Can’t seem to get those extra pounds to leave your waistline no matter how hard you work?
Confused about what diet is best for weight loss and optimum health?
Struggle with carb and sugar cravings?
Well, you may be surprised to hear: It’s not your fault!

Today’s weight loss programs are designed for the masses. Diet plans, diet books and diet pills are a “one size fits all” approach to weight loss. The problem with this is that no two people have the same physical body and body chemistry.
    People work differently and handle stress differently, exercise differently, if at all, eat differently and digest food differently. And, each person has their own unique set of metabolic barriers to weight loss which can keep them from losing weight and/or keeping it off.

Identifying the Barriers
If you are someone who struggles to lose weight despite following a weight loss plan, you may want to consider what your personal barriers might be. These could be anything from hormone imbalances to thyroid issues, some of the most common being:

Allergies – Whether it is food or environmental, allergies promote inflammation which can interfere with any weight loss efforts.

Cortisol – Studies have shown that chronically high levels of cortisol due to chronic stress can make some people fat or even lead to obesity. Stress has also been shown to directly cause the build-up of belly fat. In addition, chronic stress increases levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin. By reducing stress and ghrelin, increased hunger and overeating can be avoided.

Inadequate sleep – Not getting adequate sleep can keep you from losing weight. Studies on sleep deprivation have shown that it can lead to metabolic and endocrine changes, including decreased insulin sensitivity, increased levels of hunger-promoting ghrelin, and decreased levels of hunger-reducing leptin. These metabolic and hormonal changes can lead to over-eating, weight gain and obesity.

Hormonal changes – Not only can hormonal changes make it difficult to lose weight, but can also cause weight gain. Many studies report that weight gain occurs because of changes that happen around menopause when women generally experience a slowing of their metabolism and struggle to lose weight.

Gut issues – If you are not digesting your food optimally, it can be hard to balance the nutrients your body needs for proper metabolism.

Thyroid issues – The thyroid gland is responsible for producing hormones that regulate metabolism. When the thyroid becomes underactive, it results in a condition called hypothyroidism or low thyroid, which in many people goes undetected. Weight gain is common and people with low thyroid can have a hard time trying to lose weight.

Breaking Down the Barriers
At LifeWorks Wellness Center we recommend to our clients, before they embark on any kind of diet, they be evaluated to determine if there are any hidden metabolic barriers so we can identify the keys that will unlock these barriers. This initial evaluation may include a standard blood panel to evaluate individual hormonal balance and body chemistry as well as assessing any medical reason(s) that could prevent the client from achieving successful weight loss. We can then perform applied kinesiology to determine if these barriers are adversely affecting the client’s metabolism and prescribe natural supplements that will work best to reverse the situation.
    For an appointment or more information, call Tamora at 727-466-6789 today or visit LifeWorksWellnessCenter.com. See ad page 2.

Dr. George Springer has practiced alternative medicine, nutrition, acupuncture, and chiropractic manipulation for 33 years. During the course of his practice, he has identified the metabolic barriers to weight loss and how they can be overcome.

Dr. Springer will be
hosting a free talk titled:
The Hidden Barriers
to Weight Loss
Come hear Dr. Springer talk in more detail about the topics covered in this article.

Thursday, February 27, 6.30pm at Nature’s Food Patch, 1225 Cleveland St, Clearwater.