Fat loss can be a difficult thing to master due to the fact that there are so many variables involved to success, all of which can be limiting factors for certain individuals.
There are 4 main factors to consider initially. Firstly, there's the exercise part. Secondly, there's the diet part. Both of these play an essential role in the fat loss equation. Thirdly, there's the psychology part, which can be a real stumbling block for some, and finally there's the social support part, which can also be a limiting factor if those around you are not on side.
Let's suppose that you have all of the above sorted, but you're still not losing fat. What then? Well, for the majority of people , if the above 4 factors in line, chances are you'll be changing shape successfully. But there are a small % of people who have their diet and exercise sorted, head screwed on and great support system, but still can't shift fat.
For these people we need to delve deeper and look at what is going on at a deeper physiological level. A bit like farming, you can plant the best seed and add water and sun, but if the soil isn't healthy then the harvest will fail. Your body is the same.
The first fat loss limiter is the adrenal system. The adrenal glands are responsible for releasing hormones in response to stress through the synthesis of corticosteroids such cortisol and catecholamines such as epinephrine. The primary role of cortisol is to increase blood sugar levels so the muscles, organs and brain have enough sustenance. Problems occur when you experience chronic stress because chronically elevated cortisol levels result in increased insulin levels and preventing you from burning fat, regardless of your diet or exercise protocol. Stress is not just limited to emotional and mental stress, but also food intolerance, disease, overtraining and severe caloric restriction. You can find out whether adrenal fatigue is an issue for you by a simple pupil dilation test or adrenal salivary test.
The second fat loss limiter is the gastrointestinal system. If you experience symptoms such as gas, bloating, IBS, feeling uncomfortably full after meals, constipation, acid reflux etc, it is likely indicative of a food sensitivity, which can severely hamper your chances of fat loss. In addition, gastrointestinal dysfunction can result in reduced libido, altered stress hormone production and disrupted blood sugar levels. The easy answer to gastrointestinal upset is an elimination diet for a period of at least 4 weeks, which allows your body not only to cleanse and heal itself, but also allows you to identify which foods are creating a problem when you start to reintegrate them.
The third fat loss limiter we are going to discuss today is oxygen transport system. In order to function optimally, the body's cells require two things, glucose and oxygen. Any deficiency of either of these two essential components in your body will result in less than optimal function. Inside your cells, a process is constantly going on whereby a multifunctional nucleotide called adepnosine triphosphate is produced via phosphorylation and cellular respiration, and transports chemical energy around the cells for metabolism. ATP is the body's basic form of energy, and without it nothing works properly. One if the key components in the production of ATP is oxygen, so if your body isn't receiving enough oxygen, ATP manufacture is impaired, bodily function is restricted and fat loss is consequently halted. So how does a lack of oxygen affect fat loss? Well, you've probably heard if the condition anaemia, where the body lacks sufficient healthy red blood cells, or haemoglobin inside RBCs, to transport oxygen efficiently. Symptoms of anaemia include chest pain, dizziness, light-headiness, as well as a wide range of other clinical consequences. If you think anaemia may be affecting you, a simple blood test at your GP's will test your levels of iron, ferritin, transferrin, vitamin B12 etc, and tell you whether there is an issue that needs addressing.
If you read my previous post on insulin resistance, you'll know that your ability to manage blood sugar levels can also be a major limiting factor to fat loss.. if you missed it you can find it here
Remember though, that if you are struggling to shift fat, the first ports of call is to get your exercise, diet, psychology and support network in check. If you can honestly say all these things are aligned with your goal but you're still not losing fat, then there may be a deeper seated physiological issue at hand. Once your bodily terrain is healthy, fat loss will resume.
To Your Success!
Charlotte
www.phoenixprofitness.com
Follow us on twitter at @charlotteord and @phoenixprofit
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