Most people have struggled with weight loss at one stage or another in their lifetime. If you have ever followed a strict diet and workout program yet had the feeling that you simply can't lose weight no matter what you do, you are not alone.
If you have experienced this in the past then today's the day you begin understanding the science behind the problem. []
Having difficulty with fat loss is not a new issue. It's actually a very common trait in today's society and that's largely down to the obsessive nature of pop culture, with many celebrity magazines promoting the rather misleading idea of 'get fit quick' diets which claim to yield impossible results. This leads to a condition known as metabolic damage. The following two things are usually common traits displayed in those who suffer with it:
1. A very, very restrictive low calorie diet.
2. An exhausting, long cardiovascular workout plan involving many hours on treadmills and elliptical trainers.
Almost every individual who has damaged their metabolism as a result of trying to shed body fat follow at least one of the two things listed above. Let's take a deeper look into each factor so you can determine whether this issue has happened to you.
The main problem which causes metabolic damage is a poorly structured diet. If you follow a very restrictive, low calorie diet for a long period of time your body begins to adapt by slowing it's metabolism in a bid to prevent you from burning off what little nutrients it has available to use. It's not bothered about losing body fat, it simply wants to keep you alive. So despite eating very little, you will find it near impossible to shed any more fat. This particular issue affects many people, particularly women, who buy into the myths promoted by celebrity fad diets and glossy magazines.
It also usually corresponds with a very long cardiovascular program in the gym. It's common to hear ladies talking about spending an hour or more running on the treadmill each day while following this type of diet in a bid to lose fat.
What they don't realize is their body has reacted to keep them alive, nothing more. It's preventing you from doing permanent damage to yourself with your dangerous dieting habits.
What usually happens here is the individual gets frustrated before completely quitting. When they do this, they suddenly binge on junk foods and then pile a lot of weight back on because their body has adapted to a very low calorie diet, so it doesn't know how to handle the sudden jump in the opposite direction. This is why many people who follow these fad diets tend to end up heavier in the long term.
When they do come off the rails, they tend to then go back in the opposite direction and try to exercise even longer or cut calories even further, causing even greater damage.
The good news for anybody who recognizes these symptoms is that it's not impossible to reverse and correct.
It's a simple case of eating more food. That might sound too simple, and perhaps it is. You need to teach your body how to maintain it's weight while eating more food and to do this you should increase your daily calorie intake. Of course, this doesn't mean simply doubling your food as this would do just as much damage to your metabolism as suddenly cutting food down. Instead, try increasing your calorie intake by around 5% per week until you feel you are at a level where you can maintain your present weight despite eating considerably more food.
The most important message is to be patient in doing this. It's very easy to resolve, but the main issue is that metabolic damage tends to occur to those who are looking for quick fix weight loss solutions and therefore these individuals tend to expect the solution to be a quick fix, too. If you can't lose weight you now know what symptoms to look for. If you have damaged your metabolic rate due to a haphazard approach to dieting in the past, it is time to correct the issue.
If you have experienced this in the past then today's the day you begin understanding the science behind the problem. []
Having difficulty with fat loss is not a new issue. It's actually a very common trait in today's society and that's largely down to the obsessive nature of pop culture, with many celebrity magazines promoting the rather misleading idea of 'get fit quick' diets which claim to yield impossible results. This leads to a condition known as metabolic damage. The following two things are usually common traits displayed in those who suffer with it:
1. A very, very restrictive low calorie diet.
2. An exhausting, long cardiovascular workout plan involving many hours on treadmills and elliptical trainers.
Almost every individual who has damaged their metabolism as a result of trying to shed body fat follow at least one of the two things listed above. Let's take a deeper look into each factor so you can determine whether this issue has happened to you.
The main problem which causes metabolic damage is a poorly structured diet. If you follow a very restrictive, low calorie diet for a long period of time your body begins to adapt by slowing it's metabolism in a bid to prevent you from burning off what little nutrients it has available to use. It's not bothered about losing body fat, it simply wants to keep you alive. So despite eating very little, you will find it near impossible to shed any more fat. This particular issue affects many people, particularly women, who buy into the myths promoted by celebrity fad diets and glossy magazines.
It also usually corresponds with a very long cardiovascular program in the gym. It's common to hear ladies talking about spending an hour or more running on the treadmill each day while following this type of diet in a bid to lose fat.
What they don't realize is their body has reacted to keep them alive, nothing more. It's preventing you from doing permanent damage to yourself with your dangerous dieting habits.
What usually happens here is the individual gets frustrated before completely quitting. When they do this, they suddenly binge on junk foods and then pile a lot of weight back on because their body has adapted to a very low calorie diet, so it doesn't know how to handle the sudden jump in the opposite direction. This is why many people who follow these fad diets tend to end up heavier in the long term.
When they do come off the rails, they tend to then go back in the opposite direction and try to exercise even longer or cut calories even further, causing even greater damage.
The good news for anybody who recognizes these symptoms is that it's not impossible to reverse and correct.
It's a simple case of eating more food. That might sound too simple, and perhaps it is. You need to teach your body how to maintain it's weight while eating more food and to do this you should increase your daily calorie intake. Of course, this doesn't mean simply doubling your food as this would do just as much damage to your metabolism as suddenly cutting food down. Instead, try increasing your calorie intake by around 5% per week until you feel you are at a level where you can maintain your present weight despite eating considerably more food.
The most important message is to be patient in doing this. It's very easy to resolve, but the main issue is that metabolic damage tends to occur to those who are looking for quick fix weight loss solutions and therefore these individuals tend to expect the solution to be a quick fix, too. If you can't lose weight you now know what symptoms to look for. If you have damaged your metabolic rate due to a haphazard approach to dieting in the past, it is time to correct the issue.
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Further help: So, you think you simply can't lose weight? Personal trainer Russ Howe PTI shall teach you five simple and proven weight loss strategies which simply work.
