It's 5 am, and your alarm goes off. It's time to rise & grind and get that workout in. You're motivated to get your health back on track. But it's been three weeks of this, and you've seen NO change in your weight. At this point, you know you're struggling with weight loss resistance. But why?? You're eating the right foods and getting movement in every day. You're wondering, "Why can't I lose weight no matter what I do?"
I'm here to let you in on a secret that may be contributing to your weight loss resistance. It's toxins!
Toxins and Weight Loss
Environmental toxins could very well be the thing holding you back from reaching an ideal and healthy weight. Toxins like BPA, mercury, POPs (persistent organic pollutants), and other toxins can increase your risk of weight gain even if you are consuming the same amount of calories.
Do Toxins Really Affect Us?
Yes! Toxins, unfortunately, are overloading our environment. They are everywhere- in our food, our water sources, and even our personal care products! It's alarming how many chemicals are allowed in our environment when we know the health consequences.
These chemicals slip through because, in small doses and short time frames, they may not cause harm that we can see. But when we are exposed to these toxins multiple times a day, over the course of years, it's just a matter of time that our body is going to face the consequences!
Where are toxins found?
Household cleaners
Lotions
Perfumes
Laundry Detergents
Shampoos
Air fresheners
Scented candles
Food from pesticides
Water sources
Clothes
Plastic containers
Water bottles
Weight Loss and Cellular Health
It's amazing that you want to lose weight and be in control of your health. If you really want to understand how to lose weight, you need to understand how the body functions on a cellular level. Because our body is only as healthy as our cells, after all!
Environmental toxins can impact your body's ability to balance blood sugar and impact your metabolism- both affecting weight loss.
Weight Loss Resistance and Toxins
First off, let's talk about how brilliant your body is! Circulating toxins are bad for your health, so when your toxic load exceeds an amount that your body can process, it stores those excess toxins in body fat to keep you safe.
So, instead of letting toxins circulate in your body, causing damage to tissues and other cells, those toxins are stored away in your fat to dilute the circulating toxins. Pretty cool, right? But here’s the catch...
Toxins Released During Weight Loss
When you lose body fat, it releases those stored toxins into circulation. The issues arise when your detoxification processes are not working properly. If your body can't detox correctly, your body will hold tight onto fat because it doesn't want toxins to be released without being eliminated.
Don't we have a natural detox system in our body?
Yes, your body can naturally eliminate unwanted toxins from the body. Your detoxification system includes your liver, kidneys, bowels, and skin (through sweating). But the problem is that we are pumping tons of toxins into those detox pathways every single day, overwhelming the pathways. Your kidneys and liver can't keep up, and your toxic burden increases.
The excess toxins get stored within your fat, and your fat holds on to it for dear life. Your fat fights hard to not let it go, trying to protect the rest of your body from toxin damage.
Detoxification Support to Avoid Weight Loss Resistance
To encourage your body to burn fat more efficiently, you have to get your natural detox pathways working optimally to get those toxins out of your system. So how do you do this? Here are my top 5 tips on how to avoid weight loss resistance and get your health back on track.
1. Avoid Toxins In the First Place
If you want to lighten your toxin load and lift off some pressure on your detox organs and pathways, you need to stop the toxins coming in. You can't fix the problem until you remove the root issue that's causing it... TOXINS.
Take a look at all your products. This can be overwhelming so take this slow if you need to! Swap out any toxic products with non-toxic alternatives, invest in a high-quality water filter, and choose organic foods as much as possible.
2. Drink lots of water!
Water helps move your digestion along and helps relieve constipation. This helps you to have regular bowel movements, which helps eliminate those unwanted toxins! Be sure to drink filtered water, so you aren't adding even more toxins into your body. You could be drinking a credit card worth of plastic a week!
3. Eat Foods Detox-Supporting Foods
Focus on eating organic, high-fiber, and nutrient-rich foods. Fiber not only helps digestion and detox, but it helps slow the absorption of sugars, helping to stabilize your blood sugar levels.
Unfortunately, many Americans are not getting the recommended amount of fiber. Low fiber can contribute to higher insulin levels, which is associated with weight gain.
So, long story short, eat those fiber-filled whole, organic foods to help your cells function properly, allowing you to lose fat when you're trying to!
Other detox supporting foods include:
Kale
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Bok choy
Asparagus
Garlic
Onions
Ginger
Turmeric
4.Take Supplements to Help Your Body's Natural Detox Pathways
Functional medicine lab testing can help you and your provider determine the best supplements for your unique body.
Lab tests can show what nutrients you may be deficient in, that are needed for proper detoxification. It can also show which kinds of toxins may be playing a role in your weight loss resistance issue.
If you take any type of supplement, keep in mind that you should be using high-quality and highly trusted brands. (Check out my Fullscript online dispensary to get 10% OFF your entire order). You can read my previous blog on why you shouldn’t purchase supplements off of Amazon here.
Some supplements could include:
Selenium
Zinc
Vitamin C
Vitamin B complex
N-acetyl-cysteine
Alpha-lipoic acid
Milk thistle
Sulforaphane
5. Get in Movement at the Right Time of Day
Morning movement is the best time to exercise to see the most benefits from your efforts. Schedule time to get in 20-30 minutes of movement in whether that's a walk, hike, tennis, run, or even a morning bike ride! Just be sure to follow it up with a veggie and protein-packed breakfast!
Pick an activity that you actually enjoy doing, so you'll be more likely to get out and do it. If you exercise outside in the morning light, that's a bonus!
Get Expert Guidance on Weight Loss Resistance
If you are trying to overcome weight loss resistance, make an appointment with me. I'm Jessica Meyers, a Functional Medicine and Herbal Expert.
Together, we can investigate if there is a toxin and weight loss connection within your body and uncover any other underlying causes that may be keeping you from losing weight and feeling healthy in your body!
Comments