Losing weight is at the top of most people’s priority list when it comes to health goals

In an ideal world, losing weight would be so simple; just eat less and exercise more.  This approach does work for some people, particularly those of us who are young and in good health. Unfortunately, for the majority of people, metabolic and hormonal disorders can sabotage your best efforts at losing weight.

The 6 most common obstacles that stand in the way of weight loss include:

  1. Fatty liver
  2. Diabetes
  3. Fatigue
  4. Thyroid gland disorder
  5. Eating the wrong foods for your body type
  6. Hunger and cravings
Thankfully there are effective ways to overcome each of them.

1. Fatty liver

Your liver is supposed to be the major fat burning organ in your body.  Excess fat in your body travels to your liver.  The fat is incorporated into bile, which is stored in the gallbladder.  Bile is then secreted into your intestines and leaves your body in bowel motions.  Therefore your liver is cleverly designed to rid your body is excess fat. Unfortunately not everyone has a healthy liver.  Fatty liver is an extremely common condition.  Around one in five Americans has a fatty liver.  You may have one and not be aware of it.  People who carry excess weight in their abdominal region usually have a fatty liver, as do diabetics.  If you have a fatty liver, your liver has turned into a fat storage site.  Your liver is doing the opposite of what it should be doing: storing fat rather than burning it.  See my book Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It and take the liver tonic Livatone.

2. Diabetes

People with type 2 diabetes find it much harder to lose weight.  One reason for this is high blood insulin levels.  People with type 2 diabetes usually have too much insulin in their bloodstream, but the insulin isn’t working properly.  Insulin is supposed to transport glucose from food you ate into your cells where it is used up for energy.  In type 2 diabetics insulin can’t do this job very efficiently, therefore it promotes the conversion of glucose into body fat. Insulin is a fat creating hormone; it stimulates weight gain in the abdominal area and it promotes the development of a fatty liver.  Insulin also stimulates your appetite, particularly for sugar and carbohydrate rich foods.  Insulin promotes fluid retention, leaving you bloated and puffy, and it also inhibits the fat burning hormones in your body.  Thus people with high insulin levels usually do not lose much weight when they exercise.  See my book Diabetes Type 2: You Can Reverse It for a specific meal plan designed to help diabetics lose weight.

3. Fatigue

Feeling chronically tired is a major obstacle to weight loss in many people.  If you are tired every day, it is very difficult to motivate yourself to exercise regularly, and it is difficult to prepare healthy home cooked meals.  Fatigue takes away the drive and motivation to take good care of yourself. If you are chronically exhausted, it is important to find out why.  You may be deficient in iron, B vitamins, iodine or vitamin D.  You may have a chronic viral infection that is leaving you drained.  Selenium is a mineral with a powerful antiviral effect.  It helps your body to fight infections and strengthens your immune system.  Try Selenomune Designer Energy capsules. Another possible cause of fatigue is an undiagnosed thyroid condition.

4. Thyroid gland disorder

Thyroid disorders are incredibly common, especially in women.  They typically develop after giving birth (postpartum) or during menopause; times when women often struggle to lose weight.  Your thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate your metabolic rate.  If your thyroid can’t produce enough hormones, your metabolism will slow down and you will likely gain weight and feel fatigued. Thyroid hormones are made of iodine; it is the basic building block of your thyroid hormones.  Many Americans and Australians do not get enough iodine in their diet.  Urine tests we arrange for our patients show us that the average person is very iodine deficient.  Your body requires selenium in order to convert thyroid hormone into its active state.  Selenium deficiency is also incredibly common.  Vitamin D and zinc are also necessary for thyroid gland function.  If your thyroid gland does not have sufficient levels of the nutrients required for hormone production, your metabolism will suffer.  You may benefit from Thyroid Health capsules.

5. Eating the wrong foods for your body type

Did you know there are 4 distinct body types? Your body type determines where on your body you tend to accumulate excess fat, and whether you have a fast or slow metabolism, and also influences your sex hormone levels. If you know your body type, you can tailor your diet to your specific metabolic requirements. Women with an android body type are extremely sensitive to sugar and carbohydrate rich foods, and tend to accumulate belly fat very easily, whereas gynaeoid and thyroid shaped women can get away with a higher carbohydrate intake without gaining weight. If you want to know your body type you can find it in my book, "The Body Shaping Diet".

6. Hunger and cravings

Hunger and cravings can undo your best efforts at trying to lose weight.  Therefore, don’t let yourself get overly hungry.  Don’t skip meals.  Eat some protein at every meal.  Protein helps to keep your blood sugar level stable all day, thereby preventing dips in blood sugar that can lead to cravings and hunger.  Good sources of protein include eggs, chicken, seafood, red meat, nuts, seeds and legumes.  A protein powder smoothie is a filling and delicious way to consume protein either as a meal or snack.   People who are deficient in magnesium and chromium are far more prone to cravings.  Magnesium helps insulin to work more efficiently in your body, therefore your pancreas won’t need to secrete as much insulin.  Chromium helps to keep your blood sugar stable.  It is excellent for hypoglycaemia and the 3pm energy crash that leads many people to seek out sugary snacks. Addressing these metabolic conditions will greatly improve your chances of losing weight and keeping it off. The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.