If losing weight was as easy as losing your cell phone or your car keys, you’d have reached your goal weight long ago. Unfortunately, getting rid of that extra weight takes quite a bit of effort. That being said, there are a few things that might be making it harder for you to lose weight.

Here are 3 reasons why you might be struggling to lose weight and what you can do about it:

1. POOR DIGESTIVE HEALTH

Our gut contains approximately 100 trillion microorganisms, featuring hundreds of different types of bacteria. Some bacteria are beneficial to our health while others are harmful. The so-called “good” bacteria work to do things like –

• Promote normal gastrointestinal function

• Support immune function

• Regulate metabolism

And it’s the ratio of good to bad bacteria that determines how well these functions are carried out. Any imbalances and you end up with potential disruptions to metabolism (the process by which you breakdown and utilize the nutrients from the foods you eat) and satiety responses (your feeling of fullness after a meal) – two things that can have a large impact on your weight.

2. LOW PROTEIN INTAKE

Getting enough protein in your diet is critical when it comes to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Why?

• It helps to control your appetite. In other words, it keeps you feeling full for a longer period of time which likely translates to fewer calories consumed over the entire day.

• It provides the building blocks for muscle. Thus, it helps you to maintain lean body mass (more muscle, less fat).

Skimp out on the protein and you’ll likely have trouble regulating your appetite as well as building and maintaining muscle – both of which are essential for weight management.

3. SLOWED METABOLIC RATE

Your metabolic rate reflects how quickly your body uses the energy provided by the food you eat as well as what has been stored in the body*. A large portion of this energy is used to carry out physiological processes like digesting your food, breathing, and pumping your heart.

Some energy is used to produce heat which helps regulate body temperature. And a portion of energy goes to supporting your physical activity. Certain tissues have higher energy demands to support their physiological functions and thus, are considered more metabolically active. These tissues include the heart, liver, kidneys as well as muscle.

As we age, our metabolic rate slows down because we start to lose muscle and our physical activity levels often decrease – two things that can largely impact the amount of energy you use on a day-to-day basis. Thus, if trying to lose weight, you’ll need to account for a decrease in your metabolic rate by reducing the amount of food (energy) you are taking in. Otherwise, any energy coming from food that is not used will be stored and can eventually lead to weight gain.

• *Energy that is not immediately used is stored as glycogen (in the muscle or liver) or as fat. The liver and muscle can store small amounts of energy whereas fat has an unlimited storage capacity.

HOW TO ACHIEVE YOUR WEIGHT LOSS GOALS

Now that you know why you might be struggling to lose weight, whether it be as a result of one or a combination of the factors discussed above, the question becomes how do you fix those problems?

For the low protein intake and the slowed metabolism, the solutions are little more obvious: for example, adding a protein source to every meal, being active on a regular basis and adding weight training to your exercise regimen. But despite the solution being fairly obvious, it’s the implementation piece that trips most of us up.

We all know that we should go to the gym most days of the week, but actually making that happen is another story. And the digestive piece, well that’s not so straightforward (although most of us know that a healthy diet can support digestive health). How else then can you ensure that you are getting enough protein as well as supporting your metabolism and digestive health?

The answer – by utilizing LifeVantage’s new product line PhysIQ.

The PhysIQ System is a combination of 4 products that work to boost your body’s internal weight management system. I will be offering FREE weekly calls for information, support, inspiration, and to keep YOU on your path to a better, healthier, more lively body! I'll share recipes, diet plans, and so much more. Let's join together to support each other, share our stories, and stay on track! Visit visit: www.ultimatehealing.com to sign up for the calls, and www.drjane.lifevantage.com for product info!

Jane Smolnik is a Naturopathic Doctor, Iridologist and Certified Energy Healer. She has a practice in Asheville, NC. You can find out more on her website at: www.ultimatehealing.com. Or call 828-777-5263 for more info.

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