self-preservation.How to remove toxins from your body to prepare for weight loss?
The first step to fixing this will be to go through a detox process. In fact, many weight loss programs have a 3-day or even 7-day detox program just to cleanse the body and start off on a clean slate. If you have serious auto-immune conditions or other underlying health concerns, always seek your doctor for advice on detoxification. I’m working with an Ayurvedic practitioner who specializes in detoxification. I’m in her yearlong whole-body detox program this year. It is working great so far. Check it out here- Vishwaveda Holistic Wellness
It may be argued that the liver is more than capable of detoxification. That’s true. However, we’re just giving it a helping hand and helping to speed up the process. There are several ways you can detox, such as:
* Going on a 3-day juice fast (only freshly squeezed fruits/vegetables)
* Drinking freshly squeezed lemon juice every morning on an empty stomach
* Consume detox teas sold in health stores
While undergoing the detox cleansing, you can also start switching to more healthy natural cleaners. Many of these cleaners do not cost arm and leg. They are just as effective, and they help you remain away from more toxins as the body gets used to eliminating stored toxins. I have written a small article on 5 basic natural cleaners for every household here. Check it out. Do not forget to download the free recipes of DIY cleaners.
2. Inflammation stops the good effect of any diet
When your body aches and hurts for no reason, you’re probably suffering from an inflammation. There are two types of inflammation. Acute inflammation is your body’s reflex response to an injury or an infection. This is a good inflammation that wakes up your natural immunity to fight the illness. It lasts typically for a shorter time than a chronic inflammation. In this, the cells in your body are persistently inflamed to respond to autoimmune reactions or pathogens. But what makes this inflammation worse is its prolonged fight to correct the imbalance. Years of medication only suppresses the disease like cancer, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac diseases, neurological and cardiovascular diseases.
You absolutely must address this issue before tackling weight loss. Luckily, we can fight the chronic inflammation through healthy dietary and lifestyle changes. The reason I had recent fall was because of this inflammation in my legs. It could have been worse if I had not started the detox plan, but I still have a long way to go before I see change in my body weight.
How to reduce inflammation to prepare for weight loss?
The first step will be to eliminate artificial sugar from your diet. Sugar is highly inflammatory and just 3 days without sugar will really help to mitigate the problem. It is really hard to quit sugar cold turkey. But you need not miss out on the natural sugar sources like honey or fruits. Try 2 weeks of sugar elimination first and see how you feel?
Once you are comfortable eliminating the inflammatory foods, start introducing anti-inflammatory foods in your meals. You may also want to consume foods like pineapples, spinach and broccoli- the foods that contain natural vitamin C, E and Beta-carotene. Always focus on colorful foods for a good supply of phytochemicals such as lycopene, lutein and ursolic acid.
What foods burn belly fat?
Diet is one part of controlling inflammation, and it is frequently where many people choose to get started. We eat at least three times a day; therefore, changing your diet can have the most significant impact on how you feel right away. Discover which foods to include and which ones to avoid, and start making delicious autoimmune-friendly meals in this ebook written by Drs. Brent and Tiffany Caplan’s Autoimmune Recipes to Calm the Fires of Inflammation (#affiliate link)
This eBook is packed with recipes that aren’t just good for you; they also taste great and will help propel you forward on your healing journey.
When you unlock this gift, you’ll also save a seat for the free, online Encore Weekend of the Food Sensitivities and Autoimmunity Summit taking place on March 13-14, 2021, where over 30 experts will teach you more about how to identify your unique triggers and make the best nutrition plan for your body.
Another very useful tool to combat inflammation is turmeric. You can purchase turmeric supplements over-the-counter from most health stores. The active ingredient in turmeric, which is curcumin, will help to reduce inflammation.
Once your body has recovered, it will be more responsive to your weight loss efforts. Always remember that the foods you eat will have a direct impact on the inflammation in your body. So, do your best to avoid processed foods and clean up your diet.
Breaking addictions
Quit Sugar, Fast food, smoking, and excess alcohol intake. Reduce your consumption of alcohol. Cut down your sugar intake and strive to give up any unhealthy habits you may have.
It’ll be tough… but that’s to be expected. Embrace the challenge and overcome it. Once these detrimental habits are eliminated, you will look and feel like a brand new you.
Health doesn’t come from the doctor or the drug store. It comes from how we live and the choice we make. – Ocean Robbins
When you sign up for the food sensitivity summit, you also receive
Sugar Detox eBook From WenLi & Kenny
Science shows that sugar can seriously damage our health, and yet we’re consuming more of it every year – with incredibly damaging consequences. Not only does excess sugar make us sick, overweight, and tired, it’s also bad for our skin and ages us well beyond our years. In this eBook, you’ll receive a 4-week sugar detox plan, including 28 delicious recipes and useful food listings to help keep sugar out of your diet.
3.Hormone imbalance – key culprit for hard to lose weight
There are several different hormones in your body and some of them have a direct or indirect impact on your body. The biggest culprit is an imbalanced diet, our imbalanced environment and our addiction to stress. No wonder we see so many hormonal symptoms in people among all ages that we never see in traditional cultures eating traditional balanced whole foods. Testosterone encourages muscle growth and aids in weight loss. Estrogen encourages weight gain.
Hormone replacement therapy is not always helpful when the root cause of the disruption is deep within. Luckily, we can create a beneficial hormonal balance without artificial hormone replacements by giving our bodies building blocks to healthy hormones. Always work with the naturopathic doctor or functional medicine doctor to help your body heal naturally.
Foods that are rich in estrogen will make your body gain weight. Eat foods that are good sources of essential fatty acids such as flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, etc. Eliminate foods with toxic fats like GMO cereals, cookies with preservatives, crackers, etc. Remember if the food comes in tins or plastic with a long shelf life- it comes with preservatives. Except for natural preservatives in whole grains like rice and lentils, avoid foods that are made to sit on the shelf for months.
Herbs are your best friends to curb not only inflammation and detoxification but to also balance the hormones. Read as much as you can about traditional herbs such as licorice, burdock, motherwort, black cohosh, maca etc.
Another hormone to watch out for is cortisol. This is a stress hormone that indirectly causes you to gain weight. It causes the body to store the more harmful visceral fat that is found around the organs. The only exercise that can burn off this fat. So, if you’re stressed out at work, or in other areas in your life, do take time out to de-stress.
Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle
This week, my favorite Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle is back for its 9th year, with all new products to help you feel better, live with more energy, and love the way you look. (#affiliate link)
I have been meaning to stock up our natural health remedies cabinet this year. Last year the pandemic made so many changed in our family’s grocery budget. We stocked up on healthy oils, grains, whole foods last year and used up our vitamins and essential oils. Now, I want to stock up on probiotics, essential oils and some soaps.
NOTE- This superb sale is over now. But you can still learn how to use reduce your stress and lead a healthy lifestyle. For busy families and entrepreneurs, it is very hard to lose weight as we are constantly juggling between work and other demands of life. To meet these demands, we slack on our food and continue running in overdrive. Learn how to navigate your overloaded lifestyle and lead a healthy, balanced life from Patrick Porter’s FREE ebook- Thrive in Overdrive.
So, I’m planning to get this bundle today. With it, I will get 43 eBooks, eCourses, and printables, 2 Week Supply of Probiotics, 3 Essential Oils bundle by VINEVIDA , Free Washing Machine Cleaner and Beesilk Lotion Bar & Natural Lip Balm. They also have partnered with some of my other favorite natural wellness resources.
This bundle is offered for a short time at 97% off.
Don’t miss it!
Get your copy of the Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle here.
I’m looking forward to following resources in this bundle-
Mystery Symptom Master Class by Holly Bertone (eCourse) $247.00
In this course, you will go from feeling like you will never be healthy again to empower yourself with the knowledge to embark on a healing journey of exploring the root causes of your chronic illness and mystery symptoms.The Little-Known, Life-Changing Health Summit by Brian Vaszily (Summit) $197.00
22 world-renowned M.D.s and researchers each reveal their most little-known and life-changing secrets to look and feel your best now, avoid and overcome disease, and live longer.
- Thriving With a Tic Disorder Interview Series by Victoria Davis (eCourse) $149.00
This interview series contains recorded video interviews with over 20 experts who share how to identify a tic disorder, manage it naturally, and boost your confidence in society. - The Conscious Eating Collection by Jenny Berk (eCourse) $97.00
In this cozy online retreat, we’ll be going deep into topics such as cooking and meal prep skills, mindful and intuitive eating, eating for certain medical and dietary needs, and learning to eat with joy, purpose, and intention - Basic Keto Cookbook Bundle by Dr. David Jockers (eBook) $27.00
A sneak peek of 127 fat-burning keto recipes that taste great and are easy to make - 21 Day Green Smoothie Challenge by Tarashaun Hausner (eBook) $29.00
Drink 1 green smoothie per day for 21 days as a meal replacement or snack and you will feel the difference!
What I Like about the bundle is its 30-Day Happiness Guarantee. Every single time I invested in the Ultimate Bundle, I have gained more than I paid for. Our lifestyle has gotten healthier, our work life is more stables and most importantly our family has come together in this stressful time. You can’t beat the price on that.
The Ultimate Healthy Living Bundle is the real deal, which is why we’ve sold over 90,000 of them over the last 9 years. I truly hope you’ll get one for yourself before it’s gone tonight.
Finally, below is the list of all 34 resources in this bundle.
To lose weight, focus on all the 3 factors
Now that you know the 3 possible factors that could be impeding your progress, you should analyze and see if they affect you. If you have been suffering from common symptoms like poor digestion, poor or prolonged sleep, lack of concentration, and general weakness, you do not even need to analyze much. These 3 factors keep disrupting our normal lives even when we are not actively trying to lose weight. Follow the tips in this article.
Gain the knowledge but most importantly implement it every day with small changes in your current lifestyle to make it more healthy. Lastly, do know that weight loss is a slow process but a sure one if you stay on the path and do not deviate or quit. Your dream body is well within your reach.
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