Why Am I Gaining Weight?
Every year more Americans become overweight and obese. Being overweight contributes to brain fog, decreased libido, depression, poor overall health, and skin issues as well as diseases like arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. A 2012 study from Cornell University states that metabolic dysfunction accounts for 21 percent of all health care costs in the USA.
The weight loss industry offers plenty of quick fixes, many involve a magic pill or tea that do not work. There is no quick fix to something that took months and in some cases, years to develop.
My clients tell me their doctors tell them weight loss is simply a matter of “calories in vs. calories out” and their trainers tell them it doesn’t matter what they eat as long as it fits in their macros *insert eye roll*
This isn’t how it works. Eating like a rabbit might bring short-term success however it isn’t sustainable. If you struggle with metabolic resistance, that low-calorie diet won’t help but it will contribute to a host of other issues. Eating anything as long as it fits into your macros is not the path to balance or health—I’ve had clients report they have fit Cheetos, Sour Patch Kids, and Hostess cakes into their macros. I applaud their math skills but the nutrition was seriously lacking! Don’t get me wrong, I believe in working flex meals in and enjoying all the food. But fake food shouldn’t be consumed on the regular.
I believe there is a missing step (or a few missing steps) between a healthy body weight and lifestyle. As an Integrative Health Practitioner, my job is to look at the underlying root causes (yep, causes, because it’s usually more than one thing) of metabolic resistance and weight gain, and like a detective, figure out the why (or whys) behind the symptoms. Keeping on with my detective metaphor, I’ll offer you a clue to one of the biggest contributors to weight loss resistance: your gut.
Did you know that your gut is where most of your immune system resides? We call the community of bacteria that reside in your gut your microbiome. A few little factoids about your gut microbiome:
Your body is comprised of 15 trillion human cells and about 90 trillion bacterial cells
The bacteria in your body contains at least 150 times more genes than our human genome (translation: you are more bacteria than human)
The composition of your gut microbiome directly effects how you weigh
Every single time you eat, your food choice influences the composition of bacteria in your gut
The Standard American Diet (SAD) is filled with food additives; inflammatory fats such as canola, corn, vegetable, and soybean oil; refined grains; and sugar. These lead to permeability in your gut lining which you might have also heard called leaky gut syndrome. This increased permeability in your gut allows bacteria to cross the gut lining and circulate through body causing inflammation.
The seeds of your unique microbiome come during your trip through the birth canal. If you were born via C-section, those seeds weren’t planted. From that moment on your gut health is dependent upon your environment, how much time you spend outside, what environmental toxins you’re exposed to, and the food you eat. You want as much diversity in your microbiome as possible so it follows that eating an array of fruits and vegetables will positively impact the diverse bacteria that keep you healthy and at an optimal weight. When your diet is limited to processed food or you rarely get outside, your beneficial bacteria will be reduced and your gut will be colonized by pathogenic species (bad gut bugs) and lead to chronic disease and weight gain.
Being overweight does not cause poor health. Poor health causes metabolic resistance. Your inability to lose weight and the creeping weight gain you are experiencing are symptoms; you must address the symptoms first. By first making the necessary lifestyle changes to get healthy, you will resolve problems like leaky gut and metabolic resistance, and your weight issues will begin to resolve themselves.
I work with clients to uncover underlying issues and root causes that lead to weight loss resistance. By finding your root cause and addressing the underlying symptoms, we work together to heal your mind and emotions, heal your gut, rebalance your hormones, and ultimately restore your health and rebalance your body. Want to learn more about your own health? Get in touch to set up your free 15-minute consultation. I offer in-person, phone, and virtual consultations.