Trying to lose weight, and keep it off, are major battles many of us have to fight with ourselves.
Not just achieving but keeping our correct (or even our desired) weight seems to have become increasingly difficult, and that's for a variety of reasons.
"Why can't I lose weight quickly?" you ask in despair after following a diet plan, or an exercise regime, or whatever.
But I think we're all aware that there could be any number of reasons for our weight gain.
For example, so many jobs today involve sitting all day, perhaps at a computer, as I am now; so many of us eat "fast food" which is quick, easy, tasty, but possibly also loaded with calories and fat, and as often as not, eaten "on the go"; snacking both throughout the day and in the evenings watching television or enjoying a drink, is also now very common; transportation is easier and so walking to and from our destinations isn't so commonplace; comfort eating is another reason - when we're stressed, or frustrated, or just plain bored, it's comforting to raid the fridge or cupboards for something to eat, and it's not always something healthy or nutritious; habit is another reason - some of us eat of habit even if we're not hungry; some of course may have underlying medical reasons for putting on weight and finding it difficult, if not impossible, to lose those extra pounds, and also some forms of medication and treatments may cause weight gain.
There are many, many reasons, and don't think for one moment you're alone in wondering why you can't lose weight, and fairly quickly.
The Hunter Gatherer Story If you're interested in reading about the past, you'll know that our ancestors, the "Hunter Gatherers" seemed to lead very healthy lives without worrying about cholesterol, weight gain and diets.
We're told that our bodies were designed to store "fuel" for those times when food may not be available, but we don't very often experience those hard times today as they did long ago, because there's always a snack or a meal right there if we want it.
The Hunter Gatherers ate good, fresh, wholesome food, rich in nutrients, and of course, it was organic.
Now, we have processed and fast foods which are usually high in sugars and fats, but our bodies are still programmed into expecting an albeit brief famine so they call out to our fat cells "Hurry! Eat up! You don't know when you'll get your next meal!" And now that we don't have to hunt or gather for our food, we seem to have evolved into couch potatoes! So, really, that's certainly one answer to your dilemma of "Why can't I lose weight quickly?" Life in the Fast Lane And it's true that 21st Century living seems to conspire against those of us who are prone to weight gain.
The World Health Organisation is very concerned about the increasing problem of obesity, as they call it, so you're not alone in worrying about weight gain.
They say that being overweight is now a global problem, with the fundamental reasons being "an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended" and again, they highlight changes in our diet from the food our ancestors sourced and ate, and the energy-dense foods we now consume.
These are high in fat and sugars but low in essential vitamins, minerals and other micro-nutrients.
Add to that the fact that, generally speaking, there's a decrease in physical activity for the reasons I outlined in paragraph 2 above.
Crash Diets? A Definite No-No So - "Why can't I lose weight quickly?" you ask.
What can I do? We all know it's so easy to put on the pounds, but so difficult to get rid of them.
Crash diets certainly aren't the answer.
They may be OK temporarily, but before long the pounds begin the creep back on again.
Also, if the weight is lost quickly, your body goes into famine mode, and so stores additional "fuel" as it becomes available, which is why some people put on more weight after dieting than they lost through dieting.
So, there's another good answer to your question of "Why can't I lost weight quickly?" You may lost it quickly on a crash diet, but now you know why it really only works temporarily.
It's Not Easy! And unless you have incredible willpower and determination (and I have to admit here that I have neither) then sticking ad nauseum to a diet which restricts some or most of the foods and drinks you actually enjoy, is not only difficult but desperately boring.
In addition, you usually have to ( or should ) take vitamin and mineral supplements to compensate for the lack of those essential nutrients in the restricted diet.
It's a vicious circle.
Two Types of Fat We need a certain amount of fat in our bodies, but visceral fat - the type which is the most difficult to lose - is the most dangerous.
It's deeply embedded in the tissue of our bodes, especially around the organs, and too much visceral fat can strangle those organs.
Even if your weight is coming off elsewhere in your body, visceral fat will be the most difficult to lose.
We're told that medical research shows that show with higher levels of visceral fat are more likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some types of cancer.
So visceral fat is really bad news.
The other type of fat is subcutaneous fat, which lies just below the skin.
This is a useful type of fat in that it has blood vessels which supply oxygen to the skin and nerves, and also, it stores energy which our body uses during times of serious physical activity.
It's also useful in that it acts as a buffer, helping to support our skin against trauma.
So, subcutaneous fat is the good guy, visceral fat the bad guy.
It's Not Your Fault You're Overweight Also, of course, as I said earlier, you may have a medical condition or have to take medication which could explain your weight gain and the fact that the pounds simply refuse to disappear and stay away.
It seems, then, that it's the fault of our 21st Century lifestyle.
But don't beat yourself up about those extra pounds and inches, and ask keep asking yourself "Why can't I lose weight quickly?" because there actually is something you can do! The truth of the matter is that, whether we like it or not and whether we want to believe it or not, the fact remains that most of us are overweight because WE EAT TOO MUCH! Or perhaps I should say, we eat too much of the wrong foods, and we exercise too little on a regular basis compared to our Hunter Gatherer ancestors, who had no cars, buses, trains, planes - not even bicycles! - and who ate organic, good wholesome food, rich in essential nutrients, food which was not loaded with fats and sugars.
If You're Serious, This Is The Answer So, the answer to your question "Why can't I lost weight quickly?" is simple: eat smaller portions of good, wholesome foods which are rich in essential nutrients (organic if you can source them), take reasonable moderate exercise if you can, but most important of all, stop buying all those fast food takeaways, crisps, snack-packs, etc.
, and try to restrict them to have as a treat now and again.
It may take a little longer to cook fish, chicken or meat and some vegetables than it would to pop into your local takeaway, but if you really are absolutely serious about regaining your ideal weight - and figure - then it's the only answer.
You won't have to buy extra vitamin and mineral supplements,it may take longer than going on yet another diet, crash or otherwise, but it'll work and you soon feel better and also LOOK better.
So, start NOW, this week, take this new routine seriously, and enjoy your new-found vitality.
And figure.
Good luck!
Not just achieving but keeping our correct (or even our desired) weight seems to have become increasingly difficult, and that's for a variety of reasons.
"Why can't I lose weight quickly?" you ask in despair after following a diet plan, or an exercise regime, or whatever.
But I think we're all aware that there could be any number of reasons for our weight gain.
For example, so many jobs today involve sitting all day, perhaps at a computer, as I am now; so many of us eat "fast food" which is quick, easy, tasty, but possibly also loaded with calories and fat, and as often as not, eaten "on the go"; snacking both throughout the day and in the evenings watching television or enjoying a drink, is also now very common; transportation is easier and so walking to and from our destinations isn't so commonplace; comfort eating is another reason - when we're stressed, or frustrated, or just plain bored, it's comforting to raid the fridge or cupboards for something to eat, and it's not always something healthy or nutritious; habit is another reason - some of us eat of habit even if we're not hungry; some of course may have underlying medical reasons for putting on weight and finding it difficult, if not impossible, to lose those extra pounds, and also some forms of medication and treatments may cause weight gain.
There are many, many reasons, and don't think for one moment you're alone in wondering why you can't lose weight, and fairly quickly.
The Hunter Gatherer Story If you're interested in reading about the past, you'll know that our ancestors, the "Hunter Gatherers" seemed to lead very healthy lives without worrying about cholesterol, weight gain and diets.
We're told that our bodies were designed to store "fuel" for those times when food may not be available, but we don't very often experience those hard times today as they did long ago, because there's always a snack or a meal right there if we want it.
The Hunter Gatherers ate good, fresh, wholesome food, rich in nutrients, and of course, it was organic.
Now, we have processed and fast foods which are usually high in sugars and fats, but our bodies are still programmed into expecting an albeit brief famine so they call out to our fat cells "Hurry! Eat up! You don't know when you'll get your next meal!" And now that we don't have to hunt or gather for our food, we seem to have evolved into couch potatoes! So, really, that's certainly one answer to your dilemma of "Why can't I lose weight quickly?" Life in the Fast Lane And it's true that 21st Century living seems to conspire against those of us who are prone to weight gain.
The World Health Organisation is very concerned about the increasing problem of obesity, as they call it, so you're not alone in worrying about weight gain.
They say that being overweight is now a global problem, with the fundamental reasons being "an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended" and again, they highlight changes in our diet from the food our ancestors sourced and ate, and the energy-dense foods we now consume.
These are high in fat and sugars but low in essential vitamins, minerals and other micro-nutrients.
Add to that the fact that, generally speaking, there's a decrease in physical activity for the reasons I outlined in paragraph 2 above.
Crash Diets? A Definite No-No So - "Why can't I lose weight quickly?" you ask.
What can I do? We all know it's so easy to put on the pounds, but so difficult to get rid of them.
Crash diets certainly aren't the answer.
They may be OK temporarily, but before long the pounds begin the creep back on again.
Also, if the weight is lost quickly, your body goes into famine mode, and so stores additional "fuel" as it becomes available, which is why some people put on more weight after dieting than they lost through dieting.
So, there's another good answer to your question of "Why can't I lost weight quickly?" You may lost it quickly on a crash diet, but now you know why it really only works temporarily.
It's Not Easy! And unless you have incredible willpower and determination (and I have to admit here that I have neither) then sticking ad nauseum to a diet which restricts some or most of the foods and drinks you actually enjoy, is not only difficult but desperately boring.
In addition, you usually have to ( or should ) take vitamin and mineral supplements to compensate for the lack of those essential nutrients in the restricted diet.
It's a vicious circle.
Two Types of Fat We need a certain amount of fat in our bodies, but visceral fat - the type which is the most difficult to lose - is the most dangerous.
It's deeply embedded in the tissue of our bodes, especially around the organs, and too much visceral fat can strangle those organs.
Even if your weight is coming off elsewhere in your body, visceral fat will be the most difficult to lose.
We're told that medical research shows that show with higher levels of visceral fat are more likely to suffer from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure, and some types of cancer.
So visceral fat is really bad news.
The other type of fat is subcutaneous fat, which lies just below the skin.
This is a useful type of fat in that it has blood vessels which supply oxygen to the skin and nerves, and also, it stores energy which our body uses during times of serious physical activity.
It's also useful in that it acts as a buffer, helping to support our skin against trauma.
So, subcutaneous fat is the good guy, visceral fat the bad guy.
It's Not Your Fault You're Overweight Also, of course, as I said earlier, you may have a medical condition or have to take medication which could explain your weight gain and the fact that the pounds simply refuse to disappear and stay away.
It seems, then, that it's the fault of our 21st Century lifestyle.
But don't beat yourself up about those extra pounds and inches, and ask keep asking yourself "Why can't I lose weight quickly?" because there actually is something you can do! The truth of the matter is that, whether we like it or not and whether we want to believe it or not, the fact remains that most of us are overweight because WE EAT TOO MUCH! Or perhaps I should say, we eat too much of the wrong foods, and we exercise too little on a regular basis compared to our Hunter Gatherer ancestors, who had no cars, buses, trains, planes - not even bicycles! - and who ate organic, good wholesome food, rich in essential nutrients, food which was not loaded with fats and sugars.
If You're Serious, This Is The Answer So, the answer to your question "Why can't I lost weight quickly?" is simple: eat smaller portions of good, wholesome foods which are rich in essential nutrients (organic if you can source them), take reasonable moderate exercise if you can, but most important of all, stop buying all those fast food takeaways, crisps, snack-packs, etc.
, and try to restrict them to have as a treat now and again.
It may take a little longer to cook fish, chicken or meat and some vegetables than it would to pop into your local takeaway, but if you really are absolutely serious about regaining your ideal weight - and figure - then it's the only answer.
You won't have to buy extra vitamin and mineral supplements,it may take longer than going on yet another diet, crash or otherwise, but it'll work and you soon feel better and also LOOK better.
So, start NOW, this week, take this new routine seriously, and enjoy your new-found vitality.
And figure.
Good luck!