Women’s weight loss: Why is it so hard for us to lose weight?
I want spend time discussing the top 3 reasons why my patients have a hard time losing weight. I think the most important thing I want you to get from this short blog post is that weight loss is very complex. The weight loss industry has boiled it down to just work harder and eat less but that’s actually not at all close to what needs to happen. Weight loss is a very complex issue that takes a specialized provide her with the education to help you get where you wanna be.
1. Genetics
Women have more problems with hormone in balance is and the majority of lab studies are geared towards white men. If you do not fit in that category it’s difficult to determine whether or not your labs are normal unless your provider as versed on what “normal” laboratory studies would be for women. And if you’re a minority it makes it even more difficult.
Hormonal and balances are sometimes not something you can find on labs and are even more difficult to find when working with patients who have weight loss issues. Finding a provider that is well-versed in weight loss medicine can be very helpful because they have the education to understand the new and upcoming research that shows hormonal and balances are an issue for women who cannot lose weight. If you struggle with your weight, you can reach find a provider using the obesity medicine associations website. This website will help you find clinician in your area that is certified and a member of the obesity medicine association.
In addition, women tend to have a greater disposition for constipation and diarrhea. Sometimes this is labeled as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, if you have weight issues, often times this constipation and diarrhea can direct towards a reason why you struggle with your weight. There are specific hormones secreted by the small intestine and the stomach. If you have issues with a slow, fast, or alternating speed in your intestinal track, those hormones are not secreted at the correct rate, time, or volume. Again, having a healthcare provider who has the education to understand the hormonal balance and how this plays into weight is integral. Weight loss is not just calories and less calories out, but a complex balance of genetics, diet, and activity.
2. Greater fat tissue
Unfortunately, women have a higher amount of body fat tissue. This is to be used for storing energy to help with child rearing (pregnancy and breastfeeding). Although fact she was great to help us float better, it’s not very helpful when it comes to wanting to lose weight. A common myth is that you lose fat cells when you lose weight. This could not be further from the truth. In reality your fat smells get smaller but never really go away. That’s right, they are there for life.
This is a really important concept because fat cells have their own hormonal regulation also their own. So, if you have ever been overweight you have a stronger inclination to gain back weight at a faster rate than your other female counterparts who have never been at a higher body mass index compared to yours. And why yo-yo dieting is so dangerous, because when you lose weight and are not able to stick to these changes you may end up gaining back the weight you lost plus more.
3. Different thought processes
Women are trained differently than men. In our society women are trying to be caregivers and are taught to not put themselves pursed. This is ulterior to what men are taught which is typically to put themselves first. I can recall being on the lake with my husband this summer and saying to him “I feel so happy in the sunshine. I want to make this a priority, but I am nervous telling you this”. It’s response was “I’m glad you want to do that. I don’t really understand having a hard time putting yourself first because that’s not really something that was part of my repertoire growing up”. This little snippet of conversation really highlights the difference between how men and women are raised.
Many women have chronic fatigue syndrome from being constant caregivers with little rest. There’s a lot of talk about self-care and how you’re supposed to somehow squeeze this into the rest of your day. It’s really most important is to start looking at your life and seeing where you can put yourself first. It is OK to take time to log your food. It is OK to take time to move your body. It is OK to have your family step up to the plate and make their own food.
How to find help
If your healthcare provider recommends a random diet (like keto which is the fad diet of the time right now), it might be who’ve you to look into working with someone who will actually take the time to evaluate you and make the best options available to you. Although the keto diet is very helpful to not just lose weight, but to improve health status it is not for everyone. You should never be pigeonholed into one day it just because somebody told you this worked for them.
A truly successful weight loss program should be based on you.Because behavior and beliefs systems are such an integral part of our foods and why we eat them it’s important to be able to work with a provider who can help you delve into these issues. Often times we eat because we were trained to eat that way, not because that’s the way we want to eat. When you actually understand what food does for you and what is happening inside your body, you can make some decisions about how you want to eat and what would be best for your body.
No weight loss program is a one size fits all. I don’t give the same supplements to each person because I base it off of their lab values. I don’t use the same medications for each woman because not everyone responds the same. Every woman goes at her own pace. And that piece is perfect just for her. If a program wants to charge you for supplements, support, and meal replacements run far, far away as fast as you can! Run towards me. Run towards the light.
Girl, now is your time to shine!
