Weight Loss by Karly Powell, ND
While it’s not usually the primary concern that brings patients into the office, the vast majority of people I see aim to lose weight to improve their health and boost confidence. We’ve seen over and over again that the fad-diet approach just doesn’t work long-term, so I’ve developed a different technique for weight loss that focuses on sustainable changes for lasting health. Following is an overview of my approach and some of the barriers we need to address in any weight loss plan.
DETOXIFICATION
We live in a very toxic environment. We are constantly bombarded with toxic chemicals in our food (and plastic food containers), skin care products, and even the air we breathe. These chemicals tend to accumulate in our body in our fat cells; our body doesn’t necessarily want to let go of those fat cells because that would mean liberating all those toxic substances from their holding cells. Now that liberation is an important part of the process, but if not done correctly can have detrimental consequences for your health (and make weight loss even harder). As a naturopathic doctor, I have extensive training in safe and effective detoxification to get rid of the toxins and their fatty storage containers.
ELIMINATE PROBLEM FOODS
Problem foods like sugar, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates tend to encourage weight gain by altering our metabolism. But other foods may also become problematic if we have negative reactions (or sensitivity) to these foods; these foods tend to light up our immune system to generate inflammation in the body. Inflammation bogs down our detoxification systems and causes water retention and bloating, and thus even more weight! I often test for food sensitivities to identify your individual problem foods, and guide patients through controlled elimination trials to see what health benefits you experience when you get rid of those triggering foods.
ITS NOT JUST WHAT YOU EAT, IT’S HOW
The way you eat is just as important as what you eat. This may mean changing the timing of your meals, as certain patterns of fasting can help shift your metabolism into fat burning mode. It may mean improving your “food hygiene,” how you prepare your food, the number of times you chew, or the environment in which you eat, which can all dramatically effect the way your body breaks down and metabolizes the food you eat.
Contact us today to start your holistic road to a healthier weight. We offer free 15 minute meet and greet consultations.
BALANCE HORMONES
Imbalance in our metabolic or sex (estrogen, testosterone, etc) hormones can trigger weight gain, even when we’re doing everything else right. I can identify some of these imbalances based on your medical history or specialty lab testing, and use natural therapies to get your hormones back in check. Once your hormones are working for you rather than fighting against you, the weight often melts away!
STIMULATE METABOLISM
Increasing your metabolism means you will be burning that fat away into energy, and exercise is the best way to accomplish this. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), like weight lifting or running sprint intervals, is the best way to get your metabolism up quickly and get the weight off, while too much of the long, slow cardio can actually make your body hold on to the weight. Getting more frequent movement throughout the day is also better; walking around your office for 1 minute every half hour will give you more benefit than a 30 minute block at the end of the day.
Losing weight and keeping it off may mean making some significant behavioral changes. To give yourself the best chance of success, ensure you are armed with all the appropriate information before you get started. Your naturopathic doctor can help you figure out what barriers are standing in your way and how to make lifestyle changes that actually last.