Yes, you heard me right. Let me explain.
Have you seen Oprah’s new magazine about her weight issue? She talked about her busy life and her thyroid. For those of you that don’t know, I work with an anti-aging program with Dr Allen Peters and Jeanne Peters RD. They do a very comprehensive program that looks at every factor that could contribute to weight loss resistance and aging- so I have learned a thing or two.
I have worked with a few clients recently that are stumped about why they aren’t losing weight when they eat very well and workout really hard. My recommendation for all of them was to SLOW DOWN and not workout as long or as hard. And as a result, they both lost weight.
Now why? Most people who have been diagnosed as having a Thyroid problem have most likely (the Dr can confirm this) not tested for all the right things. If you were only tested for your TSH, that’s not enough.
The one big factor that a lot of the blood work misses these days is your adrenal hormones- Cortisol and DHEA. I have seen a dozens of tests this year and most of them do not test these. Traditional doctors may not be “up to date”- even my own Gyno didn’t do as I asked! I asked for all my sex hormones a few years ago and she only tested 2 (there are 3: Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone). We all make all 3. I wanted to see my ratios now in order to know later what my levels were and like most traditional Western doctors, she didn’t even consider that Testosterone was important for me to know( and I asked for ALL of them).
Please consult with Dr Peters and Jeanne if you need new blood work but as I have heard them recommend and what I also look at in their office with their patients are these:
1. Sex Hormones: Testosterone, Estrogen and Progesterone
2. Adrenal/Stress Hormones: Cortisol and DHEA
3. Thyroid Hormones: TSH, T3 and T4
If you are someone with high cortisol (fight or flight state) and low DHEA (which is needed to produce the rest of your hormones (thyroid and sex), then exercise will not help you lose weight. This is called adrenal fatigue. The body is in a state of fight or flight and will hang on to your fat. Not to mention, it’s like burning the candle at both ends. Your body needs REST and adrenal support.
For the type A (and triple A) personalities, telling them to do nothing doesn’t work. Recently I have recommended that these people just walk at a slower pace then go full on with their workouts. And it works.
It’s not magic- it’s science.
For the remainder of the population who has normal blood work- its most likely that your exercise is inefficient and ineffective as well as your daily diet is more than your body really needs. You first need to know your body composition (fat to muscle) so you can determine your Resting Metabolic Rate(RMR). If you are eating more calories than you need- you will gain weight!
If you feel the weight loss issue is never ending- stop struggling and call me please. 800 571 5722 or visit http://www.invisiblefitness.com
